The Best Part Of Us

One issue third grade students face is the lack of self esteem they have. One way I teach them that there is something special about all of us is to read the book "The Best Part of Me" by Wendy Ewald. This book entails black and white photographs of children that have written something about their chosen body part. The children describe what they think is their best body part and use wonderful descriptions about why it is their "best part."

After reading the book a minimum of two times to the students they are to decide which part of their body is their best.

Once they have established their "best part" they will write it at the top of a blank piece of paper and list all the things they like about that feature. Example: HAIR: curly, thick, long, smells good, looks pretty tied up, etc...

After they have come up with all of the descriptions they will have a partner that will take a photograph of their best feature.

Once the photographs are all printed out, the students will be given their photo and begin writing thier piece. The piece of writing they chose to do may be a paragraph, poem, or haiku.

This project allows students to see that their is something special about all of us. It help with self-awareness and self-acceptance along with following writing curriculum.

In today's society, it is especially important to show our young people that no matter who you are or what you look like, everyone has something special about them.