This "I Love Me Tree" activity is a growth mindset craft designed to build and strengthen self-esteem. Use for fall/Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Spring, or anytime during the year by simply changing the color of your leaves. Students will make a barren tree come to life with self affirming language.

Encouraging self-reflection helps participant (s) reveal their authentic selves and recognize that their realities change from moment to moment. How? Using the Real Me Tree Illustration or on a piece of paper, ask participant (s) to draw a tree with roots, a trunk, branches, and leaves. Begin by focusing on the roots of the tree.

That's how "the Tree of Me" came about. Draw a bare tree. Make sure you draw the roots too. Talk about how our roots are our supports. These are the people who love us and that we can go to for help. Usually this will be family and teachers, but make sure you ask the child who they think their supports are. Talk about how these people help us.

This exercise was designed by Ncazelo Ncube (PHOLA) and David Denborough (Dulwich Centre Foundation). The purpose of this exercise is to reclaim your identity and the story of your life through identifying all the different aspects of your identity, including your past, future goals, strengths, and support system.