Life Timeline (VJI-M6-02-EN)

• To reflect on key events and experiences in their lives
• To encourage self-awareness and the ability to articulate personal growth

• Students
• Adolescent youth

1. Introduction (10 minutes): Start by explaining the purpose of the activity: to create a visual representation of significant events in their lives. Emphasize that this is a personal reflection exercise, and there's no right or wrong way to do it.

2. Creating the Timeline (20 minutes):

• Distribute the large sheets of paper or poster boards and markers.
• Ask participants to draw a horizontal line across the paper, representing their life from birth to the present moment.
• Participants then add significant events along the timeline, such as important milestones, achievements, challenges, or turning points. Encourage them to use symbols or drawings along with brief descriptions.

3. Reflection (15 minutes):

• Once the timelines are complete, ask participants to step back and review their own timelines.
• Provide a set of reflective questions (you can write these on the board or distribute them on paper):
• What patterns or trends do you notice in your life events?
• How have these events shaped who you are today?
• Are there particular moments that stand out as particularly influential or transformative?
• How have you overcome challenges or setbacks?

4. Sharing and Discussion (15 minutes):

• Participants can share their timelines and reflections in pairs or small groups.
• Encourage open and respectful discussion about commonalities, differences, and insights gained from the activity.

5. Wrap-Up (10 minutes):

• Facilitate a class-wide discussion about the overall experience. Ask if anyone would like to share any insights or realizations they had during the activity.
• Emphasize the importance of self-reflection as a tool for personal growth and continued learning.

This activity provides a hands-on, visual approach to reflective thinking and allows participants to gain insights into their own life journeys.

• Large sheets of paper, or alternatively poster boards
• Markers, pencils and/or pens
• Sticky notes
• Tape

• Visual representation
• Creativity and artistic expression
• Hands-on activity
• Personalization
• Self-reflection
• Group discussion

Be active in facilitating the group discussions. This will help with the participation of the students. Also, it will encourage active listening and respectful feedback among participants.

Session 2: Learning by looking at my life over time: View as single page. (n.d.). https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=53524&printable=1

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VJI