Creative Lesson Starters for Identity Development in Psychology
Lesson Starter 1: "Who Am I?"
Objective: Engage students in self-reflection and discussion about their own identities.
Activity:
- Icebreaker Discussion: Begin with a warm-up question: “If you could use three words to describe your identity, what would they be?”
- Personal Reflection: Ask students to take five minutes to write down their three words and reflect on why they chose them. Encourage them to consider aspects like culture, gender, personal interests, values, and experiences.
- Small Group Sharing: In pairs or small groups, have students share their chosen words and their significance. This promotes active discussion and helps students understand the complexity of identity.
Transition to Lesson: After sharing, ask students: “How do you think these aspects of identity develop over time?” This question will segue into the main topic of identity development and developmental psychology.
Lesson Starter 2: "Identity Map"
Objective: Visualize the components that contribute to identity formation.
Activity:
- Drawing Identity Maps: Provide students with blank paper and colored markers. Ask them to create a visual "identity map" that illustrates the various factors influencing their identity. Encourage creativity—use symbols, images, and colors to represent family, friends, cultural influences, interests, and life experiences.
- Gallery Walk: Once completed, have students display their maps around the room. Allow time for a "gallery walk" where students can view and draw inspiration from each other's maps.
- Discussion Prompt: Gather students and ask them to reflect on common themes in their maps and differences. Pose the question: “What role do you think society plays in shaping our identities?”
Transition to Lesson: Use their insights to introduce theories of identity development, highlighting how both personal and societal factors contribute to identity formation throughout the lifespan.
Lesson Starter 3: "Famous Identity Evolution"
Objective: Analyze and discuss real-life examples of identity development.
Activity:
- Video Clip: Start the lesson by showing a short video montage featuring interviews or clips about various public figures (artists, activists, athletes) who share their personal journeys of identity evolution (e.g., coming out, transitioning careers, embracing cultural heritage).
- Think-Pair-Share: After the video, ask students to reflect individually on which figures they connected with most and why. Then, have them discuss in pairs for a few minutes.
- Group Reflection: Bring the class back together. Ask a few volunteers to share their connections, leading to a discussion about the public and private aspects of identity development.
Transition to Lesson: Link the discussion back to the objectives of the week, emphasizing how identity is not static but evolves through experiences and societal influences.
Conclusion
These engaging lesson starters are designed to foster initial interest and discussion surrounding the complex topic of identity development in the context of developmental psychology. Each activity promotes critical thinking and personal reflection, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of psychological theories and concepts related to identity.