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New Year, New Strength

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Acacia McCombs

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

New Year, New Strength Plan

Students will build classroom connections through icebreakers, identify personal strengths and set one goal, and practice active listening to foster a supportive community.

This lesson kickstarts a positive school year by promoting self-awareness, peer bonding, and communication skills—key foundations for student well-being and academic success.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Engaging icebreakers, personal reflection, and listening practice.

Materials

  • Chart Paper, - Sticky Notes, - Markers, - Icebreaker Question Cards, - Strengths Reflection Worksheet, and - Active Listening Checklist

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print and cut out Icebreaker Question Cards.
  • Print copies of Strengths Reflection Worksheet.
  • Print copies of Active Listening Checklist.
  • Gather Chart Paper, Sticky Notes, and Markers.
  • Arrange desks or chairs into pairs or a circle to facilitate discussion.

Step 1

Welcome & Overview

2 minutes

  • Greet students as they arrive and introduce the session’s purpose: connection, self-awareness, and listening.
  • Display agenda on chart paper or slide: Icebreaker, Reflection, Listening, Wrap-up.

Step 2

Icebreaker Pair Share

8 minutes

  • Distribute Icebreaker Question Cards to each pair.
  • Students take turns drawing a card and asking their partner the question, then switch roles.
  • After 4 minutes, have students find a new partner and repeat with a different card.

Step 3

Strengths Reflection

10 minutes

  • Hand out Strengths Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students individually list three personal strengths and write a brief example for each.
  • Encourage students to think about how these strengths can help them achieve a goal this year.

Step 4

Active Listening Practice

8 minutes

  • Introduce the Active Listening Checklist and review its key points.
  • In the same pairs, one student shares one strength and a related goal; the listener uses the checklist to guide feedback.
  • After 4 minutes, students switch roles.

Step 5

Wrap-up & Goal Setting

2 minutes

  • Invite a few volunteers to share one strength and goal with the class.
  • Remind students to keep their worksheets as a reference for future goal-setting.
  • Thank everyone and reinforce the importance of supporting one another.
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Slide Deck

New Year, New Strength

Building Connection, Self-Awareness, and a Supportive Classroom Community

12th Grade | 30 Minutes

Welcome everyone! Introduce the session: today we’ll focus on connection, self-awareness, and listening to kick off a strong year together.

Agenda

  • Icebreaker Pair Share (8 min)
  • Strengths Reflection (10 min)
  • Active Listening Practice (8 min)
  • Wrap-up & Goal Setting (2 min)

Point to each agenda item and give a 10-second overview.

Icebreaker Pair Share

  1. Distribute Icebreaker Question Cards to each pair.
  2. Partner A draws a card, asks the question; Partner B answers.
  3. Switch roles.
  4. After 4 minutes, find a new partner and repeat.

Circulate as pairs chat. Encourage students to dig deeper on follow-up questions.

Strengths Reflection

  • Hand out Strengths Reflection Worksheet.
  • Individually list 3 personal strengths.
  • Write a brief example of each in action.
  • Consider how each strength can help you reach a goal this year.

Remind students to give concrete examples. Walk around to prompt quieter students.

Active Listening Practice

  1. Review the Active Listening Checklist.
  2. In pairs, Student A shares one strength and a related goal; Student B listens using the checklist:
    • Maintain eye contact
    • Nod & give verbal cues
    • Paraphrase what you heard
  3. After 4 minutes, switch roles.

Model one round if time allows. Highlight effective listening behaviors.

Wrap-up & Goal Setting

  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one strength & goal.
  • Remind students to keep their worksheets for future goal-setting.
  • Thank everyone and emphasize community support.

Celebrate student shares and reinforce next steps. Encourage keeping the worksheet handy.

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Activity

Icebreaker Question Cards

Use these cards to spark meaningful conversations and build rapport during the Icebreaker Pair Share.

  1. What’s one thing you’re most looking forward to this school year?



  1. If you could have dinner with any person (alive or historical), who would you choose and why?



  1. What’s a hobby or activity you love that most people don’t know about?



  1. Share a favorite memory from a past school year. What made it special?



  1. If you had to describe yourself using three emojis, which would you pick?



  1. What’s a goal you hope to achieve by the end of this school year?



  1. Name a book, movie, or song that inspires you and explain why.



  1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go first?



  1. What personal strength are you most proud of?



  1. Describe a time you overcame a challenge. What did you learn about yourself?



  1. What’s one fun fact about you that always surprises people?



  1. If you could give your freshman self one piece of advice, what would it be?






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Worksheet

Strengths Reflection Worksheet

Use this worksheet to identify your personal strengths, reflect on examples when you’ve used them, and set a related goal for this school year.

1. Identify Your Strengths

  1. Strength #1:






Example of Strength #1 in action:







  1. Strength #2:






Example of Strength #2 in action:







  1. Strength #3:






Example of Strength #3 in action:







2. Goal Setting

Choose one of the strengths above to focus on this year.

Strength selected:







My goal
(How will you use this strength to achieve something this year?):












Keep this worksheet as a reminder of your strengths and goals. Refer back to it throughout the year to celebrate your progress and stay motivated!

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Worksheet

Active Listening Checklist

Use this checklist to guide your listening partner when they share their strength and goal. Check off each behavior as you practice it:

  • Maintain eye contact
  • Nod and use affirmative cues (e.g., “mm-hmm,” “I see”)
  • Paraphrase what the speaker said (“So you’re saying…”)
  • Ask clarifying questions if you’re unsure
  • Reflect on the speaker’s feelings (“It sounds like you felt…”)
  • Avoid interrupting or rushing to give advice
  • Show empathy and understanding (validate their experience)

After the activity, review this checklist and identify one area you did well and one area to improve next time.

Area of strength:







Area to improve:







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