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Social Superpowers: My Awesome Self

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MariaGraciela Vargas-Baker

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Social Superpowers: My Awesome Self

Students will identify their own physical and emotional reactions in various social situations and understand how these reactions might be perceived by others.

Developing self-awareness in social situations is vital for 5th graders to build positive relationships, understand social cues, and respond appropriately. This skill helps all students, particularly those on the autism spectrum, feel more confident and comfortable in group settings, leading to greater social success and reduced anxiety.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Social Superpowers Slide Deck, Social Detective Worksheet, and Cool Down: My Social Superpower!

Prep

Lesson Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Social Superpowers Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
    * Print enough copies of the Social Detective Worksheet for each student.
    * Ensure the projector or smartboard is set up and working.
    * Review the Cool Down: My Social Superpower! activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Do I Feel?

3 minutes

  • Display Slide 1: Ask students to think about a time they felt excited or nervous before a social event (like a school play or a party).
    * Teacher Script: "Think about a time you were about to do something fun, but also maybe a little bit nervous. How did your body feel? What was going on in your mind? Turn and share quickly with a partner. No need to speak out loud if you don't want to, just think about it!"

Step 2

Introduction: What Are Social Superpowers?

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 & 3: Introduce the concept of

Step 3

Introduction: What Are Social Superpowers?

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 & 3: Introduce the concept of

Step 4

Introduction: What Are Social Superpowers?

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 & 3: Introduce the concept of

Step 5

Introduction: What Are Social Superpowers?

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 & 3: Introduce the concept of

Step 6

Introduction: What Are Social Superpowers?

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 & 3: Introduce the concept of "Social Superpowers" and self-awareness.
    * Teacher Script: "Today, we're going to talk about something super important for navigating friendships and school: your 'Social Superpowers'! No, not flying or super strength, but understanding yourself, especially how you react in different social situations. This is called self-awareness, and it helps us understand not just ourselves, but also how others might see us. It's like being a 'Social Detective' about your own feelings and actions!"
    * Facilitate Discussion: Ask students for examples of different feelings they might have in social situations (happy, shy, frustrated).

Step 7

Activity: Social Detective Worksheet

10 minutes

  • Display Slide 4 & 5: Distribute the Social Detective Worksheet.
    * Teacher Script: "Now it's time to be a Social Detective! On this worksheet, you'll see a few different social scenarios. For each one, I want you to think about: 1) How would you feel? 2) What might your body do? (Like a quick breath, a smile, fidgeting). 3) How might someone else see your reaction?"
    * Guide Students: Circulate and provide support. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers, but the goal is to think about their typical reactions and how others perceive them. Encourage students to be honest with themselves.
    * Optional Share (Pair & Share): If time allows and students are comfortable, have them share one scenario's reflections with a partner.

Step 8

Discussion: Reflecting on Our Superpowers

5 minutes

  • Display Slide 6: Bring the class back together for a brief discussion.
    * Teacher Script: "Great job being Social Detectives! Why do you think it's important to understand how we react in social situations and how others might see us? How can this superpower help us in school or with our friends?"
    * Facilitate Share Out: Call on a few students to share their thoughts, connecting their reflections back to the importance of self-awareness for positive social interactions.

Step 9

Cool-Down: My Social Superpower!

3 minutes

  • Display Slide 7: Distribute the Cool Down: My Social Superpower! slips.
    * Teacher Script: "For our cool-down, I want each of you to write down or draw one 'social superpower' you discovered about yourself today, or one you want to work on. It could be noticing when you feel shy, or remembering to smile when you're happy!"
    * Collect Slips: Collect the cool-down slips as an informal assessment of understanding and reflection.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Social Super Detectives!

How do you feel before something exciting?

  • Your body?
  • Your mind?

Welcome students and get them thinking about internal feelings before an exciting event. This helps connect to their own experiences.

Your Social Superpowers!

What are Social Superpowers?

