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My Self-Advocacy Shield

Lesson Plan

My Self-Advocacy Shield

Students will be able to define self-advocacy, identify their personal needs and strengths, and practice advocating for themselves using provided scenarios through a creative shield-building activity.

Self-advocacy is a crucial life skill that empowers students to communicate their needs, assert their rights, and make informed decisions. Developing these skills early fosters independence, resilience, and positive social-emotional well-being, helping students navigate challenges in school and life.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on activity, discussion, and scenario practice.

Materials

Prep

Materials and Room Setup

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Does It Mean to Speak Up?

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Self-Advocacy Warm-Up activity.
    - Ask students to reflect individually for 1 minute on the prompt: "Think about a time you needed something but didn't know how to ask for it, or when you successfully spoke up for yourself."
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion, inviting a few students to share their thoughts (if comfortable). Emphasize that self-advocacy is about speaking up for your needs and rights respectfully.

Step 2

Introduction to Self-Advocacy Shields

5 minutes

Step 3

Self-Advocacy Shield Creation and Scenarios

15 minutes

  • Distribute materials: construction paper, art supplies, and the Self-Advocacy Shield Activity Guide.
    - Guide students through creating their shields as outlined in the activity guide. Encourage creativity and personal reflection.
    - Once shields are started, introduce the Self-Advocacy Shield Scenarios Worksheet.
    - Have students work in small groups (2-3 students) to discuss 1-2 scenarios from the worksheet. They should consider how the person in the scenario could use self-advocacy skills, incorporating elements from their shields (strengths, supports).
    - Circulate around the room to offer support and facilitate discussion.

Step 4

Share and Reflect (Cool-Down)

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Invite a few students to briefly share one aspect of their shield or a key takeaway from their scenario discussion.
    - Conclude the lesson with the Self-Advocacy Cool-Down activity, asking students to summarize what self-advocacy means to them now and one way they can use it.
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Slide Deck

My Self-Advocacy Shield: Speak Up, Stand Tall!

What does it mean to speak up for yourself?

Welcome students and introduce the lesson's main topic: Self-Advocacy. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear the term.

Today's Mission: Be Your Own Hero!

Objective:

Understand self-advocacy.

Identify your strengths and needs.

Practice speaking up with confidence!

Explain the objective clearly. Students will learn what self-advocacy is and how to use it.

What is Self-Advocacy?

It's about speaking up for YOURSELF!

  • Knowing what you need.
  • Understanding your rights.
  • Respectfully communicating those things to others.

Define self-advocacy in simple terms. Emphasize that it's about respectful communication, not being aggressive.

Your Personal Shield

Imagine you have a shield that protects and empowers you.

Today, we'll design a Self-Advocacy Shield to help us understand how to speak up!

Introduce the idea of the shield as a representation of their inner and outer resources for self-advocacy.

Shield Sections

Your shield will have three parts:

  1. My Strengths: What makes you strong? (e.g., creative, good listener, problem-solver)
  2. My Needs/Challenges: What do you sometimes need help with or find difficult? (e.g., understanding complex instructions, asking for help, managing time)
  3. My Support Team: Who helps you? (e.g., parent, teacher, friend, counselor, a strategy you use)

Explain each section of the shield. Stress that strengths are not just academic, but also personal qualities, hobbies, etc. Challenges are things they might need help with. Supports are people or resources.

Activity Time: Design Your Shield!

Follow the Self-Advocacy Shield Activity Guide to create your shield.

Get creative! Use colors, drawings, and words that represent YOU!

Review the activity steps before students begin. Show an example if possible.

Practice Makes Progress: Scenarios

Work with a partner or small group.

Discuss the scenarios from the Self-Advocacy Shield Scenarios Worksheet.

How can the person in each scenario use self-advocacy, drawing on their unique shield?

Explain the scenario portion. Emphasize applying their shield concepts (strengths, identifying needs, using support) to real-life situations.

Reflect and Share!

What did you learn about self-advocacy today?

How can your shield help you in the future?

Complete the Self-Advocacy Cool-Down!

Wrap up the lesson by asking students to share and summarize their learning. Encourage a few students to share their shield or a key takeaway from the scenarios.

