Recognizing Strengths - 3

by Roxanne Quow

Lesson Plan

Goal: During unstructured and structured activities, the student will self-evaluate their performance (identifying strengths and weaknesses) in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Identify their strengths in teacher selected categories.
2. Identify one or more strengths that had previously been weaknesses or skills the student could not do.
3. Use a rehearsed script to self-evaluate their performance on selected tasks.

Definitions of Key Terms: A strength is a positive quality about ourselves, such as something we are good at or defines our character. It is often connected to a task or skill that a person likes to do.

Discussion Points:

  • Character is a combination of a person's actions, thoughts, and beliefs.
  • Character strengths are how a person's actions, thoughts, and beliefs can positively benefit them or others.
  • Character strengths can include physical or academic abilities, but they are not limited to only those areas.
  • Character strengths can be personality traits.

Discuss with students what a strength is. Review the discussion points.

Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:

Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.

  • T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
  • P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
  • S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.

SEL Categories Activity:

  • Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
  • Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
  • Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
  • Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.

Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.

  • Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
  • Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
  • Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.

Activity 1: Character Strengths

As a group create a list of positive character traits and strengths. Examples could include: cooperative, honest, brave, helpful, etc.

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board

Discuss what each item means. Ask students to choose two items that they see in others (classmates, friends, family members) and two items they see in themselves.

Save the list for Activities 2 and 3.

Activity 2: Strengths in Friends

Review the positive items on the list from Activity 1. Pair students or allow them to draw names from a basket. Have students complete Student Activity Sheet A about their partner.

Materials Needed:
  • List created in Activity 1
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per person
  • Pencil for each student

When all students have finished, ask pairs to share their answers. Discuss which items may have been weaknesses at one time.

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: Complete the questions.

Partners name:

My partner shows the character strengths of .

I think this because

Activity 3: Writing Prompt

Review the positive list of items from Activity 1. Ask students to think of tasks or activities that they find hard. Share a personal experience of a task or activity that was hard for you and how you used self-evaluation to get better.

Materials Needed:
  • List from Activity 1
  • Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Discuss what students can ask themselves at the end of a hard activity or task in order to evaluate their performance and get better.

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. Ask for volunteers to share when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Every Marvel or DC Comic character has a super power - or a character strength. Choose a superhero with a character strength you would like to have. Finish the writing prompt using the directions below. Write a paragraph which includes the following:

  • Topic sentence
  • At least three examples of strengths
  • The self-evaluation questions that the character asks themself after completing difficult tasks.

Application Activity

Script Prompt: Develop a script and create an animation that includes two characters in a setting related to the script prompt:

Materials Needed:

The dialogue between the characters must include:

  • Identifying a character’s positive traits.
  • A scenario where a character can demonstrate his/her identified character strength.
  • Recognizing that character’s strengths.
  • An example about how the character strength can be used in other situations.

Script Extensions: Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.


Methods for completing this activity include (choose one or a few, depending on your students’ levels and abilities):


Script Writing Practice: Teacher-led discussion of script creation. As a group, write both an appropriate and inappropriate version of the script. In small groups or individually, have the students independently create scripts that demonstrate the script prompt. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.


Independent Script Recording: Pair students together to complete two scripts using the same script prompt detailed above. Direct each student to take turns being character one and character two.


Animation Creation: Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.


Lesson Extension: Incorporate ELA standards by discussing both spoken and written grammar rules (dialogue punctuation, correct verb tense, sentence structure, character, setting, problem, solution). Consider using both the final animation and written script as an ELA grade/assignment.

Topic Checkout

Review all key points from previous activities and discussions with the students. Allow students time to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student
    •

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: List five character strengths you have. Describe how you turned one of your strengths from a weakness to a strength.