  • They're not flying or super strength!
  • They're about understanding YOURSELF.
  • Especially how you feel and react in social situations.

Introduce the main concept: Social Superpowers and Self-Awareness. Emphasize that these are internal skills.

Self-Awareness: Your Secret Tool

Self-Awareness Means:

  • Knowing your own feelings.
  • Understanding your body's signals (heart racing, big smile, quiet voice).
  • Thinking about how others might see your actions.

Why is this a superpower? It helps you understand yourself AND others!

Define self-awareness in simple terms and explain its importance for social interactions.

Time to Be a Social Detective!

Get Ready to Investigate...

  • We're going to look at different social situations.
  • Your mission: Figure out how you would feel and react.
  • Think about your body, your thoughts, and how others might see you.

Introduce the 'Social Detective' activity. Explain that students will be looking for clues about their own reactions.

Your Mission Brief

On Your Worksheet:

  • Read each social scenario.
  • How do you feel? (Happy, nervous, confused, excited?)
  • What does your body do? (Smile, frown, fidget, stand tall?)
  • How might others see your reaction?

(Remember: Be honest with yourself!)

Transition to the worksheet. Remind students there are no right or wrong answers, just honest reflection.

Debrief: Unmasking Our Superpowers

Let's Reflect:

  • Why is it helpful to understand your own reactions?
  • How can knowing your 'Social Superpowers' help you with friends or at school?
  • Share one interesting thing you noticed about yourself!

Facilitate a short discussion after the worksheet. Focus on the 'why' of self-awareness.

Cool Down: My Social Superpower!

What did you learn about your own Social Superpowers today?

  • On your cool-down slip, write or draw one thing you learned.
  • Or, one social superpower you want to practice!

(Examples: I notice when I'm excited, I sometimes talk fast. I want to practice looking at people when they talk.)

Explain the cool-down activity. Encourage students to identify one personal insight.

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Worksheet

Social Detective Worksheet: My Reactions!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

Welcome, Social Detectives! Your mission is to investigate your own feelings and reactions in different social situations. Think about how you would genuinely feel and what your body might do. Then, think about how someone else might see or understand your reaction.

Scenario 1: Group Project Time

Your teacher just announced that you'll be working in small groups for a big project. You know one of the students in your group sometimes takes over all the work, and another student is very quiet.

  1. How do you feel about this situation? (Circle all that apply)

    • Excited
    • Nervous
    • Hopeful
    • Worried
    • Confused
    • Other: ____________________

  2. What might your body do or feel? (e.g., quiet, fidgety, big smile, tense shoulders)






  3. How might someone else see your reaction? (e.g., calm, annoyed, eager, shy)






Scenario 2: Friend Says Hello

You are walking in the hallway, and a friend waves and says, "Hi!" to you. You see them, but you are also thinking about something else.

  1. How do you feel in this moment? (Circle all that apply)

    • Happy
    • Surprised
    • Neutral
    • Busy
    • Embarrassed
    • Other: ____________________

  2. What might your body do or feel? (e.g., wave back, look away, keep walking, small smile)






  3. How might someone else see your reaction? (e.g., friendly, distracted, rude, shy)






Scenario 3: Sharing a Funny Story

You are sitting at lunch with your friends, and you remember a really funny story from the weekend. You start to tell it, but then you notice some friends are looking at each other, and one is fiddling with their food.

  1. How do you feel while telling your story? (Circle all that apply)

    • Excited
    • Confused
    • Happy
    • Frustrated
    • Self-conscious
    • Other: ____________________

  2. What might your body do or feel? (e.g., talk faster, quiet down, look down, keep talking loudly)






  3. How might someone else see your reaction? (e.g., confident, sad, annoyed, uncertain)






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Cool Down

Cool Down: My Social Superpower!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

What Social Superpower did you discover about yourself today?

Or, What social superpower do you want to practice more?

(Think about noticing your feelings, your body's reactions, or how others see you.)













Bonus Challenge: How will practicing this superpower help you?






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