Craft Lesson #2

What’s in a Name?

Resource Materials:
Book: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Blank Paper
Colored Pencils
Pencil
Stickers
Crayons
(Glitter, glue, feathers, macaroni, decorative items….)

Discussion:
Each individual child has a special name that was given to them. Their name may have been given to them for a particular reason and it is important to recognize each child’s name. In The Name Jar, the character struggles with feeling different from her classmates. Feeling different and like an outsider because of their name can be a problem for many children. In this craft lesson each child’s name will be important and special and put on display. Hopefully every student in the classroom will feel that their name is truly unique and special.

How to Teach it: (1st or 2nd grade)
The students will first begin the class by writing down their name and what it means or what they think it means. They will be given time to brainstorm about this and ask questions if they have any. They will be asked these kinds of questions to help them get started: How did you get your name? What do you think your name means? What do you like about your name?
Next, the students will each get a piece of paper. I will instruct them to write their first name down in the most creative way they can think of. They will be able to use any of the materials listed above to make it the best way that they can. After they create their name sign we will hang them all in the classroom in different spots. I will remind the class that any time they feel like they are having a hard day or feel down to look for their name in the classroom and what we talked about. It will make all of the students feel more together as a class I think and also feel included.