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Self-Advocacy Superstars

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Lesson Plan

Self-Advocacy Superstars

Develop self-advocacy skills

This lesson plan is designed to help 3rd graders develop self-advocacy skills through a series of engaging activities over 15 sessions. By using Game-Based Learning, Active Learning, and Inquiry-Based Learning strategies, students will learn to express their needs and preferences confidently. This lesson is important as it empowers students to take charge of their learning and personal growth, fostering independence and self-confidence.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

15 sessions of 25 minutes

Approach

Game-Based Learning, Active Learning, Inquiry-Based Learning

Materials

Video: Wellbeing For Children: Confidence And Self-Esteem, Video: Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve, Self-Advocacy Discussion Questions, Self-Advocacy Skills Worksheet, Role-Playing Scenarios, Confidence Building Games, Confidence Goal Worksheet, Strength Tree Worksheet, Trust Reflection Worksheet, and Effective Communication Worksheet

Step 1

Session 1: Introduction to Self-Advocacy

25 mins

  • Begin with a brief discussion on what self-advocacy means.
  • Ask students if they have ever needed to ask for help or express their needs.
  • Introduce a cooperative activity where students pair up and share a time they needed help, then discuss how they felt and what they did.

Step 2

Session 2: Understanding Confidence

25 mins

  • Show the video Wellbeing For Children: Confidence And Self-Esteem.
  • Discuss how confidence relates to self-advocacy.
  • In groups, have students list ways they can build confidence in themselves and others.
  • Worksheet: Confidence Goal - Students list personal achievements and set a confidence goal.

Step 3

Session 3: Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance

25 mins

  • Discuss the importance of self-esteem and self-acceptance.
  • Have students share what makes them unique in small groups.
  • Conduct a group activity where students create a 'uniqueness' poster highlighting their strengths.
  • Interactive Activity: Self-Esteem Shield - Students create a shield by drawing or writing things they like about themselves on a template.

Step 4

Session 4: Identifying Personal Strengths

25 mins

  • Use the Self-Advocacy Skills Worksheet to identify personal strengths.
  • Encourage students to list three things they are good at.
  • Facilitate a group discussion on how these strengths can help in self-advocacy.
  • Worksheet: Strength Tree - Students draw a tree with branches representing different strengths.

Step 5

Session 5: Expressing Needs and Preferences

25 mins

  • Discuss how to express needs and preferences clearly.
  • Practice with simple scenarios in pairs.
  • Conduct a role-play activity where students take turns expressing a need or preference.
  • Interactive Activity: Needs and Wants Auction - Students bid on items or scenarios that represent their needs and wants, discussing why they are important.

Step 6

Session 6: Role-Playing Scenarios

25 mins

  • Divide students into pairs and give them role-playing scenarios.
  • Practice asking for help or expressing a need.
  • Have each pair present their scenario to the class and discuss as a group.

Step 7

Session 7: Compliment Circle

25 mins

  • Engage in the Compliment Circle game where students sit in a circle and take turns giving a compliment to the person next to them. This helps build a positive classroom environment and boosts self-esteem.
  • Reflect on how giving and receiving compliments can enhance self-advocacy.

Step 8

Session 8: Mirror Game

25 mins

  • Conduct the Mirror Game in pairs, where one student acts as the 'mirror' and mimics the actions of their partner. This encourages active listening and cooperation.
  • Interactive Activity: Perspective Swap - Students take turns explaining a situation from another person's perspective.

Step 9

Session 9: Trust Walk

25 mins

  • Organize the Trust Walk game where in pairs, one student is blindfolded and guided by their partner through an obstacle course using only verbal instructions. This game builds trust and communication skills.
  • Reflect on the importance of trust in self-advocacy.
  • Worksheet: Trust Reflection - Students write about their experience and what they learned about trust.

Step 10

Session 10: Charades

25 mins

  • Play Charades where students act out scenarios where they need to advocate for themselves, and others guess the situation. This encourages creative thinking and expression.
  • Discuss how acting out scenarios can prepare them for real-life advocacy.

Step 11

Session 11: Team Building Tower

25 mins

  • Engage in the Team Building Tower game where in small groups, students use blocks to build the tallest tower possible. They must communicate and collaborate effectively, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in self-advocacy.
  • Reflect on how teamwork can support self-advocacy efforts.

Step 12

Session 12: Communicating Effectively

25 mins

  • Discuss effective communication techniques.
  • Practice with peer feedback.
  • Conduct a group activity where students role-play different communication scenarios.
  • Worksheet: Effective Communication - Students write how they would communicate effectively in given scenarios.

Step 13

Session 13: Building a Support Network

25 mins

  • Discuss the importance of having a support network.
  • Identify people who can help in self-advocacy.
  • Interactive Activity: Support Web - Students use yarn to connect with classmates who they can turn to for support, visually creating a web of connections.

Step 14

Session 14: Real-Life Applications

25 mins

Step 15

Session 15: Celebrating Self-Advocacy

25 mins

  • Recap the key points of the lessons.
  • Celebrate achievements and encourage continued practice.
  • Conduct a class celebration where students share their self-advocacy journey and future goals.
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Discussion

Self-Advocacy Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide a discussion on self-advocacy and confidence after watching the video.

What does self-advocacy mean to you?

Encourage students to think about expressing their needs and asking for help.







How can confidence help you in self-advocacy?

Discuss the role of self-esteem and believing in oneself.







Can you think of a time when you needed to advocate for yourself?

Share examples and encourage students to share their experiences.







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Worksheet

Self-Advocacy Skills Worksheet

A worksheet designed to help students identify and practice self-advocacy skills.

List three things you are good at.








Write about a time you asked for help. What did you say?








Think of a situation where you might need to advocate for yourself. How would you do it?








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lenny