About the book: Jamie Lee Curtis captures a little girl’s simple, childlike celebration of herself, as she looks back on her childhood from the lofty heights of four and a half years.
This spirited view of growing up is the perfect backdrop to explore personal identity.

2. A Map of Me
Have children fill out a sheet showing where they were born and where they live now. 
A class map can be created to show where many of the students were born.

3. Baby Book
Teacher brings in his/her baby book to share with the class.  Discuss how the teacher has changed since he/she was a baby.  Students discuss how they have changed.  Students take home a baby book worksheet to fill out with their family.

4. Sharing and Caring Across Generations
Before reading Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, present a mystery memory box with a well-worn toy from the teacher’s past, such as a teddy bear or doll, to the class and ask them what could be inside. Listen while students give possible answers. Then give the clues, “It is something that makes me feel warm inside.” “It is something I had when I was your age.” If students still don’t guess the item, the teacher may give more clues. Show the item, making the points: It is from long ago. It was precious to me. It makes me feel warm inside when I hug it.
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Students create a memory box. Students fill up their memory boxes (e.g. teddy bear, blankie, handwritten memories from mom, trophy, photos, etc.) with items that are important to them from their past. They write about the item and its history. 

Example (From Glendale School) : This is my ring. It looks pretty and shiny. I got it after my grandma died. I think somebody made for her. My grandma wore it all the time. I remember that my grandma had lots

1. Changes

Bring in objects or pictures (baby toy, for sale sign, plane ticket, etc.) that give clues about the kinds of changes that take place in a family. 

Students review case studies (Pearson Education, Many Voices, Changes, Changes, page 14 - 17) of different families and how they have changed. 

1. A Change in My Family

Students write about a significant change that has happened in their family. 
Use poster – How Has Your Family Changed Over Time (Pearson Education, Many Voices) as a model.
Invite a family or families to come in to the classroom to discuss their family history

1. Our Community

Take students on a walking tour of the community–or neighborhood within a larger community–and invite them to take digital photographs of landmarks that are of cultural, historical or geographic interest.

If this is not possible, locate photographs of local landmarks in community history books, photo albums or on the Internet. Include landmarks of significance to various cultures and groups.

1. A Community in the Past

Visit Pioneer Acres Museum to discover a community in the past.
 

2. Historical Detectives – Critical Thinking Picture Study

Piecing together the picture of the past is a bit like detective work.  Have students become historical detectives by looking for clues in the pictures that tell them a picture is from the past.  Students can get ready for their sleuthing activities through the Nate the Great website.

Learn Alberta Online Guide to Investigating Pictures


Have students look through and reflect upon photographs of their community past and present. Here are five images just to get you started. The rest of the many photos are in the photos of people and photos of places.

Students write about a day in the life of a person from their community’s past.  Refer to student task for student instructions, exemplar, and rubric.