My Best Friend, the Superstar

 

In this activity, children will look at what makes a person valuable. They will compare their own values and needs with what the media/society deems important, flashy and sellable.

The activity begins enticingly: students will create the IDEAL superstar. Using paper, crayons, markers, magazines, etc, students in small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes in making a celebrity. You can expect your students to emphasize good looks, fashion, singing/dancing ability, fitness, money, etc. Let their imaginations run wild. It is your choice whether your students simply brainstorm with words/images or they draw the celebrity him/herself (perhaps they draw a magazine cover).

Then, the students are given a new task: create the IDEAL best friend. Using the same materials, students in the same small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes of a best friend. The intention is to focus on internal values, so it may be up to you to focus the discussion. Some topics/values may include: trustworthy, funny, kind, caring, fun, sharing, etc. Again, students may simply brainstorm OR draw the best friend him/herself.

To end the activity, lead a short discussion (or, perhaps, ask these questions throughout the activity):

1. What values are mainly about the kind of person someone is?
2. What person has more of these values: the superstar or the best friend?
3. What made you choose the values/attributes that you did for the superstar?…the best friend?
4. What is the difference between beauty on the inside and beauty on the outside? Which is more important? Which can you see in a magazine?
5. Who would you prefer to have in your life?
6. Any questions you deem important.

I Like Myself (a book by Karen Beaumont)

I Like Myself (a book by Karen Beaumont)

Sometimes you need to be explicit when tackling big ideas like body image, self-esteem and difference…but sometimes what works best is going about your regular routine and throwing in a bit of those ideas without pointing them out so much.

A great way to introduce ideas is through books! The kids already love when you read to/with them, so why not take a little extra time to choose a book with important topics.

Karen Beaumont’s I like Myself is just one example, though it isn’t necessarily found in your school’s library. Perhaps one day after Homework Zone, quickly search the library for some interesting books.

The Best of Myself

 

In staying with the recent theme of working with the self-image of elementary-aged children, here’s a simple activity that requires few materials:

Step 1) Have the children partner up. Perhaps you partner up within your groups, or maybe you want to amalgamate with another group and partner between them.

Step 2) Give each child a piece of paper large enough to cover their body. Have one partner trace the outline of the other (and vice versa).

Step 3) With words, colours, pictures, etc have each child fill their body with their favourite things about themselves. They can include: important people in their lives, favourite hobbies, talents, favourite music/sports/school subjects/books, people they look up to, their favourite colours, their friends, values, etc etc.

This is definitely a place to encourage creativity and self-expression. The goal is to find things they love about themselves outside of their physical appearance… however, it is also good to support a positive body image. If they want to colour their eyes really bright because they think they have pretty eyes, let them! Just, be wary of the words they are using. Remind them that  physical appearance is something to love as it is a part of them. If Brad or Jenelle love that they are tall, skinny and blonde, remind them: being tall is not fantastic simply because you are not short; being skinny is not wonderful simply because you are not fat; being blonde is not better simply because you are not red-haired. Jenelle can love her blonde hair because it is part of being…well, Jenelle!

Step 4) Have them switch papers with their partner.  Now they will write, draw and colour the things they like about their PARTNER on their partner’s paper.

Step 5) Debrief: Ask them if this made them feel good. Would they like to show the group? Etc…

 

Materials:

Roll of sheet paper (wrapping paper works, too!)

Markers/crayons/pencils/etc

Any other scraps or craft materials they want to use to be creative

 

Mommy, Am I FAT?

Inner-city school or not, girls are facing poor self-image earlier and earlier. They hear from their mothers, their teachers. They see pictures on magazines, they watch movies.

At 6 years old, a girl knows that it’s best to be skinny. A girl hates her FAT before she has even begun to develop.

Think about the young girls you are working with. Are they obsessed with prettiness and body image? What do they tend to talk about in conversation?

But, equally importantly, what ideas are YOU bringing to the homework table?