About Me Name Tags
About Me Name Tags
Purpose
To get to know other members of the group.
To identify similarities between members within the group.
To reveal a little about myself in a safe way with others in my group.
To encourage discussion among participants.
Grouping
Individual activity.
When they are finished, students can share nametags in small or large groups.
Time
15–30 minutes to create name tags
15–45 minutes to share in small groups…more time to share with the whole group
Materials
A blank piece of 8.5” x 11” paper for each participant (white paper or colored paper is fine).
Felt pens, markers, or other writing instruments for each participant or table group.
Goal
For each participant to create a nametag that reflects specific information about him/herself.
Directions
Give each participant a piece of blank paper.
Have participants turn their paper the landscape (hot dog) way.
If you have given the participants access to markers and felt pens, tell them that they are free to use as many or as few colors/pens as they want to use.
Verbally give the following directions to the participants as a whole group…
In the center of your paper, write your name in a way that illustrates something about you.
In the upper left corner, write (or draw a picture of) your favorite food.
In the lower right corner, write your favorite place to be in the whole wide world.
Above your name , write the name of a color (or make a little scribble of a color) that will tell people how you feel right now.
In the upper right corner, write (or draw a picture of) your favorite animal.
Under your name , write a number on a scale from 1 – 10…1 is really yucky and 10 is really terrific…that tells how you feel right now.
In the lower left corner, if you could be anything or anyone else in the whole world, what or who would you be? Be sure to pause appropriately to give participants sufficient time to complete each task. Some tasks will require some thinking.
When participants are finished with their nametags, have them share the information in small groups.
Variations - Extensions
Have participants post their name tags on a bulletin board in the room so that others can look at them throughout the day/week. Leave the nametags up for open house or back to school night. Cover the names with an index card so others can guess/vote whose nametag belongs to whom. This is fun for open house or back to school night.
Give participants a few extra minutes once the writing is finished to further embellish their nametags with glitter, feathers, sequins, jewels, etc.
Follow Up Discussion
What interesting thing did you learn about another group member?
Did you learn anything interesting about yourself?
Did you have anything in common with anyone else?
Were you surprised by anything you learned?
Other Possible Name Tag Topics:
There is no “magic” to the topic or location of the items on the “About Me” name tags (except that your name should be in the middle)! So, here are some more topic ideas for you to have participants place wherever you would like them to!
.................................................................................
Your favorite season.
Your favorite ice cream.
The kind of food you just can’t stand!
Your favorite color.
Where you like to go to collect your thoughts.
Your favorite time of day.
Your favorite subject in school.
Your favorite sport.
Your favorite kind of music.
Your favorite sports team.
Your favorite singer/group.
Your favorite kind of book to read.
A person who you know you can count on in a pinch.
A word others would use to describe you.
A word you would use to describe yourself.
Someone you think is a hero.
Someone you have learned a lot from.
Someone you would like to be more like.
What animal are you most like?
Something you like to do when you have free time.
If you were a car, what kind of car would you be?
If you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be?
If you ice cream, what flavor would you be?
Ok, you get the idea…
