In their early years, kids are the center of their own universe; they are developmentally egocentric as they explore and experience the world from their limited perspective.
And that’s okay!
In fact, it can actually be a really good thing to build confidence and a establish a positive view of self; It’s not selfish or egotistical when it’s supported in the right way. That self-assured perspective will be the foundation for kindness, empathy, and the consideration of others. After all, you can’t love others until you truly love yourself!
ENTER: Autobiographies! There’s no better way to build self confidence than to focus on all of the different aspects that make US unique.
But writing an autobiography can be a daunting task, especially for the littlest learners. That’s where structured and guided prompts and templates come in.
Not only are they super cute, but they make the whole process of writing your own About Me book a breeze! Just pick the templates you’d like to include, gradually fill them out and add COLOUR over the week (or however long you have designated for the assignment), then bind and, low and behold, your tiny little kiddies have written a whole book!!! 🤯
The lined prompt pages work great in a Writing Center. Students can either select the prompt they want to complete or you can have them complete specific ones throughout the week.
These prompts are intentionally left open-ended to provide opportunity for creative freedom. Guide students with a more focused response or let them interpret each prompt however they do! For example, if you choose the “Saved by the Bell” template, students could:
- share facts about their school/grade/teacher/etc.
- write a story about a field trip or other school memory
- craft a creative writing piece about their dream school, what they would learn, etc.
The blank writing pages above provide even more opportunities to make your autobiography your own. You could use them to:
- write a letter to yourself from the future
- write an introduction letter to the readers of your autobiography
- collect autographs or special messages from friends
- come up with your own writing prompt such as “The Best Vacation Ever” or “If I Had a Million Dollars…”
Once your book is written and bound, why not share your work with another class or put them on display in the library?! Adding a self portrait art piece is a great way to complete the experience. I love the ideas pictured above:
Whether you teach six year olds or sixth grade, this project makes an amazing keepsake book of memories that students and their families will cherish for years after they’ve grown 💕 Get it HERE.
Have you created autobiographies with your kiddies before?
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