Building Your Best Self

abenson

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Building Your Best Self Lesson Plan

Students will identify, understand, and practice character traits essential for personal growth and success, fostering self-awareness and resilience.

This lesson empowers students to recognize the value of their character, encouraging positive behaviors and self-improvement that extend beyond the classroom.

Audience

9th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and reflective exercises.

Materials

Building Your Best Self Lesson Plan

Prep

Preparation for Building Your Best Self

10 minutes

Review the Building Your Best Self Lesson Plan to familiarize yourself with the flow of the session.
Prepare discussion prompts and reflective questions on character traits.
Ensure any digital devices or presentation tools are ready for interactive discussions.

Step 1

Warm-Up and Discussion

10 minutes

Begin with a brief discussion on what character means and ask students to share examples of positive traits.
Use a quick icebreaker that connects personal experiences to character development.
Encourage students to reflect on times they demonstrated positive traits.

Step 2

Main Activity

15 minutes

Introduce a short reflective writing exercise where students list their personal strengths and areas for growth.
Facilitate a group activity where students share insights in small groups and discuss how these traits help in real-life scenarios.
Use interactive questions to drive the conversation further.

Step 3

Cool Down and Reflection

5 minutes

Lead a reflective discussion summarizing key ideas from the activity.
Ask students to commit to one actionable step to improve or leverage one positive character trait.
Wrap up by reinforcing the importance of continuous personal growth.

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Building Your Best Self

Today we'll learn about what makes a great character and how you can develop traits that help you succeed both in and out of school.

Introduce the session with a brief explanation of what character development means and why it's important. Engage students with a short discussion prompt on what makes someone a person of good character.

Understanding Character

Character is the combination of traits, beliefs, and values that define who we are. Examples include kindness, honesty, responsibility, and resilience.

Explain the definition of character and share examples of positive traits. Ask students to think of traits they admire in others.

Discussion: What Does Character Mean to You?

Think about someone you admire. What traits do they have? How do these traits make a difference in their life?

Facilitate a discussion about personal experiences. Ask students to comment on when they've observed these traits in action.

Reflective Writing

Take a few minutes to list your strengths and think of one area where you can grow. How can you use your strengths to overcome challenges?

Guide students through a reflective writing exercise. Prompt them to list their strengths as well as areas for growth. Encourage honest reflection.

Group Sharing

Discuss in your small groups: How do your character traits help you in real-life situations? Share one personal insight with the group.

In small groups, allow students to share their reflections and discuss real-life applications of their character traits. Facilitate questions to deepen the conversation.

Reflection & Commitment

What is one positive change you can commit to that reflects your best character? Share your commitment with the class.

Wrap up the session by summarizing key ideas, emphasizing continuous personal growth. Encourage a commitment to one actionable step for improvement.

Activity

Building Your Best Self Activity: Character Trait Reflection

In this activity, you will explore and reflect on your own character traits. The goal is to increase self-awareness and foster an appreciation for the positive attributes that make up who you are. Use this time to think about both your strengths and areas where you can grow.

Activity Steps

Step 1: Individual Reflection

Reflect on Your Character: Take a few minutes to write down at least three character traits you believe define you. These can include traits like kindness, honesty, creativity, or resilience.
Strengths and Areas for Growth: Next to each trait, write one strength and one potential area for personal growth related to that trait.

Step 2: Pair Share

Discussion in Pairs: Find a partner and share your reflections. Listen as your partner describes their own traits and thoughts, and discuss what you have in common and what is unique about your perspectives.
Exchange Ideas: Consider how these traits help you in daily life and share one example where a particular trait made a positive impact.

Step 3: Group Discussion

Facilitated Group Sharing: In a small group, each pair will share one key insight from their discussion. Focus on insights that highlight how character traits influence personal decisions and actions in real-life scenarios.
Drawing Connections: Discuss ways to cultivate these traits further and how challenges can be overcome by leaning on your strengths.

Reflection & Commitment

To wrap up the session:

Think about one specific positive change you are willing to commit to in order to further develop your character.
Write down this commitment and be ready to share it with the class if you feel comfortable.

Follow-Up Questions

What character trait do you think is most important for overcoming challenges and why?
How can understanding your strengths help you improve your weaknesses?
In what ways can you support your peers in developing their best selves?

Use these questions to guide your discussion or reflect further in your journal.

This activity is designed to be flexible. Teachers may adjust the discussion time or group sizes based on class needs. Enjoy the process of self-discovery and sharing!

Building Your Best Self Lesson Plan

Building Your Best Self Slides