Harmony Day is one of my absolute favourite days to celebrate in the classroom! It’s all about embracing inclusivity, diversity, and the amazing cultures that make our communities so special. I just love how it brings everyone together, sharing stories and creating a beautiful sense of belonging – exactly what we want for our little learners!

If you’re looking for fun and meaningful ways to bring Harmony Day to life, you’re in the right place. From hands-on art projects to heartfelt discussions, I’ve gathered some creative and easy-to-do Harmony Day activities that will make this day truly unforgettable! 

What is Harmony Day?

Harmony Day is a special day dedicated to celebrating Australia’s incredible cultural diversity and promoting inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. It’s held every year on March 21st, but the celebrations have now expanded into Harmony Week—a whole week of activities, discussions, and events that highlight the importance of unity and acceptance.

The best part? Schools, workplaces, and communities all over Australia get involved with fun ways to embrace the message that everyone belongs. 

Why do schools celebrate Harmony Day?

Schools celebrate Harmony Day because it’s the perfect opportunity to teach kids about inclusivity, kindness, and the beauty of cultural diversity. By taking part in Harmony Week activities, students learn to appreciate different backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives—all while building a classroom environment where everyone feels valued and included.

Plus, celebrating Harmony Day helps kids develop empathy, respect, and a strong sense of belonging, which are so important for both the classroom and the wider world. 

And let’s be honest—any excuse for a fun, engaging, and meaningful celebration is always a win!

What to do for Harmony Day at school

Looking for perfect Harmony Day activities for kids? There are so many creative ways to bring the everyone belongs message to life in the classroom! 

Whether it’s through art, music, storytelling, or discussion, these Harmony Day ideas will help students explore cultural diversity and inclusivity in an engaging, hands-on way. Best of all, they’re super easy to set up!

Bulletin board display – "Everyone Belongs"

A classroom display is a great way to visually reinforce the message of Harmony Day! Our “Everyone Belongs” bulletin board display is a bright and engaging way to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Kids can contribute their own artwork or messages, making it a collaborative project.

Here are some unique ways the MJLL community has used theirs.

@pickford_having_fun_in_yr_1 had her class draw themselves to add to the display

@myteacherlibrarianlife prettied up her display with bunting and more art from students.

Read-aloud book: I’m Australian Too

Storytime is a powerful way to spark conversations about diversity! I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox is a beautiful picture book that celebrates Australia’s multicultural identity. After reading, encourage students to share their own family backgrounds or traditions.

Craft activities

Get those little hands busy with Harmony Day-inspired crafts! Some easy and fun ideas include:

• Paper chains – each student decorates a link to represent themselves, then everyone connects them to symbolize unity.

• Handprint art – students create a mural with their handprints in different colors to show that everyone belongs.

• World flags collage – kids cut out and paste different country flags to celebrate cultural diversity.

These can be used to decorate the classroom as a year-round reminder of inclusivity or taken home as a special keepsake.

Need inspiration? Our Instagram community are super creative!

 

A great display from @littlerainbowteacher 

Handprints are an easy way to make Harmony Day artwork - @namitafdc

A very cool display by @thenuturedclassroom to show how much diversity there actually is in the classroom!

Music and dance activities

Bring the celebration to life with music and movement! Play songs from different cultures, teach a simple dance, or let students share their own favorite cultural tunes. Music is such a fun way to experience traditions from around the world!

Classroom discussion prompts

Encourage meaningful conversations by asking students questions like:

• What does “everyone belongs” mean to you?

• Why is it important to learn about different cultures?

• How can we make sure everyone feels included at school?

These prompts help kids reflect on diversity and inclusivity in a way that feels natural and engaging. You can even get students to set inclusivity goals and use our range of student goals resources to help them stay focused on why kindness is so important, both in and out of the classroom.

Orange outfit day

Encourage both students and teachers to wear orange—a colour that represents harmony and inclusivity! You could even hold a mini fashion parade or a “best dressed” contest to make it extra fun.

Harmony Day pledge

Have students write and sign a classroom pledge about how they will be inclusive and respectful every day, not just on Harmony Day. Display it in the classroom as a daily reminder! Our editable affirmation stations are the perfect way to turn your students’ pledges into beautiful classroom decor this Harmony Day!

Research a multicultural icon

Assign students a famous person from a diverse cultural background-think sports stars, artists, activists, or scientists! They can create a poster, slideshow, or mini-report to showcase their findings. This is a great way to celebrate role models from all backgrounds.

Harmony Day resources and links

Planning your Harmony Day activities for kids and looking for the perfect classroom resources? Here are some helpful links to make your celebrations fun, engaging, and meaningful!

• Inclusive classroom resources – Check out these ready-to-go classroom decor and activity packs to make Harmony Day (and every day!) extra special.

• Harmony Week official website – Learn more about how schools can get involved, find activity ideas, and explore teaching resources to support diversity and inclusion.

• Australian Human Rights Commission – Cultural Diversity Education – A fantastic collection of lesson plans, activities, and educational tools to help teach students about cultural diversity, respect, and inclusion.

• Reading Australia’s book list for Harmony Week – Explore a range of books that celebrate multiculturalism and diversity, perfect for classroom read-alouds and discussions.

• ABC iview – Harmony Week videos – Engaging videos that help bring the themes of Harmony Day to life for students.

If you’re looking for more ways to build a welcoming and supportive learning environment all year round, check out my blog on how to create an inclusive classroom.

With these resources, you’ll have everything you need to create a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging Harmony Day celebration in your classroom! 

Celebrate Harmony Day in style

There are so many fun and easy Harmony Day activities for kids, and I just know your classroom will be buzzing with excitement! No matter which activities you choose, Harmony Day is the perfect chance to create a classroom where every little learner feels seen, valued, and included. Let’s make it a day to remember and celebrate the beautiful diversity that makes our communities so special!

We’d love to see how you celebrate—so don’t forget to snap some pics and tag @missjacobslittlelearners! 

And if you’re looking for ready-to-go resources to make decorating and planning a breeze, check out our inclusive classroom resources to create a space that truly reflects the spirit of Harmony Day. 

Now, let’s celebrate!