Lesson Plan 1

“The Individual and society” – Identity

(2 lessons)

Overall Key Questions:

What are the factors that shape our identity?

How can identity be used to include or exclude us from membership in various groups?

Lesson 1

Name Free Write Activity

This activity serves as an introduction to exploring identity. Names can provide insight into culture, family traditions and, in the case of South Africa, can reflect the influence of apartheid politics on our identities.

Key Question:

What are the factors that shape our identity?

• • • How do I see myself?
    • How do I believe others see me?
    • What makes you who you are?
    • What influences your identity?

  Resources :Identity chart

Step 1

• Ask learners, quietly and on their own, to write as much as they can about their names, e.g. how they got their names, what their names mean, their feelings about their names, etc. (2 minutes)
• Learners share what they have written with a partner.

Step 2

• Create a class identity chart by asking learners to share something about their names with the rest of the class.  (See an example of an identity chart on the identity resources page)
• Create the chart as learners share with the rest of class. Record all aspects that make up our identities that are revealed through their names. As they share, put the categories they mention on the chart. Discuss what these categories tell us about individual identity.

Step 3

• Learners create TWO identity charts. One identity chart shows how they see themselves and the other is how they think others see them.
• They must include the things that they feel make them who they are. Encourage them to use nouns as well as adjectives (roles and groups as well as characteristics–”girl”, “Muslim”, “flute player”, “shy”).
• Those learners who want to share their identity charts can.
• If there is time create an identity chart of the class. Record all aspects that make up our identities. Put the categories they mention on the chart.
• Ask learners to keep these identity charts in their files or books so that they can be referred to at a later stage.

Step 4

• Conclude the lesson by discussing identity:

What is identity?

How does the way we see ourselves affect how others see us?

How does how others see us affect the way we see ourselves?

• Lead learners to come to the understanding that there are many things that make up a person’s identity

Download example of identity chart

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