Lesson Plan
What's Your Story? Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify and share three unique aspects of their personal identity, including their culture, strengths, and interests.
Understanding personal identity helps students build self-esteem, recognize their value, and appreciate the diversity in others. This lesson provides a foundational understanding of self-awareness and cultural appreciation.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, a visual map, and reflection, students will explore their unique identities.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Our Identity Stories Slide Deck, My Identity Map Worksheet, and Reflection Journal Pages
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the What's Your Story? Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Prepare the whiteboard or projector for the Our Identity Stories Slide Deck.
- Print copies of the My Identity Map Worksheet (one per student).
- Print copies of the Reflection Journal Pages (one per student).
- Gather markers or pens for students.
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Display Slide 1 from the Our Identity Stories Slide Deck (Title Slide).
- Teacher Script Idea: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today we're going on an exciting journey to discover something truly special: your story! We all have unique things that make us who we are. What do you think 'unique' means?"
- Briefly discuss student responses. (1-2 minutes)
- Display Slide 2: "What makes YOU, YOU?"
- Teacher Script Idea: "Think about things you love to do, where your family comes from, or what you're really good at. Share one quick thing with a partner that makes you, YOU!" (2-3 minutes)
Step 2
Introduce & Discuss Key Concepts
7 minutes
- Display Slide 3: "Our Identity Ingredients".
- Teacher Script Idea: "Today, we're going to explore three important 'ingredients' that make up our identity: our culture, our strengths, and our interests."
- Culture (2 minutes): Display Slide 4. "Culture is like a special recipe your family or community shares. It could be languages you speak, holidays you celebrate, foods you eat, or traditions you follow. What's one cultural tradition or food you love?" Discuss briefly.
- Strengths (2 minutes): Display Slide 5. "Strengths are things you're good at, like being a kind friend, a fast runner, a great artist, or a super problem-solver. What's one strength you have?" Discuss.
- Interests (2 minutes): Display Slide 6. "Interests are things you love to do, like reading, playing sports, building with LEGOs, or exploring nature. What's one interest that makes you happy?" Discuss.
Step 3
Activity & Application: My Identity Map
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Identity Map Worksheet.
- Display Slide 7: "Create Your Identity Map!".
- Teacher Script Idea: "Now it's your turn to create your very own 'Identity Map'! On your worksheet, you'll see spaces for 'My Culture,' 'My Strengths,' and 'My Interests.' Think about what we just discussed and draw or write at least one thing for each section. Try to think of three unique things that make you, YOU!"
- Circulate and provide support and encouragement as students work. (8-10 minutes)
Step 4
Reflect & Share
5 minutes
- As students finish, have them turn to the Reflection Journal Pages.
- Display Slide 8: "Reflect on Your Story".
- Teacher Script Idea: "Great job on your Identity Maps! Now, on your journal page, I want you to write one sentence about why you think it's important to know your own story, and one sentence about why it's important to learn about other people's stories."
- Optional: Ask 2-3 volunteers to briefly share one aspect from their Identity Map or one reflection sentence with the class. (3-5 minutes)
Step 5
Closing Circle
3 minutes
- Display Slide 9: "Celebrate Every Story!".
- Teacher Script Idea: "Look around the room. Every single one of you has a unique and wonderful story! When we share our stories, we learn so much about ourselves and each other. Remember, your story is amazing, and so is everyone else's. Let's make sure we always celebrate what makes each of us special!"
- Collect My Identity Map Worksheet and Reflection Journal Pages if desired, or allow students to keep them.
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Slide Deck
What's Your Story?
Discovering Our Unique Identities!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting journey of discovering their unique stories. Ask students what 'unique' means.
What Makes YOU, YOU?
Think about something special about you!
- A hobby?
- A talent?
- A family tradition?
Engage students by asking them to think about what makes them special. Have them share one quick thing with a partner.
Our Identity Ingredients
We all have special parts that make up our story:
- Culture
- Strengths
- Interests
Introduce the three 'ingredients' of identity that will be explored in the lesson: culture, strengths, and interests.
My Culture
Culture is like a special recipe your family or community shares!
- Languages you speak
- Holidays you celebrate
- Foods you eat
- Traditions you follow
What is one cultural tradition or food you love?
Explain culture using relatable examples like traditions, foods, and languages. Ask for student examples.
My Strengths
Strengths are things you're good at!
- Being a kind friend
- A fast runner
- A great artist
- A super problem-solver
What is one strength you have?
Define strengths as things students are good at. Encourage them to think of their own strengths.
My Interests
Interests are things you love to do!
- Reading exciting books
- Playing fun sports
- Building with LEGOs
- Exploring nature
What is one interest that makes you happy?
Explain interests as things students love to do. Prompt them to share their passions.
Create Your Identity Map!
Now it's your turn!
Draw or write at least one thing for each section:
- My Culture
- My Strengths
- My Interests
Be creative and show what makes you, YOU!
Introduce the Identity Map activity and provide instructions for the worksheet. Remind them to draw or write.
Reflect on Your Story
On your journal page:
- Why is it important to know your own story?
- Why is it important to learn about other people's stories?
Guide students to reflect on the importance of knowing their own story and others' stories using the journal pages.
Celebrate Every Story!
Every single one of you has a unique and wonderful story!
When we share our stories, we learn so much about ourselves and each other.
Your story is amazing, and so is everyone else's!
Conclude the lesson by emphasizing the value of everyone's unique story and the importance of celebrating diversity.
Worksheet
My Identity Map
Name: __________________________
Date: __________________________
What makes YOU, YOU? Let's explore your unique story!
Use this map to draw or write about your culture, strengths, and interests.
1. My Culture
What are some special traditions, foods, or languages from your family or community?
2. My Strengths
What are you good at? What do you do well?
3. My Interests
What do you love to do for fun? What makes you happy?
My Unique Story
Draw a picture of yourself in the middle of your Identity Map, surrounded by the wonderful things you listed!
Journal
Reflection Journal: My Unique Story
Name: __________________________
Date: __________________________
Thinking About Our Stories
After creating your Identity Map, let's think a little deeper about why our stories are so special.
1. Why do you think it is important to know your own story?
(Think about all the things that make you, YOU!)
2. Why do you think it is important to learn about other people's stories?
(Think about what we discussed about everyone being unique!)