A Gingerbread Recipe for Social Identity

What is an identity and what identities do I have? In this experiment, we will create gingerbread men to learn more about our identities!

Materials

  • Gingerbread template (linked here & attached below)

  • Pen or pencil

  • Partner

Time Estimated:

10 minutes

Directions: 

  1. Pair up with a partner.

  2. Read the first question on the gingerbread worksheet.

  3. Write and/or draw your identities from the question on your gingerbread person.

  4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 for each question on the worksheet.

  5. Talk to your partner about your identities. Are any the same? Are any of them different?

Think Like a Scientist!

  1. Why are identities important to us?

  2. What can you learn about someone from their identities?

  3. How do you think your identities will change as you get older?

How Does it Work? 

What is an identity? Identities are who you are! At home, you could be a sibling and grandchild, and at school, you could be a friend and a student. If you love drawing, maybe you are an artist as well.

You can have multiple identities, which can change depending on where you are, your interests, your relationships, and more! Sometimes you get new identities, and sometimes identities change, but all of your identities are a part of you no matter where you are or what you are doing. For example, you are not always in dance class or soccer practice, but you are still a dancer or a soccer player.

Further Exploration: 

Everyone has many identities; some identities can be more important to you than others, and as you grow up, you may form more identities and stop identifying with others. For example, in the future, if you no longer play soccer but decide to start painting, you may not identify as a soccer player, but you have a new identity as an artist. Your combinations of identities are what make you unique and allow you to connect with others!

Thank you to the Developmental Psychology Class at Occidental College and Professor Susan Geffen for sharing these videos and worksheets with us!

Looking for more fun at-home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities! 

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