Our World Down Syndrome Day Classroom Kit program has reached more than 150,000 students in more than 4,500 classrooms across the Minnesota and neighboring communities in Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas.
This FREE resource for teachers brings awareness about Down syndrome, celebrates human diversity and promotes inclusion and understanding. The kits teach students about Down syndrome, but more importantly, they include lessons on diversity, inclusion, kindness and acceptance. Each kit contains two books donated in a student's name to permanently keep in the classroom, as well as a packet of grade specific activities, lessons, and additional materials about Ds - as well as stickers, bracelets, and other fun ways to help kids celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
The last day to order is March 1st. Kits are FREE to teachers in Minnesota and communities within 25 miles of Minnesota's border. The kits are designed for students Pre-k through 5th grade. Parents can order the kit for their children's classrooms or teachers can order the kit directly.
Different A Great Thing to Be!
Different—A Great Thing to Be!
By Heather Avis
Author and co-host of "The Lucky Few" podcast Heather Avis teams up with illustrator Sarah Mensinga to bring us Different—A Great Thing to Be! This joyful, rhyming story introduces readers to Macy, a young girl with Down syndrome, and invites us all to see being “different” as something truly wonderful. With warmth and optimism, the book encourages young readers to celebrate differences in themselves and others, helping to nurture empathy and kindness. Different—A Great Thing to Be! opens the door to meaningful conversations about disabilities and diversity, guiding readers to find delight in the unique qualities that make every person special and valuable.
CLICK HERE to order your 2026 WDSD Classroom Kit!
Just Ask!
Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You
By Sonia Sotomayor
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez create a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us unique. Just Ask! is an empowering celebration of diversity, disability, and the beauty of human differences. Through the voices of 12 unique characters, readers learn about a range of disabilities, including Down syndrome, while also discovering each character’s strengths, talents, and perspectives. Thoughtful discussion questions woven throughout the story invite readers to reflect, make personal connections, and build empathy. Using a garden as a guiding metaphor, Just Ask! shows that a garden’s variety of plants and flowers mirrors how diversity among people makes our world richer, more vibrant, and more beautiful.
CLICK HERE to order your 2026 WDSD Classroom Kit!