In this self-love project, students were challenged to discover themselves in a physical, mental, emotional, and communal sense. They launched into the school year by conducting empathy interviews with one another, playing “get to know you” games, and digging into how to love the uniqueness about themselves.They learned about mathematical patterns like the Golden Ratio and how it can be discovered in nature, art, architecture, and even our own bodies. They mastered ratios and proportions by creating their own scaled down version of themselves in the Vitruvian Man art style. They built their own Golden Rectangle Frames in makerspace to house their Vitruvian self portraits. Students also wrote a personal narrative that highlighted a moment in their lives that amplified a positive characteristic of themselves. Students exhibited their work by hosting a “You Are Perfect Festival,” where students and families were not only invited to see their work, but to also learn strategies to find the beauty, positivity, and love in themselves. Students led participants in creating self affirmation mirrors, an affirmation mural, get to know you games, and a “You’re Perfect” box, all which were spread around the school to promote self love.
Teacher Reflection
Teachers are often advised to start the school year with an identity project, and I think this project was the most effective one I’ve ever facilitated because it immediately got to the core of a major issue in middle school classrooms: self-esteem. “Know Thyself” immediately challenged students to face the reality that it is difficult for human beings in our society to love themselves, so that they could proactively work towards shifting that reality. Our class novel The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake supported students’ exploration of multiple themes that contribute to negative self esteem, such as bullying, peer pressure, prejudice, racism, and many other “isms.” Through class discussions, small group work, and boundary breaking activities, students began to combat their own self doubt with self, peer, and community affirmations. Their positive mantras set the tone for the year and are referred back to daily.
– Brittany Perro
Student Reflection
I learned that I am perfect no matter what others say. I learned that I’m a really resilient person. I have been through a lot and so has everyone in this class but when we open up about our true selves we can all work on bettering ourselves together. I was transformed by this project by becoming more confident, with a reminder that I am perfect. I have become more honest with myself and people around me.
—Stella
To see more of the student’s work, visit their exhibition website.
In this self-love project, students were challenged to discover themselves in a physical, mental, emotional, and communal sense. They launched into the school year by conducting empathy interviews with one another, playing “get to know you” games, and digging into how to love the uniqueness about themselves.They learned about mathematical patterns like the Golden Ratio and how it can be discovered in nature, art, architecture, and even our own bodies. They mastered ratios and proportions by creating their own scaled down version of themselves in the Vitruvian Man art style. They built their own Golden Rectangle Frames in makerspace to house their Vitruvian self portraits. Students also wrote a personal narrative that highlighted a moment in their lives that amplified a positive characteristic of themselves. Students exhibited their work by hosting a “You Are Perfect Festival,” where students and families were not only invited to see their work, but to also learn strategies to find the beauty, positivity, and love in themselves. Students led participants in creating self affirmation mirrors, an affirmation mural, get to know you games, and a “You’re Perfect” box, all which were spread around the school to promote self love.
Teacher Reflection
Teachers are often advised to start the school year with an identity project, and I think this project was the most effective one I’ve ever facilitated because it immediately got to the core of a major issue in middle school classrooms: self-esteem. “Know Thyself” immediately challenged students to face the reality that it is difficult for human beings in our society to love themselves, so that they could proactively work towards shifting that reality. Our class novel The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake supported students’ exploration of multiple themes that contribute to negative self esteem, such as bullying, peer pressure, prejudice, racism, and many other “isms.” Through class discussions, small group work, and boundary breaking activities, students began to combat their own self doubt with self, peer, and community affirmations. Their positive mantras set the tone for the year and are referred back to daily.
– Brittany Perro
Student Reflection
I learned that I am perfect no matter what others say. I learned that I’m a really resilient person. I have been through a lot and so has everyone in this class but when we open up about our true selves we can all work on bettering ourselves together. I was transformed by this project by becoming more confident, with a reminder that I am perfect. I have become more honest with myself and people around me.
—Stella
To see more of the student’s work, visit their exhibition website.
