Coat of Arms
Draw and design symbols that represent who you are.
Class opens with this
A symbol is a picture, object, or design that stands for something else — like an idea, belief, or part of who you are. What are three symbols that represent who you are or your journey?
How it runs
Students design a coat of arms out of symbols that stand for who they are. Open with your own, review the template, then give real quiet time to draw. Circulate and encourage while they work.
The class gathers in a circle with the same norms as the other activities: positive feedback, one voice, no negativity. Sharing is invited, not required. Every coat of arms goes up on the Who We Are Wall, yours included.
Why it is worth the period
Affirming each student's identity in a form that goes on the wall lays the ground for a class built on mutual respect rather than compliance.
- Express student individuality through a Coat of Arms
- Share their creations with classmates to foster mutual respect and connection
- Contribute to the creation of a “Who We Are” classroom wall that represents the class’ collective identity
Teacher note
It is critical that the teacher creates their own Coat of Arms before the class activity and also to share it and post it on the wall.