Who Am I?:

Identity Poems

A lesson for Grades 1-3

Identity and Diversity Month

Grade 1

Grade 3

01

Grade 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

02

03

Slides 22-33

Slides 3-11

Slides 12-21

Grade: 1

Vocabulary

Identity: The things that make a person who they are. Some examples could be: their culture, religion, race and gender.

Warm Up Share Circle

What is something about yourself that others may not know?

Together we will:

• Sit in a circle
• Each take a turn sharing one thing about ourselves that others might not know
• Listen to each person share and tell them, “thank you for sharing!”

*Please only share what you feel comfortable with others knowing.

​

02.

Writing Activity: Word Bowl

What are some of your favorite words?

Let’s write them down

Words I Like

Word Lists

We will be making poems and we are going to use the words we come up with today in our poems later.

• Each student will get a worksheet to fill out
• Put words in the boxes of the letter the word starts with. For example, if you like the word “star” put it in the S box.
• Try to put at least one word in each box.

*Here is a list of words if your students need help.

Time to create our

“Who I Am” poems!

We are going to use our word lists to help us create poems about our identities. Remember, your identity is all the things that make you special!

Your poems will be acrostic poems. This means we will use your first name (and last name if you wish) to create a poem.

​

Your poem:

• Does not have to rhyme.
• Does not have to have correct grammar
• Can use punctuation but it is not required.

​

​

Examples

Time to share!

Each student can stand up and read their poem.

Grade: 2

Vocabulary

Identity: The things that make a person who they are. Some examples could be: their culture, religion, race and gender.

Warm Up: Share Circle

01.

Warm Up Share Circle

What is something about yourself that others may not know?

Together we will:

• Sit in a circle
• Each take a turn sharing one thing about ourselves that others might not know
• Listen to each person share and tell them, “thank you for sharing!”

*Please only share what you feel comfortable with others knowing.

​

02.

Writing Activity: Word Bowl

What are some of your favorite words?

Let’s write them down

Words I Like

Word Lists

We will be making poems and we are going to use the words we come up with today in our poems later.

• Each student will get a worksheet to fill out
• Put words in the boxes of the letter the word starts with. For example, if you like the word “star” put it in the S box.
• Try to put at least one word in each box.

*Here is a list of words if your students need help.

Time to create our

“Who I Am” poems!

We are going to use our word lists to help us create poems about our identities. Remember, your identity is all the things that make you special!

Your poems will be acrostic poems. This means we will use your first name (and last name if you wish) to create a poem.

​

Your poem:

• Needs to have at least 5 words from your word list
• Should have a short sentence for each letter
• Does not have to rhyme.
• Does not have to have correct grammar
• Can use punctuation but it is not required.

​

​

Examples

Time to share!

Each student can stand up and read their poem.

Grade: 3

Vocabulary

Identity: The things that make a person who they are. Some examples could be: their culture, religion, race and gender.

Warm Up: Share Circle

01.

Warm Up Share Circle

What is something about yourself that others may not know?

Together we will:

• Sit in a circle
• Each take a turn sharing one thing about ourselves that others might not know
• Listen to each person share and tell them, “thank you for sharing!”

*Please only share what you feel comfortable with others knowing.

​

02.

Writing Activity: Word Bowl

What are some of your favorite words?

Let’s write them down

Words I Like

Word Lists

We will be making poems and we are going to use the words we come up with today in our poems later.

• Each student will get a worksheet to fill out
• Put words in the boxes of the letter the word starts with. For example, if you like the word “star” put it in the S box.
• Try to put at least one word in each box.

*Here is a list of words if your students need help.

Comparisons & Metaphors

Looking at what is similar or the same.

Ex: He was as strong as a horse!

Comparison

Metaphor

A comparison but does not use the words like or as.

Ex: She is a shining star!

What does it mean to compare two things?

Does anyone know what a metaphor is?

Comparisons & Metaphors

Sandra is sweet.

Ordinary

Vivid

Sandra is as sweet as a strawberry ice cream cone.

Making comparisons between things and using metaphors is often used in poetry.

This is because when we write poems, we want to communicate strong emotions and paint a vivid picture to share in the poem. It is helpful to use the most descriptive language possible to get the person who is reading the poem to really feel and understand what you are trying to convey. A good way to do this is to use

comparisons and metaphors.

Time to create our

“Who I Am” poems!

We are going to use our word lists to help us create poems about our identities. Remember, your identity is all the things that make you special!

Your poems will be acrostic poems. This means we will use your first name (and last name if you wish) to create a poem.

​

Your poem:

• Needs to have at least 10 words from your word list
• Should have a sentence or list for each letter
• Needs at least one metaphor or comparison
• Does not have to rhyme.
• Does not have to have correct grammar
• Can use punctuation but it is not required.

​

​

Example

Olive skin, brown eyes like chocolate drops, short kinky hair

Likes many things including skateboarding and minecraft

Interesting like an unread book

Veterinarian someday, that is my dream

Interracial Family makes me who I am

Animals are always on my mind

​

Time to share!

Each student can stand up and read their poem.