Simple alternatives that make classroom activities more inclusive.
Many common school assignments assume that every student has access to biological family history, baby photos, birth details or genetic information. For adopted students – as well as children in foster or kinship care, newcomer families and students affected by loss – these activities can create unnecessary stress or force disclosure of private information.
Family Trees
Traditional family trees can suggest that biological relationships are the only relationships that count. Offer flexible options such as a ‘family forest,’ ‘people who are important to me,’ relationship map or a tree the student can design in a way that represents their family.
Baby Photos and Early-Life Timelines
Not every child has baby photos or knows details from their earliest years. Allow any meaningful photo, a drawing, an image from a chosen age, or a timeline that begins when the student chooses.
Genetics and Inherited Traits
Assignments requiring students to compare their traits with biological relatives can exclude students who do not have access to that information. Use fictional families, public datasets, plants/animals or teacher created examples to teach the same scientific concept.
Birth Stories and Family Interviews
Do not require students to share pregnancy, birth, adoption or family-history information. Alternatives might include interviewing an important adult about a favourite memory, family tradition or meaningful event.
What Can Help
- Tell students in advance that alternatives are available to everyone.
- Do not make the adopted student request an exception in front of peers.
- Assess the learning objective, not access to family information.
- Allow students to define family in ways that reflect their lives.
- Never use a child’s adoption story as a classroom lesson without the child’s and family’s informedagreement.
When to seek additional support
If an assignment has already caused distress, respond privately and without requiring the student to explain personal history. Offer an alternative, acknowledge the impact and involve the family when appropriate.
Helpful Resources
- Pact – Adoption & Schools Resources: https://pactadopt.org/adoption-resources/
- Adoption Council of Ontario: https://adoption.on.ca/
Note: External resources are provided for general information. Services, eligibility and content may change. Families should
confirm current information directly with the organization.