Activity 4: Window/Mirror Panel - Me in the Media
Part of Windows and Mirrors
Activity time: 15 minutes
Materials for Activity
- All participants' Window/Mirror Panels
- Magazines and newspapers from a wide variety of sources
- Adhesive or double-sided tape to create collage on window/mirror panels
- Basket(s) of Window/Mirror Panel materials
- Sheets of Mylar in several colors, shiny gift wrap, aluminum foil, and other reflective paper
- Sheets of plain or construction paper
- Scraps of fabric
- Color markers (permanent markers work best on Mylar)
- Glue sticks, tape (including double-sided tape) and scissors (including left-hand scissors)
- Optional: Stick-on sequins, a hole-puncher, yarn, ribbon and a variety of magazines to cut up
Preparation for Activity
- Gather magazines and newspapers from a variety of sources. Ask parents and congregation members to bring in magazines and newspapers several weeks before this session; Leader Resource 1 provides a sample email or handout.
- Prepare to distribute participants' Window/Mirror Panels and the baskets of Window/Mirror arts and crafts materials while children are looking for images in the publications.
- Make sure pencils are sharpened.
Description of Activity
Ask the children to think about the media audit they just did (Activity 3). Now they will have the opportunity to do a similar audit of the media, except now they will look for images where they see themselves. Say something like:
Look through the magazines and newspapers here and find images where you see yourself. Think about not only your physical image, but also images representing your interests, hobbies, and activities. For example, I may like to play baseball, however as a female (if you are a female) I do not often see media images of females playing baseball. I may choose to cut out a picture of a male baseball player anyway.
Keep instructions brief. Explain that they have a very short time to complete this. Encourage them to not to "over think" and, as the Nike ads say, "just do it."
Let them know they will add these images to their Window/Mirror Panels. As children finish, distribute their Window/Mirror Panels or invite the children to get their panels from where they are stored. Allow them to choose where the images should go on their panels and help children attach them.
You may wish to say, in your own words:
By making and displaying the panels, you are assembling media images that represent you. It is for you to see as a reminder, as well as for others who were not on our "journey" through the congregation to see. It is all part of the sharing that makes a fabric of faith community. Perhaps someone else will find their media image in your panel.
Invite the participants to share their panels and talk about why they chose the images they did.