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What's Your Future Superpower?

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Lesson Plan

Superpower Discovery Lesson

Students will identify their personal strengths and interests, connect these to potential career paths, and develop a preliminary understanding of how their unique 'superpowers' can be valuable in the professional world.

Understanding personal strengths and interests is vital for self-awareness and informed decision-making about future careers. This lesson empowers students to see their unique qualities as valuable assets, fostering motivation and confidence in their transition planning.

Audience

High School Special Education Class

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, individual reflection, and scenario-based activity.

Materials

Unleash Your Inner Hero (slide-deck), Strength-Spotting Scenarios (activity), and My Future Superpowers Reflection (journal)

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Favorite Superpower?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?"
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share.
    - Introduce the idea that everyone has unique, real-life "superpowers" (strengths) that can help them in life and careers.

Step 2

Introduction to Superpowers (Strengths & Interests)

15 minutes

  • Use the Unleash Your Inner Hero slide deck to introduce the concept of personal strengths and interests as 'superpowers.'
    - Define 'strengths' and 'interests' with clear, relatable examples.
    - Lead a discussion about how knowing our strengths can help us choose fulfilling careers.

Step 3

Activity: Strength-Spotting Scenarios

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Strength-Spotting Scenarios activity.
    - Explain the activity: Students will read different scenarios and identify which personal strengths (superpowers) would be most helpful in each situation.
    - Encourage students to work individually or in small groups.
    - Circulate to provide support and facilitate discussion among students as they work.

Step 4

Reflection: My Future Superpowers

15 minutes

  • Distribute the My Future Superpowers Reflection journal.
    - Instruct students to reflect on their own strengths and interests identified during the lesson and the activity.
    - Guide them to brainstorm how these 'superpowers' could connect to potential career paths or future goals.
    - Encourage creative thinking and self-expression.

Step 5

Share & Cool-Down

5 minutes

  • Invite students to voluntarily share one 'superpower' they identified in themselves and a potential career connection.
    - Conclude by emphasizing that everyone has unique talents and that recognizing them is the first step to a successful future.
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Slide Deck

What's Your Superpower?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Welcome students and kick off the lesson with an engaging question to get them thinking about personal attributes.

Real Life Superpowers

You don't need a cape to be super!

We all have special talents and skills.

These are your personal 'superpowers'!

Transition from fictional superpowers to real-life ones. Explain that everyone has unique talents and abilities.

What are Strengths?

💪 Strengths are things you are good at, enjoy doing, or find easy.

Examples:

  • Good listener
  • Creative thinker
  • Problem solver
  • Organized
  • Friendly
  • Strong at building things

Define 'strength' in a simple, relatable way for students. Give examples relevant to their experiences.

What are Interests?

✨ Interests are things you like to learn about, do, or explore.

Examples:

  • Playing sports
  • Drawing or painting
  • Helping others
  • Working with animals
  • Solving puzzles
  • Learning about technology

Define 'interests' and provide examples. Emphasize that these are things that make them curious or happy.

Why Discover Your Superpowers?

  • Know Yourself Better: Understand what makes you unique.
  • Find Your Path: Connect your talents to what you might want to do.
  • Feel Confident: Believe in your abilities.
  • Future Planning: Helps you think about school, jobs, and life after high school.

Explain why identifying their superpowers is important, especially for their future.

Activity Time!

Get ready to spot some strengths!

We're going to look at some scenarios and identify the 'superpowers' that would help.

Introduce the activity. Explain that they will be putting their 'strength-spotting' skills to the test.

Time to Reflect

Now that you've spotted strengths in others, it's time to think about your own unique superpowers!

We'll use our journals to explore this further.

Briefly set up the journal reflection as the next step.

You Are Super!

Remember, you have amazing strengths and interests.

Discovering them is the first step to building an awesome future.

Keep exploring your inner hero!

Conclude by reiterating the main message and encouraging them to keep thinking about their superpowers.

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Activity

Strength-Spotting Scenarios

Instructions: Read each scenario carefully. For each one, identify one or two personal "superpowers" (strengths or interests) that would be helpful in that situation. Then, explain why that superpower would be useful.


Scenario 1: The Group Project Guru

Your class has a big group project due, and your team is struggling to decide who does what. Everyone has good ideas, but no one is taking charge, and some people are feeling left out.

Which superpower(s) would be helpful here?






Why would this superpower be useful?







Scenario 2: The Animal Advocate

You love animals and notice that a local animal shelter needs volunteers to help care for cats and dogs. You're a bit shy, but you really want to make a difference.

Which superpower(s) would be helpful here?






Why would this superpower be useful?







Scenario 3: The Tech Troubleshooter

Your family's computer suddenly stops working. Your younger sibling is upset because they can't play their favorite game. You don't know much about computers, but you're curious about how things work and you like solving puzzles.

Which superpower(s) would be helpful here?






Why would this superpower be useful?







Scenario 4: The Creative Cook

It's your turn to help make dinner, but you realize you're missing a key ingredient for the recipe. You have other ingredients, but they aren't quite the same. You enjoy trying new things in the kitchen.

Which superpower(s) would be helpful here?






Why would this superpower be useful?






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Journal

My Future Superpowers Reflection

Instructions: Think about the lesson today and the activities we did. Now, it's your turn to reflect on your own unique superpowers!


1. My Top 3 Superpowers (Strengths):

What are three things you are really good at, enjoy doing, or find easy? These are your personal strengths! Think about school, hobbies, helping out at home, or with friends.











2. My Top 3 Interests:

What are three things you love to learn about, do for fun, or explore? These are your interests!











3. Connecting Superpowers to Careers:

Choose one of your superpowers (strength or interest) from above. How could this superpower be useful in a job or career? Give an example.

My superpower:


How it could help in a career:









4. Dream Job Brainstorm:

Based on your strengths and interests, what is one type of job or career you might be interested in exploring more? Don't worry if you don't know for sure yet – this is just brainstorming!








5. What Makes You Unique?

In your own words, why is it important to know your own strengths and interests when thinking about your future?













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