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Make Your Own Mascot

Subjects covered: English, team-building

Target age group: Early Elementary School

Overview:

In this lesson, students will use Tabu S. Kunk, the mascot for the Simmons College class of 1947, as inspiration to create a mascot to represent their class. After an introductory activity detailing what mascots are and what they represent, each student will draw their own mascot for their classroom. After each student has created a mascot for the class, the students will vote to determine which one will become the new official class mascot.

This is a great activity for the beginning of the year to build class spirit. The mascot that students select can serve as the class mascot for the rest of the year, and be incorporated into many other class activities.

Objectives:

The student will:

• * understand the concept of a mascot and identify several real-life mascots.


• * reinforce grammar knowledge by brainstorming a list of adjectives describing the class.

The class will:

• * gain familiarity with the concept of voting.


• * develop a sense of class identity through their selected mascot.

Time Needed:

• * One sixty minute class period.

Classroom setup and materials:

• * Computer/projector.


• * Overhead or Powerpoint slides of sample mascots, including Tabu S. Kunk.


• * Art supplies (paper, crayons, markers, etc).


• * Poster board and markers for class brainstorming session.

Procedure:

1. Introduce the concept of a mascot. Ask students if they can think of examples of any mascots (such as sports team or university mascots. Perhaps your school already has a school-wide mascot).


2. Tell students that they will pick a class mascot. Take 5-10 minutes to have students brainstorm a list of words that describe their class and their goals for the class this year. Write the students’ suggestions on the posterboard and leave it in an area in the room where all of the students can see it.


3. Distribute the art supplies. Give students approximately half an hour to draw a mascot that represents the list of words that the class brainstormed.


4. If time permits, allow students to present their drawings very briefly (less than a minute each).


5. Display the mascots all around the room. Assign a number to each one. Students cannot vote for their own mascot. Students will write down the number of the mascot they want to represent their class. If there is not a winner, students will vote again from the top five entries.


6. Declare a winning mascot for the class.