Activity #1 - Who Has Influenced My Life?

Brainstorm and Blog

Brainstorm

Brainstorm about two close family members - parents or grandparents or other close family. Each partner will take turns brainstorming and repeat the steps below:

1. Work with a partner and record the partner brainstorm.
2. One person speaks and the partner records.
3. Use the team page from the side bar to record your patner's ideas as they brainstorm.
4. Brainstorm about two older family members.
5. One of them has to still be alive. For about 10 minutes, describe these two people to your partner in as much detail as you can. Let your mind roam freely, telling stories you remember about them or your favorite memories. Talk about how their cultural heritage has influenced who you are today.
6. Your listening partner will capture keywords and ideas on the team page
7. Once you have finished switch roles and repeat steps 2 through 6.

Blog

Once both of you speak and capture your ideas it's time for each of you to capture your thinking in your personal blog. Blog about the memories and the cultural heritage the people you spoke to your partner about. Record in paragraphs, sentences, or in lists the things you heard yourself saying to your partner. Look at what you’ve written and ask yourself what’s missing. Now add 5-8 questions to your blog entry that you’d like to ask your living family member that you spoke to your partner about.

For homework: Ask your living family member your 5-8 questions and record his or her answers.