Finding Your Voice Activity Guide

This guide is designed to provide detailed instructions and structure for activities that encourage self-expression and role-playing scenarios. The activities in this guide help 3rd grade girls practice speaking up and engaging in assertive communication in a supportive environment.

Activity Objectives

• Encourage self-expression through fun and interactive exercises.
• Provide opportunities for role-playing to build confidence in various real-life scenarios.
• Practice how to speak up for oneself in everyday situations.

Materials Needed

• Printed copies of role-play scenario cards (optional, teacher created).
• A talking stick or soft toy to designate the speaker during group discussions.
• A comfortable open space or classroom set-up for small group activities.

Activity Instructions

1. Introduction (2 minutes)

• Briefly explain to the students that they will be practicing ways to share their thoughts and feelings confidently.
• Emphasize that everyone’s voice is important and that today is a time to learn and have fun practicing speaking up.

2. Warm-Up Self-Expression Exercise (5 minutes)

• Step 1: Ask students to think of one thing they like about themselves.
• Step 2: Have each student share their thought with the group. If using a talking stick, pass it around so everyone gets a turn.

3. Role-Playing Scenarios (8 minutes)

• Step 1: Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
• Step 2: Give each group a scenario card (or describe a scenario verbally) that might include situations like asking for help, telling a teacher if they feel unwell, or offering their opinion when playing with friends.
• Step 3: In their groups, students will take turns acting out the scenario. Encourage them to use clear, assertive language and effective body language (e.g., making eye contact, using a confident tone).
• Teacher Tip: Walk around the classroom to offer guidance, praise, and suggestions.

4. Group Reflection (3 minutes)

• Bring the class back together and ask each group to briefly share one positive thing they experienced during the role-playing activity.
• Ask reflective questions like: "What made you feel confident during your role-play?" or "How did speaking up help in the situation?"

Follow-Up Questions for Reflection

• Why do you think it's important to speak up for yourself?
• How did it feel when someone listened to you during the exercise?
• Can you think of a time outside of school when speaking up helped you? What was it like?

Notes for Teachers

• Encourage a supportive and non-judgmental environment where every student feels safe to express themselves.
• Adjust the scenarios as needed based on the group dynamics and individual needs.
• Recall that the goal is to build confidence and emphasize that every opinion matters.

This activity guide complements the Finding Your Voice Lesson Plan and supports a well-rounded group session that reinforces assertive communication and self-esteem building in 3rd grade girls.

Happy teaching and inspiring confidence!

Expression Discussion Prompts

This set of discussion prompts is designed to guide a reflective conversation on the activities and exercises from the lesson. These questions help students think about their experiences and the importance of expressing themselves clearly and confidently.

Discussion Questions for Students

1. How did it feel to share something positive about yourself during the warm-up?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What did you learn about speaking up from the role-playing activities?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Can you remember a time when speaking up helped solve a problem or made you feel better? What happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Why do you think it is important to listen when someone else is speaking?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. What are some ways you can remind yourself to speak up when you really need to?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Follow-Up Points for Teachers

• Encourage students to use examples from their own lives and the role-playing activities.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Ask students to explain what made someone’s voice clear or confident.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Validate all contributions and ensure that every student feels heard and respected during the discussion.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Remind the students that every voice matters and everyone can improve their speaking skills with practice.

Happy discussing and exploring the power of your own voice!

Interactive Game Instructions

This game is designed to be a fun and engaging way to reinforce the lesson's key objectives of speaking up and expressing oneself with confidence. The game includes elements such as a 'Voice Relay' and 'Confidence Charades' that encourage all the students to participate actively.

Game Overview

• Name: Speak Up and Shine
• Objective: To build self-confidence and reinforce the importance of speaking up by engaging in fun voice-based challenges.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Game Instructions

Part 1: Voice Relay

1. Setup: Arrange the students in a circle. Explain that they will pass a secret message around using only their voice. The message should be something positive or uplifting (e.g., "I am brave!").
   
2. How to Play:
   • The teacher starts by whispering the message to one student.
   • Each student must then repeat the message as accurately as possible to the next student in the circle until the message reaches the last student.
   • The final student says the message out loud. Compare it to the original phrase to highlight the importance of clear communication.
     
3. Discussion: Ask the students how it felt to speak up clearly and listen carefully. Did the message change, and why might that have happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Confidence Charades

1. Setup: Prepare a set of cue cards that describe different scenarios where speaking up is important. Examples include asking a teacher for help, telling a friend how they feel, or expressing an opinion during play.
2. How to Play:
   • Divide the class into small groups.
   • One student from each group picks a card and acts out the scenario without speaking.
   • The rest of the group must guess what the scenario is and discuss how they could use their voice to handle the situation assertively.
3. Teacher's Role: Encourage students to use confident body language and verbal cues when discussing the scenario. Highlight moments when a clear, assertive voice can change a situation for the better.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Follow-Up

• Reflection: After the game, have a brief discussion with the class. Ask questions such as:

  • How did you feel when you had to use your voice in the game?
  • What did you learn about speaking clearly and confidently?
  • Can you think of a time when using your voice made a difference?

• Closing: Finish the activity by reminding the students that their voice is powerful, and every time they speak up, they are making a valuable contribution.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Enjoy the game and let your voices shine!