Teacher Note: This activity is designed at the Analysis or Knowledge Utilization level of Marzano's Taxonomy. Students are asked to classify, analyze errors in reasoning, generalize, apply to new situations, or make evidence-based decisions — not simply recall information.
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________ Class: _____________
My Roots Map
*(Marzano's Taxonomy — Analysis)*
In this activity, you will create and analyze a visual map of the places — real and metaphorical — that have shaped who you are. Then you will analyze the patterns.
Step 1: Brainstorm (10 minutes)
On scratch paper, answer these questions quickly — write whatever comes to mind:
- Where were you born? Where did your parents and grandparents grow up?
- What place feels most like "home" to you, and why?
- Is there a place you've never been but still feel connected to?
- What smells, sounds, or foods make you think of a specific place or time?
- Have you ever had to leave a place that mattered to you?
Step 2: Create Your Map (20 minutes)
Draw a map shape in the center of your paper — it can be realistic (a country, city, neighborhood) or abstract (a web, a road, a web of roots). Add labeled branches, locations, or symbols for each place that has shaped your identity. Include at least 5 places — they don't all have to be places you've lived.
Step 3: Write and Analyze (15 minutes)
Below your map, write 4–6 sentences that begin *"I am from..."* — try to include:
- At least one place you have lived
- At least one place you carry without having visited
- At least one place that isn't on any atlas (a kitchen, a feeling, a specific memory)
Then write 2 sentences analyzing your own map: *What pattern do you notice? What does your map reveal about how identity is formed?*
Discussion: What surprised you about your own map? Did any place you included surprise you?
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*Teacher Note: Step 3 targets Marzano's Analysis level — students are not just listing but identifying patterns and drawing conclusions about what their own map reveals. Look for responses that move beyond simple listing to make a claim about identity.*