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Value Check

Slide Deck

Value Check

Welcome to Value Check!
• Duration: 20 minutes
• Focus: Identify, rank, and discuss personal values
• Framework: CASEL Self-Awareness

Welcome students to the “Value Check” session. (2 min)
• Greet the group and briefly explain that today we’ll explore personal values to build self-awareness.
• Emphasize respect and open-mindedness.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will:

  1. Define self-awareness in CASEL’s framework
  2. Identify and rank your personal values
  3. Practice sharing and listening respectfully in peer discussions

Introduce learning goals. (2 min)
• Read each objective aloud.
• Ask if any objectives need clarification.

What Is Self-Awareness?

Self-Awareness (CASEL):
• Recognizing your own emotions, values, and strengths
• Understanding how they influence thoughts and actions

Why it matters:
• Guides decision-making
• Builds confidence & empathy

Explain CASEL’s Self-Awareness. (2 min)
• Highlight that self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence.
• Ask: “Why might knowing your values matter?”

Examples of Personal Values

Here are some common values:
• Honesty
• Creativity
• Family
• Achievement
• Compassion
• Freedom
• Security
• Justice
• Adventure
• Knowledge

Feel free to add your own!

Introduce the concept of values listing. (2 min)
• Explain that values are beliefs that guide priorities.
• Encourage students to add unique personal values if not listed.

Values Ranking Instructions

  1. On your sheet, list 10 values that resonate with you.
  2. Circle your 5 most important values.
  3. Rank your top 3 (1 = highest priority).
  4. Be honest and thoughtful.

Explain the ranking activity. (3 min)
• Distribute the Values Ranking Sheet.
• Model ranking 5 values: circle favorites, then order top 3.
• Clarify questions.

Complete Your Worksheet

• Work silently for 5 minutes.
• List, circle, and rank your values.
• Prepare to explain your top 3 choices.

Guide students through independent work. (5 min)
• Circulate to support and answer questions.
• Ensure students progress through listing, circling, and ranking.

Peer Values Discussion

In small groups:

  1. Share your top 3 values and why you chose them.
  2. Listen and ask questions: “What makes this value important?”
  3. Note similarities and differences.

Lead peer discussion. (5 min)
• Form pairs or triads.
• Remind students to use active listening and ask curious questions.
• Time each share (2 min per person).

Reflection & Next Steps

Reflect:
• How did ranking help clarify your priorities?
• How might knowing others’ values deepen your empathy?

Next:
• Apply this self-awareness in daily choices.

Wrap up and reflect. (2 min)
• Invite a few volunteers to share insights.
• Connect back to self-awareness and future decisions.
• Thank students for their participation.

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Worksheet

Values Ranking Sheet

Follow the steps below to discover and reflect on your personal values. Write directly on this sheet.

1. List 10 Personal Values

Write ten values that resonate with you (e.g., Honesty, Creativity, Family, Achievement, Compassion).

  1. _________________________________


  2. _________________________________


  3. _________________________________


  4. _________________________________


  5. _________________________________


  6. _________________________________


  7. _________________________________


  8. _________________________________


  9. _________________________________


  10. ________________________________


2. Circle Your Top 5 Values

Review your list above and circle the five values most important to you.

3. Rank Your Top 3 Values

From the five you circled, choose your top three and write them in order of priority (1 = highest).

  1. _________________________________


  2. _________________________________


  3. _________________________________


4. Reflection Questions

Answer the prompts below to deepen your self-awareness.

a. Why is your #1 value important to you?












b. Describe a time when this value guided a decision you made.












c. If your #1 and #2 values ever conflict, how might you choose between them?












d. How could knowing someone else’s values help you build empathy in a conversation?












Next: Use this sheet to share your top values with a partner during the Peer Values Discussion.

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Discussion

Peer Values Debate

In this structured small-group discussion, you’ll practice expressing and challenging personal values respectfully. Use your completed Values Ranking Sheet to guide your conversation.

Discussion Overview (10 minutes)

  1. Share and clarify each person’s top value (5 minutes)
  2. Debate a real-life scenario that pits two values against each other (5 minutes)

Discussion Guidelines

• Respect: Listen without interrupting.

• Curious Questions: Ask “Can you say more about that?” or “What experiences shaped this value?”

• Evidence: Support your ideas with examples from your life or observations.

• Open Mind: Consider how someone else’s perspective might influence your own.

Stage 1: Share & Clarify (5 minutes)

  1. In round-robin fashion, each student names their #1 value and the reason they ranked it first.
  2. After each share, one peer asks a clarifying question:
    • “What moment made this value most important to you?”
    • “How does this value show up in your daily choices?”

Stage 2: Debate a Value Conflict (5 minutes)

Choose one pair of values from your group (for example, Honesty vs. Loyalty or Achievement vs. Well-being). Then:

  1. Assign Roles (1 minute)
    • Student A argues for Value #1 (e.g., Honesty).
    • Student B argues for Value #2 (e.g., Loyalty).
    • Student C listens and takes notes on strong points from both sides.

  2. Debate (3 minutes)
    • Each side has 1 minute to present why their value should take priority in the scenario:
    – Example Scenario: “A friend asks you to cover up a mistake they made. Which value guides your response?”
    • Student C summarizes the main arguments and notes areas of agreement.

  3. Rotate Roles if Time Permits (1 minute)
    • Swap positions so everyone practices arguing both sides.

Stage 3: Reflection & Wrap-Up (2 minutes)

Take a moment to write your responses below before sharing one final insight with the group.

a. What surprised you most about defending a value you didn’t choose as your #1?



b. How can this debate help you make tough decisions in real life?



Once written, share one key takeaway with your group.

Thank you for engaging in this debate and building empathy for diverse perspectives!

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Value Check • Lenny Learning