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Know Thyself

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Lesson Plan

Know Thyself

Students will be able to define self-awareness and self-management, identify personal strengths and areas for growth, and describe practical strategies for improving self-management skills.

Understanding oneself and managing one's actions are foundational skills for navigating academic challenges, personal relationships, and future career paths. This lesson empowers students to take control of their learning and personal development.

Audience

11th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection activities, and practical strategy sharing.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Know Thyself Slide Deck, Self-Awareness Warm-Up, and Self-Management Cool-Down

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: 'Where Am I Now?'

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Self-Awareness Warm-Up.
    - Instruct students to quickly jot down their initial thoughts about their strengths and areas for growth.
    - Briefly discuss a few student responses, emphasizing that self-reflection is a continuous process.

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Awareness

7 minutes

  • Use slides 1-3 from the Know Thyself Slide Deck to introduce self-awareness.
    - Define self-awareness as understanding one's emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion using guiding questions like, "Why is it important to know your strengths?" or "How can understanding your weaknesses help you?"

Step 3

Exploring Self-Management

8 minutes

  • Transition to slides 4-6 of the Know Thyself Slide Deck to introduce self-management.
    - Define self-management as the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations.
    - Discuss practical strategies such as goal setting, time management, stress reduction techniques, and impulse control.
    - Ask students for examples of how they currently practice self-management or areas where they'd like to improve.

Step 4

Application & Discussion

5 minutes

  • Use slide 7 of the Know Thyself Slide Deck to prompt students to think about how self-awareness and self-management connect.
    - Facilitate a short group discussion: "How does knowing yourself (self-awareness) help you manage yourself (self-management) better?" Encourage students to share real-life examples.

Step 5

Cool-Down: 'My Next Step'

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Self-Management Cool-Down.
    - Instruct students to complete the cool-down activity, focusing on one specific self-management strategy they can implement.
    - Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket or briefly allow students to share their 'next steps' if time permits.
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Slide Deck

Know Thyself: Self-Awareness & Self-Management

Today, we're going to explore two powerful concepts that can help you succeed in school and in life: Self-Awareness and Self-Management.

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: understanding themselves better. Briefly explain that this lesson is about two key ideas: knowing yourself and managing yourself.

What is Self-Awareness?

It's knowing yourself inside and out!

  • Your Emotions: How you feel and why.
  • Your Strengths: What you're good at.
  • Your Weaknesses: Areas where you can grow.
  • Your Values: What's important to you.
  • Your Motivations: What drives you.

Start with a discussion prompt related to the warm-up. Ask students to share some initial thoughts about their strengths and areas they want to improve. Emphasize that it's okay to have both.

Why is Self-Awareness Important?

  • Helps you make better decisions.
  • Improves your relationships.
  • Boosts your confidence.
  • Guides you towards your goals.

Ask students: 'Why is it important to know your strengths?' and 'How can understanding your weaknesses help you?' Encourage a few volunteers to share their thoughts.

What is Self-Management?

It's taking control of your actions!

  • Regulating Emotions: Staying calm under pressure.
  • Setting Goals: Planning for what you want.
  • Time Management: Using your time wisely.
  • Impulse Control: Thinking before you act.
  • Stress Reduction: Finding ways to relax.

Transition to self-management. Explain that once you know yourself, you can better manage your actions and reactions. Ask: 'What does it mean to 'manage' something?'

Self-Management in Action

Think about situations where you:

  • Stuck to a study schedule.
  • Took a deep breath when you felt angry.
  • Finished a task even when it was difficult.
  • Resisted checking your phone during class.

These are all examples of self-management!

Provide examples of self-management in action (e.g., studying for a test instead of playing video games, taking a deep breath before responding to an argument). Ask for student examples.

Why is Self-Management Important?

  • Achieve your goals.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Handle challenges better.
  • Build healthy habits.
  • Increases productivity.

Discuss why self-management is a valuable skill. Connect it to academic success, personal goals, and reducing stress.

Connecting the Dots: Awareness Leads to Management

How does knowing yourself (Self-Awareness) help you to manage yourself (Self-Management) better?

  • If you know your triggers, you can plan for them.
  • If you know your strengths, you can leverage them.
  • If you know your values, you can act in alignment.

This slide serves as a prompt for the class discussion, bridging the two concepts. Ask students to explain the connection in their own words.

Your Next Step!

Think about one self-management strategy you want to try this week. How will it help you?

  • "I will set a timer for homework."
  • "I will take a walk when I feel overwhelmed."
  • "I will write down my feelings when I'm upset."

Prompt for the cool-down activity. Explain that they will choose one strategy to try. Reiterate that these are skills that improve with practice.

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Warm Up

Self-Awareness Warm-Up: Where Am I Now?

Take a few moments to reflect on yourself. This is just for you to think about, no need to share anything you don't want to.

  1. My Top 3 Strengths: What are three things you are really good at, either in school, with friends, or in hobbies?



  2. One Area for Growth: What is one area you would like to improve about yourself (e.g., patience, procrastination, organization, public speaking)?



  3. Why do you think it's important to know these things about yourself?



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Cool Down

Self-Management Cool-Down: My Next Step

Think about what we discussed today regarding self-management. Choose one specific strategy you can try to implement this week to better manage yourself.

  1. What self-management strategy will you try? (e.g., creating a study schedule, practicing deep breathing, setting a small goal, planning your day)



  2. How do you think this strategy will help you?



  3. What is one challenge you might face when trying to implement this strategy, and how might you overcome it?



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