Microaggressions In Our Lives

GRADE LEVEL: High School

COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Language, Speaking and Listening

SEL STANDARDS*: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Skills

What are Microaggressions?

“Microaggression” is a term that was coined in the 1970s and more recently used by Derald Wing Sue, a Columbia University professor, to describe the “brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities—whether intentional or unintentional—which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults to people from marginalized groups.”

About the Lesson Plan

This lesson provides an opportunity for students to explore what microaggressions are, how they have experienced them and what can be done to counteract them.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will learn what microaggressions are and how they occur in our everyday lives.
• Students will reflect on ways they have experienced microaggressions in their lives.
• Students will explore ways to counteract microaggressions on an individual and society level.
• Students will articulate (in writing) whether they believe it is useful or not to define and identify microaggressions.
   

*Based on CASEL's SEL Framework