Identity Flower Lesson

Activity Outline

• Goal of Activity

  • The goal of this activity is to help students to reflect on their identities, learn more about those identities, and share their identities if they feel comfortable.

• Time Allotment: approximately 40 minutes

  • I would personally allocate more time for this lesson as I think it would allow for more substantive conversations.

• Learning Objectives

  • "Students will reflect on their own identity in regards to group identities."

  • "Students will analyze story book characters to determine fitting identity terms and adjectives."

  • "Students will identify words, adjectives, and identity terms that describe themselves."

• Steps of Activity- Full Lesson Plan Available here

  • Opening Discussion (2 min)

    • "Today we'll be talking about 'identity' and the many different pieces that fit together to shape our experiences and ultimately make us who we are."

  • Identity Flower Demonstration (10 mins)

    • Walk the class through each petal on the flower as it is projected on the board.

    • Make sure to define each term on each of the pedals.

      • Gender Identity and Gender Expression often bring up questions. Use this worksheet to help students learn the vocabulary for the concept of gender.

    • Demonstrate filling out an Identity Flower "using yourself or a familiar character."

  • Group Work (10 minutes)

    • Working in small groups or partnerships, students can fill out an Identity Flower for a character from a familiar book or movie.

    • Students can then share their flowers with one other group when they are done.

  • Individual Practice (10 minutes)

    • Give each student an Identity Flower and then give them the opportunity to reflect on their own identities.

    • Give students time to write and then allow them to add color with colored pencils.

  • Closure (13 minutes)

    • Give time for students to share their flowers with the class if they choose to. Make sure to affirm each student's response.

    • Asks students:

      • "What words or pictures did you use to show your gender identity or gender expressions?"

      • "Which parts of your identity are you the most proud of?"

      • "How would you feel if someone teased you for those parts of your identity, for being you?"

      • "Do you think our class would be better if all our flowers or all of our identities were the same? Why or why not?"

Discussion

I chose to include this activity in my Identity Portfolio because it helps to gradually introduce the students to the concept of the multiple facets of identity through the gradual release model. In this activity, we are able to talk through the identities of multiple different people and/or characters before the students are asked to think about their own identities. This allows students to become familiar with using identity terms properly, helps them to become comfortable with the vocabulary and will help them to better identify the different facets of their own identity.

This activity offers cooperative and collaborative learning through the gradual release model. Students have the opportunity to learn the concepts from the teacher, work on the concepts collaboratively with their partners or groups and then apply their learning to their own Identity Flower. This activity also involves shared inquiry and dialogue because students get to discuss the facets of the identity of their favorite characters with their groups. They will have the opportunity to have their voice heard, and hear the opinions of their peers.

Resources

• Identity Flowers Lesson Plan

• Gender Expression

• Identity Flower Worksheet

References

Identity lesson grades 3-5. GLSEN. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.glsen.org/activity/identity-lesson-grades-3-5