A simple idea that I used on a long ago teaching practice, thanks to Rolyat Trebor, enabled children to enter a world of pure imagination. The premise is a simple one; you take your name and write it backwards. In so doing, you become your anti-person, the complete opposite. This allows children to explore their own personality, so would have explored ideas that are now a part of Personal and Social elements of school.
for example, some personality traits are positive:
- Being honest no matter what the consequences.
- Having responsibility for all of your actions.
- Adaptability and compatibility can help you get along with others.
- Having the drive to keep going, and having compassion and understanding.
- Patience, so people say, is a virtue.
- Having the courage to do what’s right in those tough situations and loyalty to your friends and loved ones.
Read more at http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-personality-traits.html#wieQA3vRM9k4XYbi.99
So, obviously, the anti-person, in this case, would be dishonest, irresponsible, dogmatic, lazy, impatient, cowardly and disloyal.
The benefit is that it enables the exploration the language of opposites and opposition, but is also enables children to develop a reflective scenario where they meet their alter-ego.
Making masks accompanies this idea really well.
Links to two different methods; one simple the other slightly more complex.
3D Masks made easily
Five fold 3D masks
I like this poem, I woke up this morning, by Karla Kuskin
I woke up this morning at quarter past seven.
I kicked up the covers and stuck out my toe.
And ever since then, that’s a quarter past seven,
They haven’t said anything other than “no”.
They haven’t said anything other than,
“Please dear, don’t so what you’re doing” or “Lower your voice.”
Whatever I’ve done and however I’ve chosen,
I’ve done the wrong thing and I’ve made the wrong choice.
I didn’t wash well and I didn’t say thank you.
I didn’t shake hands and I didn’t say please.
I didn’t say sorry when, passing a candy,
I banged the box into Miss Witelson’s knees.
I didn’t say sorry. I didn’t stand straighter.
I didn’t speak louder when asked what I’d said.
Well, I said that tomorrow at quarter past seven,
They can come in and get me, I’m staying in bed…
Or this one, Sulk, by Felice Holman.
I scuff my feet along and puff my lower lip,
I sip my milk in slurps and huff and frown and stamp around,
And tip my chair back from the table,
Nearly fall down, but I don't care.
I scuff, I pout and frown and huff,
and stamp and pout,
Till I forget what it's about.
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