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Warm Up

Self-Advocacy Warm-Up

Think about it:

Take one minute to think about a time when you:

  1. Needed something but didn't know how to ask for it, OR
  2. Successfully spoke up for yourself to get what you needed.







Share (optional):

Be prepared to share your thoughts with the class, focusing on:

  • What happened?
  • How did you feel?
  • What did you do or wish you had done?

This is about understanding how important it is to communicate our needs! Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself.

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Activity

Self-Advocacy Shield Activity

Your Mission: Design Your Personal Power Shield!

Today, you will create a visual representation of your ability to advocate for yourself. This shield will show your strengths, challenges, and the support you have.

Materials Needed:

  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick or tape

Instructions:

  1. Fold and Cut Your Shield:

    • Take your piece of construction paper. Fold it in half lengthwise.
    • Draw half of a shield shape along the fold (like a knight's shield).
    • Cut out your shield, and when you unfold it, you'll have a symmetrical shield!










  2. Divide Your Shield:

    • Using a marker or pencil, divide your shield into three main sections. You can draw lines, or even cut out shapes to represent each section. Think about how you want to visually organize these parts.










  3. Section 1: My Strengths (Top Section)

    • What makes you strong? In this section, write or draw symbols for your personal strengths. These aren't just about school! Think about:
      • Personal qualities: Are you kind, a good listener, persistent, creative, brave, patient?
      • Skills: Are you good at solving problems, drawing, sports, comforting others, organizing, speaking publicly?
      • Interests/Hobbies: Do your hobbies give you confidence or special skills?
    • Example: Drawing a strong arm, a lightbulb for ideas, or writing words like "Resilient," "Creative," "Focused."

  4. Section 2: My Needs/Challenges (Middle Section)

    • What do you sometimes need help with or find difficult? In this section, write or draw symbols for challenges you face or things you might need help with. This is NOT about weaknesses, but about areas where you might need to speak up for yourself to get support.
    • Example: A question mark for confusion, a clock for time management, or writing words like "Asking for clarity," "Focusing," "Understanding directions."

  5. Section 3: My Support Team (Bottom Section)

    • Who helps you? What strategies do you use? In this section, write or draw symbols for the people, resources, or strategies that help you. These are your allies in self-advocacy!
    • Example: Stick figures for family/friends, a book for a teacher/counselor, a thought bubble for "taking a break" or "using a planner."

  6. Decorate and Personalize:

    • Make your shield colorful and unique! This is YOUR shield. Add patterns, textures, and anything else that makes it feel powerful and personal to you.










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Worksheet

Self-Advocacy Shield Scenarios

Instructions: Read each scenario below. In your small group, discuss how the student in the scenario could use self-advocacy skills, drawing on their strengths, identifying their needs, and using their support system (like on your Self-Advocacy Shield). Be ready to share your ideas!

Scenario 1: The Confusing Project

Maria is in science class, and her teacher just assigned a new group project. The instructions seem really complicated, and Maria is worried she won't understand what to do. She feels a knot in her stomach and doesn't want to look silly by asking for clarification.













Scenario 2: The Group Conflict

Liam is working on a history presentation with two other classmates. One of his group members, Chloe, is not doing her share of the work and is often on her phone. Liam feels frustrated because he's putting in a lot of effort, and he's worried they won't get a good grade. He doesn't want to start an argument, but he also feels unfairly burdened.













Scenario 3: The Missed Assignment

Sarah was sick for a few days and missed an important math lesson and a homework assignment. She's back at school but feels overwhelmed trying to catch up. She's not sure how to approach her teacher or where to start to get the missing work and understand the new concepts.













Scenario 4: The Uncomfortable Joke

Jake is at lunch with his friends. One of his friends, Mark, starts telling a joke that makes fun of another student in their class who isn't there. Jake feels uncomfortable and knows it's not right, but he doesn't want to be seen as

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Cool Down

Self-Advocacy Cool-Down

Quick Reflection:

Take a moment to think about today's lesson and your Self-Advocacy Shield.

  1. In your own words, what does self-advocacy mean to you now?





  2. What is one way you can use your self-advocacy skills (or an aspect from your shield) in the next week?





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