Sometimes it just feels good to write about yourself. The introspection is therapeutic. But it can also be difficult. That’s when figurative language saves the day. For example, similes allow you to compare yourself to other things. They allow you to say you are “like” something. In this activity, students get to use similes to describe themselves. That’s why it’s called “Writing About Me Sym-bol-i-cal-ly”!

This is a great activity for the beginning of the school year to get students to share about themselves (and like your class in the process). It’s also good at the end of the school year when there is more time to relax a little, yet you still want to hold their attention. The art part is optional, by the way, if you just want to focus on getting them to write similes about themselves. Either way, this will get those reluctant writers writing in no time.

Grab the very thorough step-by-step free lesson in print and digital formats. Notes on ways to do this through distance learning are provided so it can easily be done in class or at home. Samples are included in the lesson, but first take a look at some of those below for inspiration. You may even want to write your own similes and make a mandala. I did! I really enjoyed the whole process.

Here are the steps continued (but all this available more thoroughly in the free lesson:

3. Students are instructed how to make the mandala, the circular representation of their whole being. They can even make into a yin-yang, which is pretty cool. They take each of their seven objects and represent them artistically.

4. Optionally, you can have them take an 8 1/2″ x 17″ paper and fold it so that it has two flaps in the front. They cut their mandala in half (either in a straight line or in a swirly line like a yin-yang has). They glue the two sides onto the flaps. Then, you can choose different autobiographical activities for them to decorate the inside such as: an autobiography, a personal narrative, a “Me” poem, an acrostic poem, any kind of creative poem. a picture of themselves, etc. The sky is the limit. When they are done, they have a beautiful folder all about themselves!

As you can see below, this is a great activity for all ages!