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The Resilient Spirit

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Ashley Bartlett

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

The Resilient Spirit Lesson Plan

Students will learn about resiliency by engaging with a short story, discussing its themes, reflecting on personal challenges, and connecting these ideas to the ASCA School Counseling Standards for holistic student development.

Integrating ASCA School Counseling Standards ensures students not only build a resilient mindset but also develop key academic, career, and social/emotional skills essential for success.

Audience

11th Grade High School Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive read, guided discussion, reflection, and integration of ASCA counseling standards.

Materials

Short Story Text: The Resilient Spirit, Discussion Questions Guide, and Reflection Activity Sheet

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the short story text in Short Story Text: The Resilient Spirit.
  • Familiarize yourself with the discussion questions provided in Discussion Questions Guide.
  • Review the ASCA School Counseling Standards. Specifically, focus on ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success related to Self-Management (e.g., behavior 4) to connect with the lesson themes.
  • Print or prepare the Reflection Activity Sheet for students.

Step 1

Introduction and Reading

10 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion on resiliency, linking it to ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success, especially the Self-Management standard.
  • Highlight the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and perseverance.
  • Read the short story aloud or have students read it individually using Short Story Text: The Resilient Spirit.

Step 2

Discussion

5 minutes

  • Engage students in a discussion using questions from Discussion Questions Guide.
  • Encourage students to relate the story’s examples of resilience to ASCA standards, particularly how self-management skills support academic perseverance and social/emotional development.
  • Prompt discussion on how resilient behavior supports career and academic success.

Step 3

Reflective Activity

5 minutes

  • Have students complete the Reflection Activity Sheet, prompting them to consider ASCA standards regarding self-management and social awareness in their personal reflections.
  • Conclude with a share-out session, emphasizing how the skills discussed align with the ASCA School Counseling Standard on Self-Management.
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Slide Deck

The Resilient Spirit

Welcome to today's lesson on resiliency. We'll explore how challenges can be overcome and how a resilient mindset can lead to personal success.

Introduce the lesson by welcoming students and outlining the objectives. Emphasize today's focus on resiliency, its importance in personal growth, and how the short story will help illustrate these points.

What is Resiliency?

Resiliency is the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going in the face of difficulties.

  • Bouncing back from challenges
  • Learning from difficult experiences
  • Growth through adversity

Explain the concept of resiliency. Provide basic definitions and examples, asking students to think of a time when they demonstrated resilience.

Short Story: The Resilient Spirit

Let's dive into our short story. Pay attention to the challenges faced by the protagonist and how they overcome them. (Refer to Short Story Text: The Resilient Spirit)

Introduce the short story text. Remind students that this story is a powerful example of resilience in action. Ask students to follow along as they read.

Discussion Time

Discuss these questions:

  • What challenges did the protagonist face?
  • How did they overcome these challenges?
  • Can you relate this to a personal experience?

(See Discussion Questions Guide)

Guide a discussion by posing questions from the discussion guide. Encourage students to share personal reflections and implications of the story on their own resiliency.

Reflective Activity

Reflect on the story and write about a time you overcame a challenge. Consider:

  • What happened?
  • How did you feel?
  • What did you learn?

(Complete the Reflection Activity Sheet)

Explain the reflective activity and instruct students to connect the story to their personal experiences. Monitor the room and prompt sharing if needed.

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Reading

The Resilient Spirit: A Short Story

Once upon a time in a small town nestled between rolling hills and wide rivers, there lived a young artist named Maya. Maya loved to paint, and her paintings were full of life and color. However, life was not always easy for her. Every day, she faced challenges that tested her spirit.

Maya’s family struggled to make ends meet, and resources were limited. Despite these obstacles, she found comfort in her art and the beauty of nature around her. One chilly autumn day, a storm swept through the town, damaging many homes and businesses. Maya’s small studio was not spared—the windows shattered, and canvases were ruined.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, Maya sat in the wreckage of her once vibrant studio. But as she looked around, she remembered a piece of advice her grandmother had once given her: "Every setback carries the seed of a new beginning." With renewed determination, Maya gathered the damaged pieces and began salvaging what she could. She repurposed broken frames and scattered brushes found in the debris, transforming them into the tools for her next masterpiece.

Over the coming days, Maya painted with a new sense of purpose. She mixed colors with passion, each stroke on the canvas showing her determination to rise above her difficulties. Soon, a stunning painting emerged—a depiction of a phoenix rising from flames, symbolizing rebirth and the strength of the human spirit.

The town was inspired by her resilience. Neighbors came together to help rebuild not just the damaged buildings, but also to heal the community's spirit. Maya's story spread far and wide, reminding everyone that even in the darkest times, courage and creativity can illuminate the path to a brighter future.




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Discussion

Discussion Questions Guide

The following questions are designed to help you explore and analyze the short story, "The Resilient Spirit," and to reflect on the theme of resiliency. Take your time to think about each question and provide thoughtful responses. Feel free to work with a partner or discuss in small groups before sharing your ideas with the class.

Questions to Consider:

  1. Understanding the Story:


    • What challenges did Maya face throughout the story? Identify at least two major obstacles and explain how these impacted her life.

  2. Character Analysis:


    • How did Maya demonstrate resiliency in the face of adversity? Describe specific actions or decisions that epitomized her resilient spirit.

  3. Personal Connection:


    • Can you think of a time when you, or someone you know, faced a similar challenge? Share how the experience helped you grow or change.

  4. Theme Exploration:


    • The story mentions a key piece of advice: "Every setback carries the seed of a new beginning." What does this mean to you? Do you agree with this philosophy? Why or why not?

  5. Community Impact:


    • In the story, Maya’s resilience impacts not only her own life but also her community. How can one individual's actions inspire or influence others in a positive way?

Follow-Up Points for Discussion:

  • Discuss how creativity and passion can serve as powerful tools during tough times.
  • Reflect on what personal strengths or resources you might tap into during difficult moments.
  • Consider ways in which the idea of resiliency can be applied to everyday challenges at school, home, or among friends.

Feel free to jot down your thoughts in the space provided below each question and be prepared to share some of your insights with the class. Your personal experiences and opinions are valuable in understanding the broader concept of resiliency.







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Activity

Reflection Activity Sheet

Reflect on the short story "The Resilient Spirit" and think about moments in your life when you faced a challenge and found a way to overcome it. Use the prompts below to guide your reflection. Write your responses in the spaces provided.

Personal Reflection:

  1. Describe a personal challenge:






    Think about a time when you encountered a setback or difficult situation. What happened?





  2. Your response:






    How did you respond to this challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it?





  3. Lessons learned:






    What did you learn from this experience? How has it influenced your outlook on facing challenges in the future?





  4. Connections to Maya's Story:






    In the story, Maya transformed adversity into a source of creativity and growth. Can you connect any part of your experience with Maya’s journey? Explain your thoughts.





Take your time to write thoughtfully. Be honest and reflective, as this activity is for your personal growth and understanding of resiliency.

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