Active learning ideas
The 'My Family and Me' topic celebrates the diversity of family structures in modern Ireland. Students explore how families, in all their different forms, provide love, support, and a sense of belonging. This unit emphasizes the roles and responsibilities within a family and the importance of mutual respect and care. It directly supports the NCCA's 'Myself and My Family' strand unit, which aims to help children appreciate their own family background while respecting others'.
Activity 01
Students draw a picture of their family doing something helpful for each other. They display these on a 'Class Family Tree' and walk around to find one way another family shows care that is similar to their own.
Who is in my family?
Activity 02
Children think of one way they help their family (e.g., setting the table, feeding a pet). They share this with a partner and discuss why helping makes their home a happier place for everyone.
How do we help each other at home?
Activity 03
In small groups, students share one special thing their family does together (a Sunday walk, a specific meal, a holiday tradition). They look for patterns, like 'food' or 'outdoors', and create a group collage of 'Things Families Do.'
Why are families important?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
A family must have a mom, a dad, and children to be a 'real' family.
Children may have a narrow view of family. Use the Gallery Walk to showcase diverse families (single parents, foster families, grandparents as caregivers, same-sex parents) to show that love and care define a family, not its structure.
Family members never get cross with each other.
Students might feel their family is 'wrong' if there is conflict. Peer discussion can help normalize that all families have disagreements, but the important part is how they care for each other and make up afterward.
Methods used in this brief