Create

Introduce the “river of life” activity to students. You might describe it like this: “Imagine a river flowing through the land. What does it look like? In some places, the river is fast-moving, with lots of quick bends and waterfalls. In other places it slows down, trickling through rocks. Just like a river, our life is made up of different events, and we adapt and learn from each event as we continue moving forward. These events can be joyful, challenging, or anything in-between.”

Guide students through a discussion about experiences which have had a significant impact on them. You might ask: 

• Who are you? What are some key events in your life?
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• What happened during these events? Who else was involved?
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• How did these events make you feel?
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• How would you characterize them? (E.g., an obstacle that you overcame, a loss that hurt you, a significant friendship or relationship, a new understanding or change in perspective, etc.)
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• Why are these events important or memorable? How did they change you? Did they influence your identity, values, or strengths? 
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• What are some local, national, or global events that have also shaped you?
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Then, prompt students to use these guiding questions to draw a “river of life.” They should start by drawing a river, and then add symbols to illustrate key events in their life. For example:

• A conflict or obstacle might be a boulder in their river’s path
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• An important friendship could be a tree that is grounded in the water
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• A waterfall might symbolize a particularly joyful moment, like a major accomplishment
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• Community events might make up the landscape through which their river runs