Teacher Script for Bounce Back & Build Up!

Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're diving into some super important skills that aren't just for school, but for life. We're going to talk about how to 'Bounce Back & Build Up!' our inner strengths."

Teacher: "First, let's get our brains warmed up with a quick activity. I've handed out a 'Resilience Warm-Up' sheet. Take about 3 minutes to quickly jot down your thoughts for each prompt. There are no right or wrong answers, just your initial ideas."

(Allow 3 minutes for students to complete the Resilience Warm-Up.)

Teacher: "Now, let's quickly share. Who would like to share one thing that helps them feel resilient?"

(Call on 2-3 students. Transition to slides.)

Teacher: "Great responses! These are all ways we build our resilience. Now, let's look at some key skills that help us not only bounce back but also build ourselves up!"

*(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 1: Welcome to Bounce Back & Build Up!)

Teacher: "Today, we're exploring essential life skills that help you succeed in school, with friends, and in your future! These skills are all connected, and the stronger you get in one, the stronger you become in others."

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What Are We Building Today?)

Teacher: "We'll be focusing on six key skills: Leadership, Teamwork, Advocacy, Feedback Application, Flexibility/Adaptability, and Resilience/Perseverance. When you hear these words, what comes to mind? Shout out a few quick thoughts for any of them!"

(Briefly solicit 1-2 word responses or short phrases for each skill, acknowledging student input.)

Exploring Interconnected Skills (15 minutes)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Leadership: More Than Just Being the Boss!)

Teacher: "Let's start with Leadership. What does it mean to be a leader? Is it only about being in charge? Think about taking initiative, motivating others, setting a positive example, or helping a group achieve a goal. Can anyone give an example of leadership they've seen, maybe in a class project or on a sports team?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Guide them to see leadership isn't just about a title.)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Teamwork: Better Together!)

Teacher: "Next, Teamwork. We often hear the phrase 'two heads are better than one.' When have you achieved something great by working with others? Think about collaborating, contributing your part, listening to ideas, and sharing responsibilities. Why is teamwork so important?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Connect teamwork to the idea of shared goals.)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Advocacy: Your Voice Matters!)

Teacher: "Now, Advocacy. This is about using your voice. How can your voice make a difference? It could be standing up for yourself, supporting a friend, speaking out against unfairness, or clearly expressing your needs. Has anyone ever had to advocate for themselves or someone else?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Emphasize that advocacy can be quiet or loud.)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Feedback & Adaptability: Learning & Growing)

Teacher: "Then we have Feedback Application and Flexibility/Adaptability. These go hand-in-hand. Feedback is receiving advice to get better, and application is putting that advice into practice. Flexibility is being open to new ideas, and adaptability is changing plans when needed. Can you think of a time when someone gave you feedback that helped you improve? Or a time you had to be flexible and change your plans?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Highlight that feedback is a gift for growth.)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Resilience & Perseverance: Bouncing Back!)

Teacher: "Finally, Resilience and Perseverance. These are about keeping going when things get tough. Learning from mistakes, not giving up easily, finding new ways to solve problems, and believing in yourself after setbacks. Who remembers our warm-up? That was all about resilience! Why is it so important to be able to bounce back?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share. Connect to the idea that challenges are part of life.)

Teacher: "Notice how all these skills are connected? Good leaders often need to be adaptable and resilient. Team players need to advocate for their ideas. Receiving feedback helps us grow and be more flexible. They all build on each other, helping us grow into stronger individuals."

Team Challenge Activity (15 minutes)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 8: Time for a Team Challenge!)

Teacher: "Alright, it's time to put some of these skills into action! I'm going to divide you into small groups. Your challenge will require teamwork, adaptability, and maybe even a little leadership and advocacy."

(Divide students into groups of 3-4. Explain the Team Challenge Activity clearly. For example, 'Your group's task is to build the tallest freestanding structure using only 10 sheets of paper and a roll of tape in 7 minutes.' Ensure the task is simple and requires collaboration.)

Teacher: "As you work, pay attention to how your group communicates, solves problems, and adapts if things don't go as planned. I'll be walking around to observe."

(Circulate, observe, and offer gentle prompts if groups get stuck, encouraging them to use the discussed skills.)

(After 7-8 minutes, announce time is almost up, then call time.)

Teacher: "Okay, time's up! Let's see your creations! Great effort, everyone. Now, briefly, what did you learn from that activity? How did you use teamwork, or have to be flexible? Did anyone need to advocate for an idea?"

(Call on a few groups to share their experiences, focusing on the process not just the outcome.)

Reflection & Cool-Down (5 minutes)

(Display Bounce Back & Build Up! Slide Deck - Slide 9: Reflect & Grow)

Teacher: "Excellent work and reflection today! To wrap up, I'm handing out a 'Resilience Reflection Cool-Down' sheet. Your task is to think about one of the skills we discussed today – leadership, teamwork, advocacy, feedback application, adaptability, or resilience – that you want to focus on improving. Write down which skill it is and why it's important to you."

(Distribute Resilience Reflection Cool-Down. Allow 3 minutes for students to write.)

Teacher: "If anyone would like to share their chosen skill and why, we have time for one or two volunteers."

(Allow 1-2 students to share if time permits.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for an engaging lesson today. Remember, these aren't just words; they're tools for life. Keep practicing them, and you'll find yourselves bouncing back stronger and building yourselves up for whatever comes your way! Have a great rest of your day!"

Resilience Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a few minutes to quickly jot down your thoughts for each prompt. There are no right or wrong answers, just your initial ideas.

1. What does it mean to "bounce back" after a challenge or setback?
   
   
   

2. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know had to be flexible or adapt to a new situation? What happened?
   
   
   

3. What is one small thing you do that helps you feel strong or capable when facing something difficult?
   
   
   

Team Challenge: Tower of Teamwork!

Objective: Work as a team to build the tallest possible freestanding structure using only the provided materials.

Materials per Group:

• 10 sheets of paper
• 1 roll of masking tape (shared among groups, or a small pre-cut length for each)

Time Limit: 7 minutes for building

Instructions:

1. Form Your Teams: Work with your assigned group members.
2. Plan (1 minute): Before you touch any materials, spend 1 minute discussing your strategy. How will you make your tower tall and stable? Who will do what? How will you incorporate different ideas?
3. Build (6 minutes): Using only the paper and tape, construct your tower. Remember to work together, communicate clearly, and be flexible if your initial plan needs to change.
4. Test: Once time is called, your tower must stand on its own for at least 5 seconds.

Reflection Questions (for discussion after the activity):

• How did your team decide on a strategy? Was there a leader, or did leadership emerge naturally?
  
  
  
• Did you have to adapt your plan as you were building? What made you change course?
  
  
  
• How did each person contribute to the team effort?
  
  
  
• Was there a moment when someone advocated for their idea? How was that received?
  
  
  
• What challenges did you face, and how did your team persevere through them?
  
  
  

Resilience Reflection Cool-Down

Instructions: Think about the skills we discussed and the activities we did today. Choose one skill that you want to focus on improving. Write it down and explain why it's important to you.

The skill I want to focus on improving is:

Here's why this skill is important to me and how I might use it: