Self-awareness is the ability to recognize one’s own feelings, strengths, weaknesses, and stressors. Self awareness is also the ability to see ourselves as unique human beings who are important and here for a purpose.
After listening to I Am Enough by Grace Byers, students will create a two cell storyboard that illustrates 2 things that make them unique. Each cell will follow the format of the book, using the words, “Like the…, I’m here to…” Students should be encouraged to think of a new simile, but may use an example from the book if the teacher chooses.
Examples from the story:
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that illustrates two of your unique features.
Student Instructions
Begin by creating a safe and welcoming environment where students feel comfortable sharing. Model openness by sharing your own unique qualities first, then invite students to volunteer their thoughts. Encourage respect by setting clear expectations for listening and valuing each other's input. Use open-ended prompts like, “What makes you special?” or “How do you show who you are?” to spark engagement.
Offer a few imaginative examples to spark ideas, such as, “Like a puzzle, I fit in my own way,” or “Like a river, I find my own path.” This helps students who may feel stuck and shows that uniqueness can be expressed in many ways.
Have students think quietly about what makes them unique, then share their ideas with a partner. This allows quieter students to practice sharing before opening up in front of the class, building confidence and trust.
Recognize and affirm every student’s idea by offering specific praise, such as, “That’s a creative way to think about yourself!” or “I love how you compared yourself to a star.” This fosters self-esteem and reinforces a classroom culture of respect.
A simple self-awareness lesson for 3rd or 4th graders is to have students read I Am Enough by Grace Byers and then create a two-cell storyboard showing two things that make them unique, using similes inspired by the book.
After reading I Am Enough, encourage students to make storyboards where each cell completes the phrase, “Like the…, I’m here to…,” helping them express what makes them special in their own words and images.
Examples of similes students can use include: “Like the sun, I’m here to shine,” “Like the tree, I’m here to grow,” or they can create new ones such as “Like the river, I’m here to flow.”
Great picture books for teaching self-awareness include Be Who You Are by Todd Parr, Take the Time: Mindfulness for Kids by Maud Roegiers, Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and Quick as a Cricket by Audry Wood.
Guide students by asking them to brainstorm personal strengths or interests, then help them turn these into similes and illustrations for each cell of their storyboard, following the book’s format for clarity and inspiration.