Lesson Plan
Exploring Identity Blueprint
Students will identify and articulate their personal strengths, interests, and values through guided reflections and activities, laying the groundwork for ongoing self-awareness.
Building self-awareness empowers students to recognize their unique qualities, boosts confidence, and supports emotional intelligence, which underpins academic and social success.
Audience
6th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive reflections and group sharing
Prep
Prepare Lesson Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out the Strengths Sorting Cards
- Print one My Identity Map Journal worksheet per student
- Queue up the Who Am I? Presentation on the classroom display
- Print enough copies of the One Word Check-Out Sheet for each student
- Review all materials to familiarize yourself with activity flow
Step 1
Welcome & Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Greet students and introduce the day's goal: discovering what makes each of them unique
- Quick name-and-favorite activity: Students share their name and one interest with a partner
- Emphasize that self-awareness helps them succeed in and out of school
Step 2
Who Am I? Presentation
10 minutes
- Display the Who Am I? Presentation
- Discuss the definition of self-awareness and why understanding ourselves matters
- Pause at key slides to ask reflective questions: “What are three words that describe you?”
Step 3
Strengths Sorting Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute Strengths Sorting Cards to each pair of students
- Students sort cards into “Strengths I Have,” “Strengths I’m Developing,” and “Strengths I’m Curious About”
- Circulate and prompt discussion: “Why did you place this here?”
Step 4
My Identity Map Journal
15 minutes
- Hand out the My Identity Map Journal worksheet
- Instruct students to draw a central circle with their name and surrounding bubbles for categories (e.g., hobbies, values, family)
- Encourage them to fill bubbles with words, drawings, or symbols representing themselves
- Offer support and ask probing questions as needed
Step 5
One Word Check-Out
5 minutes
- Give each student a One Word Check-Out Sheet
- Ask students to write one word that captures how they feel after today's lesson
- Invite a few volunteers to share their word and why they chose it
- Collect sheets to gauge student reflections and inform future lessons
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Slide Deck
Who Am I?
Exploring Your Unique Self-Awareness
Welcome students! Today we're going to begin exploring who you are. Introduce yourself, say your name out loud, and get ready to think about your identity.
What is Self-Awareness?
Self-awareness is knowing your own thoughts, feelings, strengths, interests, and values. It helps you understand why you do what you do.
Define self-awareness. Emphasize that it’s more than noticing feelings—it’s understanding what makes each of us unique.
Why Does Self-Awareness Matter?
- Builds confidence
- Improves decision-making
- Strengthens relationships
- Supports learning and growth
Walk through each bullet and ask for quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down if they agree it’s important.
Key Components of Identity
- Strengths: Abilities you excel at
- Interests: Activities you enjoy
- Values: What matters most to you
Explain the three key identity components. Provide examples (e.g., strength: teamwork; interest: drawing; value: honesty).
Reflect: Three Words
Write down three words that describe you.
Give students a moment to write. Circulate to prompt thinking: “How do these words show who you are?”
Pair Share
Turn to a partner and share your three words. Ask: Why did you choose these?
Have students find a partner. Model a quick share: “My words are creative, curious, and kind because …”
Next Up: Strengths Sorting
Get ready for the Strengths Sorting Activity where you'll explore your skills in depth.
Preview next activity: sorting card strengths. Explain materials will be passed out next.
Activity
Strengths Sorting Cards Activity
Objective: Help students recognize and categorize their personal strengths, raising awareness of skills they already possess, those they’re developing, and those they’re curious to explore.
Materials:
- A full set of Strengths Sorting Cards (listed below), one per pair of students
- Three heading labels: Strengths I Have, Strengths I’m Developing, Strengths I’m Curious About
Instructions:
- Divide students into pairs and hand each pair a shuffled deck of Strengths Sorting Cards.
- Invite pairs to lay out the three category headings on their tables.
- Working together, students read each card and decide whether it represents a strength they already have, one they’re still developing, or one they’d like to learn more about.
- As they sort, partners should discuss why they placed each card in its category. Encourage them to provide examples from their own experiences.
- After sorting, have pairs select one strength from each category to share with the class, explaining their reasoning.
Strengths Sorting Cards:
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Organization
- Critical thinking
- Collaboration
- Resilience
- Curiosity
- Responsibility
- Persistence
- Compassion
- Time management
- Honesty
- Humor
- Patience
- Focus
- Decision-making
- Self-motivation
- Active listening
- Innovation
Journal
My Identity Map
Name: ____________________________
Instructions
- In the space below, draw a large circle in the center and write your name inside it. This circle is “You.”
(Drawing Area)
- Around your central circle, draw six branches leading to smaller circles (bubbles). Label each bubble with one of these categories (or create your own):
- Strengths (skills and talents you have)
- Interests (activities you enjoy)
- Values (what matters most to you)
- Family & Culture (your background and traditions)
- Hobbies & Passions (things you love doing)
- Dreams & Goals (what you hope for)
- Inside each bubble, write or draw details that show that part of your identity.
Strengths Bubble
Interests Bubble
Values Bubble
Family & Culture Bubble
Hobbies & Passions Bubble
Dreams & Goals Bubble
Reflection Questions
- One thing I discovered about myself while creating this map is:
___________________________________________________________________________ - Which category was the easiest for you to fill in, and why?
___________________________________________________________________________ - Which category challenged you the most, and why?
___________________________________________________________________________ - How might you use what you learned about yourself today in school or with friends?
___________________________________________________________________________
Cool Down
One Word Check-Out
Name: __________________________ Date: ____________
Instructions
- In one word, how do you feel after today’s lesson?
My word: ________________________________
- Why did you choose this word?
__________________________________________________