Hiawatha's "Mix it Up at Lunch" Day
“Mix it Up at Lunch” is a one-day program that was created by Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Hiawatha Elementary created its own unique version of this program, extending the practice beyond mixing individual classrooms only one day of the school year. At the school, “Mix it Up at Lunch” is a practice that occurs multiple times throughout the school year. During this practice, students are divided by grade level, so each teacher has a classroom with students in kindergarten through sixth grade. These groups of students eat lunch together, go to recess together (playing organized cooperative games), and spend time in class learning more about how to show others respect, kindness, and teamwork skills. Students also help take down the “Wall of Intolerance” (paper bricks made by our students with changes they would like to make) to reveal a positive message underneath (pictures of the students and of the district’s core values). During a “Mix it Up at Lunch” day, the older students are seen supporting the younger students -- many taking on valuable leadership roles. The school also observes a greater occurrence of respect, kindness, and patience toward others.