Activity 01
Think-Pair-Share: The Story of My Name
Students sit with a partner and take turns sharing who gave them their name or what they like about it. Afterward, each student introduces their partner to the class, sharing one special fact they learned.
Differentiate your name from others in the class.
Facilitation TipDuring Think-Pair-Share, provide sentence stems on the board to support students who need help organizing their thoughts.
What to look forDuring circle time, ask students to stand up if their name starts with a specific letter (e.g., 'A'). Then, ask a few students to share one favorite thing and why they like it. Observe participation and listen to responses.
UnderstandApplyAnalyzeSelf-AwarenessRelationship Skills
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 02
Gallery Walk: All About Me Posters
Students create a simple visual poster with drawings of their favorite food, animal, and hobby. The posters are displayed around the room, and students walk around to find one thing they have in common with three different classmates.
Analyze how your favorite things reflect who you are.
Facilitation TipFor the Gallery Walk, place a timer at each poster so students move at a steady pace and have time to absorb each peer’s work.
What to look forProvide each student with a small piece of paper. Ask them to draw one thing that makes them happy and write the first letter of their name on the back. Collect these as students leave the learning center.
UnderstandApplyAnalyzeCreateRelationship SkillsSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 03
Inquiry Circle: The Identity Mystery Box
The teacher places an item belonging to a student in a box, and the class asks 'yes or no' questions to guess who it belongs to based on known interests. This helps students practice active listening and recalling details about their peers.
Construct a self-portrait that represents your unique qualities.
Facilitation TipIn the Identity Mystery Box, let students handle objects for a full minute before asking them to explain connections to their identity.
What to look forGather students in a small group and show them a collection of diverse objects (e.g., a toy car, a book, a stuffed animal). Ask: 'If this object were part of your self-portrait, what would it tell us about you?' Guide them to connect objects to personal qualities.
AnalyzeEvaluateCreateSelf-ManagementSelf-Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Approach this topic with a balance of structure and openness. Provide clear routines for sharing to ensure all voices are heard, but allow flexibility in responses so students feel their personal identity is valued. Research shows that when children see their identities reflected in the classroom environment, their sense of belonging increases, which supports both social and academic growth.
Successful learning looks like children actively sharing their own experiences, recognizing similarities and differences among peers without judgment, and using materials to represent their unique traits. They should demonstrate engagement during discussions and take pride in their self-portraits and posters.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Think-Pair-Share, some students may say their name is 'weird' or unpopular.
During Think-Pair-Share, gently redirect by saying, 'Names are special gifts. What does your name mean, or who chose it for you?' Encourage students to share positive stories about their names.
Children may believe their identity cannot change as they grow.
During Collaborative Investigation, sort pictures of 'things I liked as a baby' versus 'things I like now' to show that while some things change, their core identity (like their name) remains.
Methods used in this brief