Beginning to Look at Identity

During morning connection time, I wondered with the students…”How can we get to know each other better?” “We have to look at each other because some of us were here at school last year and some were not,” Amelia said. “Yes, our eyes and hair is different,” Shulynne added. “And we have different names, of course. We are not the same so we need to know who everyone is.” The students decided to share their names again, and everyone in the circle was smiling. “You know, we are all happy too!” said ChengQian, throwing his hands up in the air. “I wonder how we are all special and how we are all different,” I said to the class, and there were some very thoughtful expressions.  

Later on in the day, I noticed some students looking carefully at each others’ faces, and Alisa began drawing a picture of herself. “This is me! Look at my face!” she told others. Quickly many of her classmates came over to join her in drawing, and I placed a mirror in front of them for reference. “I have black eyes!” exclaimed Yoonjin. “Me too!” said Rhea. “My eyes look when I am playing with my toys,” Harrison eagerly added. “I love to play with my toys! And all the things in school!” said Alisa. “Like books, and painting and drawing…and Mango and Oreo!” The conversation continued as students pointed out features on their face and body that were the same or different than others, as well as talking about interests and likes. We will see where this leads us next…

“It is through others that we develop into ourselves.”  Vygotsky