Children are constantly being bombarded with images and messages about how they are supposed to act, and who they are supposed to be.  It is easy for kids to get lost in these messages sent by TV, media, billboards, and even peers.  This activity gives kids the opportunity to create a person that does not fit into social norms, in fact the person they will create is a very unique person.  This social activity is geared towards stepping away from social standards and embracing what makes up different. 

Supplies

• Person Outline Printout 
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils
• tape

Introduction and Discussion

Ask kids to think about what makes us different.  Start by asking what is different about people from the shoulders up?  

• Some people have long hair and some have short. A few people have green eyes and some have brown.  Some people have brown skin and others have peach. Some people wear earrings and some do not.

What is different about our mid-sections?  

• A few people have muscular arms, and some have skinny arms.  Some people wear vests, and some people wear suits. Some people wear necklaces and some people wear ties.

Next discuss how people are have different legs and feet.  

• Some people have short legs, some have long. A few people wear jeans, some wear skirts. Some people wear tennis shoes, and some people wear sandals.

Administrate This Social Activity

After discussion hand out the “person outline handout”  

Ask each child to draw a unique person, think about details about that person such as what is there job, do they have any unique hobbies, is there anything special about them. Be as detailed as possible.

Then, after the children have completed their person ask them to cut along the gray lines.

Have each child pick one piece of their person to keep and collect the other two pieces. Redistribute the pieces so each child get a new person.

Have them tape their new person together, if all goes as planned this should be a very interesting person.

Have the children look at there new person and come up with a name and at least five interesting facts about them based on their appearance.

Go around the class sharing.

More Social Activity Ideas for Kids

If you like “What Makes Us Different” you may also like gratitude tap. Gratitude tap is a quiet game that promotes children’s self awareness.

You may also like emotional charades. Print out the emotional charades cards and have children take turns acting out different feelings. This game promotes emotional identification.

Check out this Empathy Game from momentsaday.com teaches kids to see things from others perspectives and teaches kids to be considerate.