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"Draw Your Own Symbol"
Activity
Summary
This is an activity from the U.S. Institute of Peace. This activity allows students to begin to explore questions of self-identity and enables them to see what they have in common with others.
Instructional Strategies
Ask students to draw a symbol to represent who they are.
(A symbol can be anything that characterizes the student, e.g. a ball for a basketball player, a tree for a nature lover.)
Put the students in pairs and have them share with their partner what their symbol is and why they selected it.
Ask volunteers to share their symbol with the whole class.
Lead a discussion using some or all of the questions that follow.
How did you decide on your symbol? Was this decision easy or difficult?
What patterns did you see in the groupsâ symbols?
What role do symbols play in your life? How do you use symbols with your friends and family?
How can identifying similarities in a group foster positive relationships and help manage conflict?
Participant Tasks
Draw a symbol to represent who you are. (A symbol can be anything that characterizes the student, e.g. a ball for a basketball player, a tree for a nature lover.)
Gather in pairs and share your symbol, what it means, why you chose it.
Share with the whole class if you wish.
Join the discussion of symbols.
Consider what you learned about yourself and your classmates via symbols.
Adapted from Exercise 1.4, Creating a Culture of Peace in the English Language Classroom by Alison Milofsky (United States Institute of Peace).