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What’s Your First Impression

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Heather Smith

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

First Impressions Blueprint

Students will identify and practice the key components of a positive interview introduction—greeting, name, background, and personal pitch—and craft their own confident self‐introductions.

First impressions shape others’ views and pave the way for future opportunities. Mastering a clear, memorable introduction builds communication skills and self‐assurance essential for interviews and networking.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Model, discuss, and practice using slides and worksheet.

Materials

  • Hook and Introduce Yourself Slide Deck, and - What’s Your First Impression Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Review the Hook and Introduce Yourself Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with scenarios and talking points.
  • Print enough copies of the What’s Your First Impression Worksheet for each student.
  • Set up projector or interactive board for slide deck display.
  • Arrange classroom seating to facilitate whole‐class discussion and pair work.

Step 1

Engage with Example Introductions

5 minutes

  • Display two contrasting interview introductions using the slide deck.
  • Ask students to note what stood out in each introduction (tone, content, confidence).
  • Prompt: “Which introduction gave the best first impression? Why?”
  • Collect quick responses to spark discussion.

Step 2

Define Key Elements

5 minutes

  • Using the slide deck, introduce four key elements of a strong introduction:
    • Greeting (polite opener)
    • Name (clear pronunciation)
    • Background (relevant info)
    • Personal pitch (unique strength)
  • Ask students for examples of each element from the sample intros.

Step 3

Model Strong Introductions

5 minutes

  • Teacher models a sample introduction incorporating all four elements.
  • Break down each part aloud, referencing the elements list.
  • Invite students to identify each element in the model.
  • Address any questions about wording or structure.

Step 4

Worksheet Practice

10 minutes

  • Distribute the What’s Your First Impression Worksheet.
  • Students complete prompts to draft their own introduction.
  • Circulate to support students, offering sentence starters or clarifications.
  • Differentiate: provide extra scaffolding (fill‐in‐the‐blank prompts) for learners who need it.

Step 5

Share and Reflect

5 minutes

  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to present their introductions.
  • Classmates give positive feedback, citing specific elements seen (e.g., “I liked how you stated your background clearly”).
  • Summarize key takeaways: tone, clarity, and confidence.
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Slide Deck

Hook and Introduce Yourself

Master Your First Impression!

Today we’ll explore how to greet someone in an interview with confidence and clarity.

Welcome students and introduce today’s objective: crafting a memorable introduction. Mention that we’ll look at examples, learn key parts, and practice.

Example Introductions

Example 1:
“Hello, I’m Alex Johnson. I love robotics and I’ve led our school’s robotics club for two years. I’m excited to bring my teamwork and problem-solving skills to the internship.”

Example 2:
“Hi, my name is Taylor Lee. I enjoy painting and have exhibited my work at local art shows. I’m eager to apply my creativity and dedication to this opportunity.”

Display two sample introductions. Read each aloud and ask students to jot down what caught their attention—tone, details, confidence.

Four Key Elements

  1. Greeting – polite opener (Hello/Hi)
  2. Name – clear pronunciation
  3. Background – relevant experience or interest
  4. Personal Pitch – unique strength or goal

Introduce each element and ask students to point to where they saw it in the examples.

Modeling a Strong Introduction

“Good afternoon! My name is Jordan Smith. I’ve volunteered at our community garden for three summers, developing leadership and teamwork skills. I’m thrilled about the chance to contribute my passion for sustainability to your team.”

Model reading the sample introduction. Then break it down line by line, asking students to identify each element. Emphasize tone and body language.

Your Turn: Worksheet Practice

• Distribute the What’s Your First Impression Worksheet.
• Complete each prompt: Greeting, Name, Background, Personal Pitch.
• Draft your full introduction in the final box.
• I’ll circulate to help with wording and confidence!

Explain the worksheet structure and circulate to support. Offer sentence starters when needed.

Share & Reflect

• Volunteers present their introductions.
• Classmates share what stood out:
– Which element was strongest?
– How did the introduction make you feel?
• Offer one tip for even more confidence.

Invite 2–3 volunteers and guide peers to give specific, positive feedback using the four elements.

Key Takeaways

• A strong introduction has a clear greeting, your name, relevant background, and a personal pitch.
• Practice tone and body language.
• Confidence grows with preparation—keep refining your introduction!

Reinforce today’s learning and encourage practice before real interviews or presentations.

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Worksheet

What’s Your First Impression

Use this worksheet to draft a clear, confident introduction for an interview or networking situation. Complete each section, then write your full introduction in the final box.

1. Greeting

Write a polite opener you would use in an interview. For example: “Hello,” “Good morning,” or “Hi there.”





2. Name

Write how you will clearly state your name. For example: “I’m Jamie Patel,” or “My name is Jordan Smith.”





3. Background

Share one relevant experience, interest, or skill. For example: “I’ve been a member of our school’s debate team for two years,” or “I volunteered at the animal shelter last summer.”










4. Personal Pitch

Highlight one unique strength or goal you bring to the role. For example: “I’m passionate about problem-solving and teamwork,” or “I love creating digital art and hope to apply my creativity here.”










5. My Full Introduction

Combine your Greeting, Name, Background, and Personal Pitch into one smooth introduction. Practice reading it out loud with confidence and clear pronunciation.










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