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Accept or Resist?

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Patricia Bailey

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Accept or Resist?

Students will define acceptance, analyze its benefits and drawbacks, and reflect on personal situations to apply acceptance effectively for self-awareness and resilience.

Understanding acceptance helps students build self-awareness, resilience, and healthier relationships by discerning when to embrace situations and when to advocate for change.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Combines mini-lecture, group brainstorming, and personal reflection.

Materials

  • Acceptance Presentation Slides, - Acceptance Pros and Cons Worksheet, - Chart Paper, and - Markers

Prep

Material Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Acceptance Presentation Slides to familiarize yourself with key concepts.
  • Print enough copies of the Acceptance Pros and Cons Worksheet for all students.
  • Prepare chart paper and markers for recording the class definition of acceptance.

Step 1

Introduction and Hook

5 minutes

  • Display slide 1 of the Acceptance Presentation Slides featuring an inspiring quote about acceptance.
  • Ask students: "What does acceptance mean to you?" and invite 2–3 quick responses.
  • Explain that today’s session will explore when acceptance helps us and when it might hold us back.

Step 2

Define Acceptance

5 minutes

  • Show the slide defining acceptance: "Acceptance is acknowledging reality without judgment, while remaining open to growth."
  • In pairs, have students discuss this definition and suggest edits or additions.
  • Record the class’s final definition on chart paper.

Step 3

Pros and Cons Brainstorm

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Acceptance Pros and Cons Worksheet.
  • In pairs, students list at least three pros and three cons of acceptance.
  • Circulate to prompt deeper thinking and ensure pairs stay on task.

Step 4

Individual Reflection

5 minutes

  • Ask students to use the reflection section of the worksheet to describe one personal situation where acceptance served them well and one where resistance might be better.
  • Encourage honest, concise responses.

Step 5

Share and Debrief

5 minutes

  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "When is acceptance a strength? When might resisting be more helpful?"
  • Summarize key takeaways and thank students for their insights.
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Slide Deck

What Is Acceptance?

“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.”

What does acceptance mean to you?

Display this slide to kick off the lesson. Read the quote aloud and then ask students: “What does acceptance mean to you?” Invite 2–3 quick responses. Explain that today’s session will explore both the benefits and drawbacks of acceptance.

Defining Acceptance

Acceptance is acknowledging reality without judgment while remaining open to growth.

Show the definition and ask students to turn to a partner to discuss. Encourage them to suggest edits or additions. After 1–2 minutes, record the class’s refined definition on chart paper.

Pros and Cons of Acceptance

Pros:

  1. Reduces stress and anxiety
  2. Improves relationships
  3. Builds resilience

Cons:

  1. Can lead to complacency
  2. May enable unhealthy behaviors
  3. Potentially reduces motivation to change

Introduce the pros and cons chart. Explain that in pairs, students will brainstorm at least three items for each column on their worksheet. Circulate to prompt deeper thinking.

Reflect on Your Experiences

  1. Describe a time when acceptance served you well.
  2. Describe a time when resisting might have been more helpful.

Ask students to complete the reflection section of their worksheet silently. Remind them to be honest and concise. Circulate and offer support if needed.

Discussion Questions

• When is acceptance a strength?
• When might resisting be more helpful?

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their reflections. Use these prompts to guide discussion:
• When is acceptance a strength?
• When might resisting be more helpful?
Summarize key points on the board.

Key Takeaways

• Acceptance fosters self-awareness and resilience.
• Recognizing when to advocate for change is equally important.

Reinforce the main takeaways and thank students for their participation. Remind them that both acceptance and resistance have their place, depending on the situation.

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Worksheet

Acceptance Pros and Cons Worksheet

Name: ___________________________ Date: ________________

Part 1: Pros and Cons Brainstorm

In pairs, list at least three pros and three cons of acceptance. Be as specific as you can.

Pros of Acceptance

  1. ____________________________

  2. ____________________________

  3. ____________________________


Cons of Acceptance

  1. ____________________________

  2. ____________________________

  3. ____________________________


Part 2: Personal Reflection

Individually, reflect on your own experiences and answer the questions below.

  1. Describe a time when acceptance served you well.






  2. Describe a time when resisting might have been more helpful.






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Cool Down

Acceptance Cool-Down

Name: __________________________ Date: ________________

Reflect and Apply

Respond to the prompts below in complete sentences.

  1. In your own words, what does acceptance mean?



  2. Describe a recent situation where practicing acceptance benefited you.






  3. Think of a situation where resisting would have been more helpful. Explain why.






  4. On a scale of 1 (mostly resist) to 5 (mostly accept), circle your rating: [ ]1 [ ]2 [ ]3 [ ]4 [ ]5. Explain your choice.






Thank you for reflecting on your learning!

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