Trying New Things - 3

Continued Growth

Lesson Plan

Goal: When presented with a new activity or task, the student will try the activity or task independently without making negative comments in 8 out 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Try the activity or task without making a negative statement or comment.
2. Following a mistake, continue working to complete the activity or task.
3. Ask for help using positive words appropriately.

Definitions of Key Terms: Trying new things means attempting to participate in an activity or complete a task that you have never completed before.

Discussion Points:

  • How would your life be if you stopped trying new things?
  • What are the benefits of learning new things?
  • What are some reasons people give to avoid trying something new?
  • Is it easier to try new things with a friend or by yourself?

Discuss with students what it means to try new things. Review the discussion point questions.


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: Whole Group Discussion

As a group, discuss why it is important to try new things. Record responses on the board or chart paper.

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board

Ask students why some people don’t try new things. Be sure to discuss key points such as doing it alone, making mistakes and giving up, etc.

Ask students to brainstorm strategies to make it easier to try new things. Record their answers on the board or chart paper.

Activity 2: Situations

Review the key points from Activity 1 with the students.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per group
  • Pencil for each group

Allow students to work with a partner or small group to complete Student Activity Sheet A. Discuss their answers when all pairs/groups have finished.

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: Develop a list of situations when you might need to try something new. How many can your group write down?

Activity 3: Personal Narrative

Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with the students.

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

Share a personal experience of a situation in which you tried something new. Be sure to include what strategies you used, why you wanted to try it, why it was important to try it, and the end result.

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

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Answer the question below.

Describe a time you were reluctant to try something new. What were you asked to learn or do? How did you handle it? Did you complete it or did you refuse? How did you feel about the outcome?

Application Activity

Script Prompt: Develop a script and create an animation that includes two characters in a setting related to the problem. Use the script prompt provided below or create your own and include:

Materials Needed:

The dialogue between the characters must include:

  • Create an animation demonstrating an activity or task where one character is trying something new, include strategies to make trying something new easier.

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 the key points from the previous activities 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
  • A pencil for each student
    •

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. Why is it important to try new things?

2. What advice would you share with others when they are trying something new? What strategies would you tell them to try?