- Definition
Discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of who they are, like their race or if they have a disability, which stops them from having the same chances as everyone else. This unfair treatment can be on purpose or by accident, and can be seen in rules, actions, or even how people think.
Not letting someone join a game because they use a wheelchair is discrimination.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Discrimination is like making an unfair rule for a game, like saying only kids wearing red shirts can use the swings.
Ask your child: How would it feel if you couldn't play because of your shirt color?
Common mix-up: Kids may think discrimination is just being mean. It's actually about treating people unfairly because of who they are, like the color of their skin or the language they speak.
Examples
- Telling someone they can't play a game because of the color of their skin.
- Making a rule that only boys can play with the building blocks.
discrimination is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
