LIFE MAP: A VISUAL SERIES REPRESENTING YOUR LIFE COURSE

Important life questions to ask: Where did you start out? Where have you been? Where are you now? Where would you like to go? How will you get there? What will affect whether you'll get there?

What is a life map?

A life map tracks your journey through life and marks out important events along the way. Remember, an important event doesn’t have to be exciting or memorable for others, the map is all about showing what is important to you.

What makes an event important?

Important events in your life Events that teach you something about life e.g.

being selected for a team might have taught you the value of hard work and perseverance

Events that made you feel suddenly more mature/ older/ grown up e.g. looking after your little brother or sister for the first time

Events that gave you inspiration for your future e.g. the first time you were given Lego and built a 1000 piece skyscraper hinted at you future love of architecture.

Events that highlight how important it is to enjoy life e.g. loss of a family member or pet

Both good and bad events can make you appreciate, adapt or change your life in some

way

What should your map include?

A minimum of 10 events that represent your past.

A minimum of 5 events that you image or would like to be part of your future.

Have a clear understanding of the reasons why you have selected these events.

What should your map include? Select events from all of the life stages –

baby, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, and older adult.

For life stages you've already experienced, like being a baby or toddler, use family photos and anecdotes from family members about special events or achievements they remember. Did anything major in your family life happen, like a move to a new country? Also include major historical events that took place during your life stages, like 9/11.

For life stages you haven't experienced, imagine what you'd like them to be like. Include education, career possibilities, health, hobbies, lifestyle, and family.

What should your map include? A symbol or picture that represents each

selected event. The picture should give an indication of how you felt about the event.

A label which identifies and roughly dates the event. You can be creative and poetic with these labels e.g. the road to happiness on my new skateboard.

What should your map include? Connectors between events which help

the viewer understand the order in which they happened. The connectors can also indicate how the road between one event and another event are connected. What important lesson or understanding did you come to during this period of time?

Some people use arrows, some people draw roads, some people draw a bunch of islands and draw little boats travelling between each; it is up to you how you see your map. Is your life map a road map, a diagram, a geographical map, a maze, a swirling circle or a game of snakes and ladders?

Life map examples(Somebody's future life map but a good example of layout)

Life map examples(Done by much younger student but a good concept if more detail is added)

Life map examples(just needs the connectors to show the path of events)

Life map examples(missing the connectors but nice presentation)

Life map examples

Life map examples

Life map examples

Life map examples

Life map examples

Inspiration- mazes

Inspiration- maps

Inspirations- game boards

Reflection of My Life…

When your Life Map is complete, answer the following questions:

Imagine your life-map belongs to someone else. How do you feel about that person when you look at the life map?What values do you notice reflected in the important events?What would you change about your life-map if you could? Why?Where are you going in the future? List and describe 3 things you can do in your life stage now to make future life stages happen the way you'd like them to?

Sample list to motivate your life map drawing

Day you were born Stories you have heard about your

birth Your earliest childhood memory

(describe in detail) Your most vivid childhood

experiences Your school years A special trip you have taken A favorite meaningful thing/object

you received from someone special The first time you gave a speech The first time you wrote an essay

A time you hurt yourself A very funny event A time when you cried Your first bike ride A memorable/favorite book A hospital stay Your first plane flight A day you met someone famous A death in the family Your First love The Day You Realized The

Purpose for Life or for Your Life