Minds On

My growing family

Explore the TVOkids video entitled “Shahbaz — My Growing Family.”

Meet Shahbaz! This nine-year-old’s family keeps getting bigger!

  • What are some of Shahbaz’s roles?
  • What are some of Shahbaz’s responsibilities as a big brother?
  • How did Shahbaz’s family change?

You can share your answers on the computer, orally, or on paper.

Action

Task 1: My life map

A map of a student's life

A map of a student’s life. The student is pointing to an image of themself in the middle with three arrows pointing outwards. The first arrows shows them celebrating their birthday with a cake and presents with a title on top saying “My Birthday”. The next arrow is pointing to a school with a title on the top saying “My First Day of School”. The last arrow is a house titled “My House”.

A life event is something important that happened to you in your life. It could be the arrival of a new baby into your family. It could be the start of school, or a move to a different home.

Can you think about an important event that happened in your life?

Your life event might not be the same as someone else’s. That is part of what makes each of us unique!

An image showing some important events in a child's life.

This image is titled “Important Events”. There are six events. The first event shows a baby and says, “I was born”. The second event shows a toddler child and says, “I went to daycare”. The third event shows a sleeping infant wrapped in a swaddle that says, “My baby sister was born”. The fourth event is a hockey stick and puck that says, “I started playing hockey”. The fifth event shows a house that says, “We moved to a new house”. The sixth event shows a student and says, “I started Grade 1”.

Creating a life map

Let’s create a life map!

A life map is a story that shares important life events. You can use some pictures at home to make your life map, or draw your own pictures.

You can also record your map as an audio clip or use the following fillable and printable Life Map document.

Remember, family can be anyone who is important in your life and helps to take care of you.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Life Map. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Can you share your roles and responsibilities from one of these life events?

Task 2: Changing roles and responsibilities

As you get older, your roles and responsibilities change in many ways.

Choose two of the following questions about your roles and responsibilities:

  • Did any of your responsibilities change as you got older?
  • Did any of your roles change as you got older?
  • Are any of your roles the same as they always were?
  • Are any of your responsibilities the same as they always were?

Consolidation

Who am I?

Complete one of the following options!

Option 1: My changing roles and responsibilities

Imagine yourself in a new role. In this new role, you will have new responsibilities. What are these new responsibilities?

Record your answer in an audio recording, in writing, or draw a picture.

Choose one of these new roles, or create your own.

  • What is your responsibility as a class leader?
  • What is your responsibility as a good friend?
  • What is your responsibility as a student?
  • What is your responsibility as a new sibling?

Option 2: I am poem

You have many roles in your life. Now, you will write a poem called “I Am.” The poem will include all of your roles. Here is an example:

An image of a student showing their poem titled 'I am...Poem'

There is a student pointing to themselves with a poem to the left of them.

The poem is titled “I am…Poem”

The poem reads:

I am a kid. I am a big sister.

I am a good friend.

I am a first grader.

But the most important thing about me is that I am me!

You can use the following fillable and printable I Am Poem document as a template for your poem.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the I Am Poem. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Task 1

Share your important events in your life with a partner. Do you have any events that are similar? What questions can you ask to learn more about your partner’s important events in their life?

Task 2

Let’s imagine you become a pet owner! That is a big life event. It could be on a life map. That would change your role and your responsibilities. What new responsibilities would you have?

Explore the following TVOkids videos about Gabby and her dog Kibo.

Feeding pets

Playing with pets

How do your responsibilities change if you become a pet owner? Share your ideas with someone, like a friend or family member. Consider recording your ideas in a journal or an audio clip.