Bio Poems

This is a great "get-to-know you" activity with a group of students.  I have used it at all levels and adapted it to the students.  There are a variety of templates available for bio poems, available on the web and in teaching resources.  I have provided a couple here.  I usually create a model with the students, especially to model it for elementary school students.  Kids can also illustrate them and I always have them share (or at least the parts they are comfortable sharing).  Fun to put up for open house or parent conferences also!  You can create your own based on a template also.

First name

Three traits to describe yourself 

Son or daughter or relative of...

Who feels...

Who fears...

Who needs...

Who gives...

Who would like to see...

Last Name 

or

First name

Three adjectives describing yourself

Who feels

Who wears

Who wonders about

Who loves

Who fears

Who wants

Who will achieve

Last name

Classmate Puzzle

I use this activity towards the beginning of the year or first days of class.  This one was made with teenagers who I teach from Taiwan in the summer.  Each student designs a puzzle piece that reflects them, their family, interests, etc.  They use them as a talking point (in this case to develop their English), when sharing about themselves.  We then put them back together (the kids do it), and glue it down and hang it outside the classroom.

Steps:

1.  Draw the correct amount of puzzle pieces.
     (If there are an odd amount of students, I have created extra pieces in the past, and made one myself
      and or written the name of the school or program on one- someone who is finished first can also
      design this one).

2.  Cut the pieces out.  Mark the top and front of each piece, or you may get backwards and
     upside down pieces back and have to remake pieces.

3.  Explain the assignment with a model piece.

4.  The kids design the pieces and share them with classmates.

5.  Glue the puzzle back together.