Identity maps are a powerful tool for students to explore and deepen their understanding of themselves, groups, nations, and historical and literary figures. This activity encourages students to create a visual representation of their socialization in various aspects of identity such as race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. It asks them to create a timeline of their lives, noting at what age they learned certain lessons about their identity, who taught them, and how those lessons were taught. The Socialization Cycle brochure is a great resource to help students understand the relationship between identity and socialization.
Additionally, the Iowa Sikh Association's digital stories can provide insight into how sociocultural interactions and context construct and reinforce social identities. Adults who provide space for young people to share their identities can create more inclusive and connected learning environments in the home, school and community. The Social Identity Wheel is another useful tool for students to determine which aspects of their identities they would like to explore further. It encourages them to reflect on the aspects of their own identities and the identities that they have learned but do not share. It also helps them consider how their understanding of identities is imposed and how they reinforce or challenge the sociocultural construction of identities.
The activity includes questions for reflection and debate that will help students recognize the broader social context of identities and how identities are constructed and maintained socially. Finally, students should be encouraged to identify a model to follow, explain why they think this person is important, and explain what led them to admire this person in relation to their own identity. This exercise can help students gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.
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