Purpose

This activity lets students experience loving themselves unconditionally by distinguishing between (1) who they are and (2) what they do or have. In this activity, they acknowledge themselves for all the things they like about themselves. Then they consider what they don't like and find ways to accept themselves anyway.

Materials

Art paper (12 x 18 inches); Colored markers or crayons; Paste or glue

Procedure

1. Students bring a recent (personal) photograph to class.

2. A story about personal value is read to the students by the teacher.

3. Students are each given a piece of art paper and asked to glue the photo in the center of the paper.

4. The following instructions are dictated to the students by partners (pair work, students sitting back-to-back), or are already printed on the paper:

Next to your picture, write or draw (in a color you like) one thing about yourself that you like, or are proud of. Think of your appearance, your talents, your personality, etc. Turn the paper over. Using a color you don't like, write or draw one thing you don't like about yourself. Turn the paper back to the first side. Using a color you like, write or draw another thing you like about yourself. Turn the paper over. Using a color you don't like, write or draw one thing you don't like about yourself. Continue to write or draw things about yourself that you like and don't like. When you have finished, turn the paper over to the "don't like" side. Using a color you like, write "I love myself even when . . ." above every thing you don't like about yourself.

5. Ask students to form groups and to discuss their pictures, explaining the things they like and the things they don't like.

6. Hang the pictures on the wall, with the positive side showing, or let students take them home.


Adapted from Siccone & López (2000) Educating the Heart. Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.

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