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5 Kids Activities for Building Authenticity with the Authentic Austin Activity Pack

Writer's picture: Macy LaneMacy Lane

What does authenticity mean to you? What does being authentic look like? And how do we help children understand the importance of being true to ourselves? Keep reading to find out more, sign up to grab a FREE DOWNLOAD, and discover our new AUTHENTIC AUSTIN ACTIVITY PACK, a ready made resource with over 20 activities to use with your students.


Once, when I was still an IB Coordinator in an elementary school, our leadership team on campus tried participating in a book study. We chose DARE TO LEAD by Brene Brown and if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.


One of the exercises in the book required us to determine our core values. The activity requires a great bit of introspection and I took the challenge to heart. When it was all said and done, I determined that one of my core values was authenticity.

Merriam Webster defines authentic(ity) as: being true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.  


Some of us come into the world confident in who and how we are, but many of us don’t. I’ve always craved authenticity (and I for sure need it from others), but I have never felt 100% comfortable stepping into the ‘real’ me.


One of the things I love best about The Great Trait Mates is that they allow the adults who share them with kids to be vulnerable and admit that we aren’t perfect either.  They open the door for conversations that send the message of “I’m in this with you,” or “I know I need help with this. Can you help me?”


To help spark conversations about authenticity with children, AUTHENTIC AUSTIN is a super starting point.  If I were still in the classroom, I’m sharing 5 activities for teachers and kids that I would use this book as a tool for personal and community growth. These are tailored for elementary age students and can be adjusted accordingly to meet your students' grade level needs. Also, these all start from the assumption that you have already read the book to students and have it readily available for the conversations and activities below. If you don’t have a copy of AUTHENTIC AUSTIN yet, be sure to grab your copy HERE!


Here are 5 kids' activities for building authenticity:


ABOUT ME ACTIVITY

Goal: To help students_____________(insert the appropriate Bloom’s Taxonomy level of critical thinking) who they are as a person. 

Materials: This activity can look many ways depending on the supplies and time available. The goal is for students to identify items in magazines, books, in the environment or online that represent who they are. Truly, there is no limit to the materials that can be gathered to demonstrate a student’s authentic representation of themselves.  

  • Poster board

  • Magazines

  • Scissors and glue

  • About Me worksheet (sign up for your free download HERE)

  • Computer with access to slideshow capabilities

Ideas for Use:  This can be a stand alone activity or it can be connected to a story you have read or a writing assignment. It is great for the beginning of the year or back to school activity to help students get to know one another. Students will use the magazines or photos found online to create a poster board or slide show presentation that exemplifies who they authentically are. Once completed, these About Me activities can be presented to the class and then displayed in the hall or classroom.  

Differentiation idea:  Vision Board: For older students, a vision board might be a more engaging and appropriate version of the About Me Activity.



Sample worksheet for kids to practice being authentic.
Sing up for your FREE DOWNLOAD today!


ACROSTIC POEM

Goal:  To use the concepts of poetry to create an acrostic poem that represents who you are.

Materials: The materials needed will vary depending on your preference.

  • Paper

  • Markers

Ideas for use:  Poetry is taught in many different grade levels and the acrostic poem is a super entry point for exposing students to poetry. An acrostic poem is one where the first letter of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase.  Students can write their name vertically on a piece of paper and then create a poem using adjectives that describe who they are. The poems can then be assembled into a class poetry book for the students to read throughout the year. 

Differentiation idea: Other forms of poetry.  For older students or to further your poetry unit, students can attempt to create different forms of poetry using themselves as the subject matter. Students can write haiku, limericks, free verse, etc. as they describe themselves through poetry.


ROLL AND CHAT

Goal: Students develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be authentic by engaging in conversations with a partner about authenticity. 

Materials: 

  • Roll and Chat game board

  • Dice for each pair of students

Ideas for use:  This activity can be as informal as partner discussions or can be used as journal prompts or writing activities. It’s a great ice-breaker game too, which can help build community in your classroom or with a group of kids.  The game asks questions such as, “What do you love most about being authentic and why?” and “Who is someone you know who is authentic? What do they do?”

Differentiation idea:  Students can create Roll and Chat boards by writing their own questions. Students can choose one question to use as a writing prompt and write a paragraph describing their answer.  Roll and Chat could be a whole class activity to build relationships and classroom community. 


AUTHENTIC EXIT TICKET

Goal:  To provide a quick check for understanding that can be used as an informal assessment after learning about authenticity.

Materials: 

  • Authentic Exit Ticket

Ideas for use:  If time allows, students can complete an exit ticket during a transition time or at the end of the day.  You can use the exit tickets provided, or simply have them write their response in a journal. Additionally, you can also have the student provide their answer out loud if time is limited. Having the student identify ways they have been authentic helps develop self awareness. Recognizing how others around them have been authentic helps build classroom community and collaboration. 

Differentiation idea:  As stated above, you can modify this to a verbal response rather than written if time doesn’t allow. You could also have students identify the way characters in books they are reading (or a mentor text you’ve read to them) are being authentic.  Students can create exit tickets by writing questions about authenticity. 


WOULD YOU RATHER? 

Goal: To help students practice real time decision making skills to build their comfort level with being authentic. 

Materials:

  • Would You Rather game (found HERE)

Ideas for use: As a whole class learning activity, this game provides the opportunity for students to show their true colors. Before playing is a perfect time to have a conversation with kids about answering the way that they truly feel and not the way others answer. Would You Rather is perfect for rainy, indoor recess days or anytime you have a few extra minutes before dismissal. 

Differentiation idea: Older students could create their own versions of Would You Rather by writing out their scenarios or putting them into a slideshow format.  You could challenge students by having them write questions based on a theme such as summer time, playground, food, etc. 

Authenticity is a character trait that oftentime gets overlooked in today’s world. Social media has the ability to spark comparisons with others, sometimes pushing us away from who we are and more in the direction of who we think others want us to be. Creating an environment where students feel safe to be themselves can be life-changing. Being accepted for who we are builds connections and creates a confidence that can carry us throughout the whole of our lives.


AUTHENTIC AUSTIN and the AUTHENTIC AUSTIN ACTIVITY PACK are tools to help jumpstart your classroom conversations about getting to know ourselves and letting who we really are shine through!


Let me know in the comments any activities you’ve used to help teach and promote authenticity in your learning environment.






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