How does exploring stories and other texts help us understand ourselves and make connections to others?
Core Competencies:
Personal and Social – positive personal & cultural identity
● I understand that my identity is made up of many interconnected aspects (family, peers, heritage…)
● I understand that learning is continuous and my concept of self and identity will continue to evolve
Questions:
- How do we form and shape our identities?
- How can we use key moments and experiences in our own lives to create a personal narrative?
- What do we reveal about our own identity by telling our own story?
- What is revealed about someone through story?
Sharing our world: animals of the native northwest coast – a read out loud story book
Being 12: The Year Everything Changed
- Watch and listen to the video “Being 12: The Year Everything Changed”
- As you listen to the video, write a list of ideas that come to you.
- You can use the writing prompt – I remember when . . .
- Circle your top two.
- Write about, using sensory details to show
- Write for 5 minutes.
Being 12: The Year Everything Changes
Partner Turn and Listen:
What did you notice in this short clip? What do you think? What do you wonder? What is something you learned from Ed Sheeran about his identity; personality?
Invite whole group share….
Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing – Ed Sheeran | Goalcast
“Hands” by Sarah Kay
- Read and listen to the spoken word poem, “Hands” by Sarah Kay
- Open writing journal to a two-page spread
- On one side glue in the poem.
- On the other side, trace an outline of your hand.
- Fill in your hand outline with things you have held or touched that mattered to you.
- Circle your top two.
- Write about, using sensory details to show, moments or events connected to these object.
- Write for 5 minutes.
Sarah Kay: If I should have a Daughter
Tween Stereotypes and Brilliant Truths:
Who is Gen Z? Stereotypes, myths and truths

Identity Webs:
What does identity mean? How do we define ourselves? How are we defined by others?
Writing Journal: Create an identity web that shows a number of important things about yourself. We all have ‘external’ and ‘internal’ factors that make us who we are.
External Factors include:
- Age
- Gender
- Physical Appearance
- Ethnic Background
Internal Factors Include:
- Relationships with family, friends and members of the community
- My feelings about myself
- Personality traits (e.g. quiet, hardworking, caring)
- Cultural background
- Hobbies and interests
Once you have completed your ‘Identity Web’ look it over and answer:
- What parts of your identity are most important to you? Why are they important to you?
Lesson 1 – Identity Introduction
Identity Webs Go Home Assignment
The Sneetches:
- What is the “connection between our sense of belonging to the people, places and ideas, and our sense of self.”
- Belonging helps provide a connection to others and a sense of acceptance. But our desire to conform to the needs or expectations of a group can compromise our sense of individuality.
Sometimes diversity is what you see…. & Sometimes diversity is what you don’t see…..
Reflect:
Everyday People
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I’m in
For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one
And different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo
We are the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me you know me and then
You can’t figure out the bag I’m in
For bein’ such a rich one that will not help the poor one
And different strokes for…
