Time Allotment: | 50 minutes |
Materials: | Magazines that can be cut up for collage Paper, scissors, and glue for collage Blackboard or chart paper |
Preparation: | Before class, organize magazines, scissors, and glue so they will be easy to distribute when it’s time for the student collages. |
Overview: | In this lesson, students consider their personal values and create collages that reflect these values. |
Big Idea: | We are all unique in the things we value, but we also share certain values with others in our communities. |
Create a Collage (30 minutes):
Distribute magazines, paper, scissors, and glue and ask each student to create a collage that answers the question, “What do I value?” or “What’s important to me?”
Remind students that what’s important to them might include not only tangible objects but also people, ideas, attitudes, and behaviors. Encourage them to think broadly about what they depict and how they depict it. They do not have to be literal in the way they use the images they find in the magazines.
Share (10 minutes):
As you discuss students’ work, also comment on the way students approached the task visually. Note, for example, if students used the whole page, incorporated color into the composition, organized their work spatially, etc.
For Homework:
Have each student write a paragraph that outlines what is most important to him or her. Encourage students to visit the website This I Believe to read some essays written by others about their core beliefs and values. Also, suggest students click here for tips on writing their own essays.
If your students have not yet done the Introductory Lesson, we recommend beginning with that lesson before progressing through the lessons in this unit.