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What’s Your Strength?

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Lesson Plan

Discovering Strengths Blueprint

Students will identify and articulate at least three personal strengths, understand how these shape their self-identity, and share insights with peers to boost confidence and self-awareness.

Developing self-awareness is key to social-emotional growth. Recognizing and valuing personal strengths empowers students, builds confidence, and fosters a positive classroom climate.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided reflection, interactive gallery walk, peer sharing

Materials

Strengths Spotlight Presentation, Superpower Snapshot, Strengths Gallery Walk, and My Superpower Reflection

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Superpower Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Superpower Snapshot sheet to each student
  • Ask students to quickly list 3–5 things they’re good at or enjoy doing (no overthinking)
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one of their ‘superpowers’ with the class to spark interest

Step 2

Introduction: Strengths Spotlight

7 minutes

  • Display the Strengths Spotlight Presentation
  • Define ‘strengths’ and explain why recognizing them matters for self-awareness
  • Highlight 3–4 example strengths and model how to describe them (e.g., “I’m a good listener because…”)

Step 3

Activity: Strengths Gallery Walk

15 minutes

  • Post large posters around the room, each labeled with a different strength category (e.g., Creativity, Empathy, Leadership)
  • Provide sticky notes and markers
  • Students walk quietly to each station, write one personal example that fits the category, and stick it on the poster
  • Encourage reading peers’ notes as they move

Step 4

Reflection: My Superpower Journal

12 minutes

  • Hand out My Superpower Reflection journals
  • Prompt students to choose one strength they saw on the gallery walls or listed earlier
  • In their journals, write a paragraph explaining why it’s a strength, when they use it, and how it helps them or others
  • Circulate and support students in elaborating their thoughts

Step 5

Closure: Share and Affirm

6 minutes

  • Pair students to share one journal insight with a partner
  • Ask pairs to offer a positive affirmation about their partner’s strength
  • Reconvene whole class and invite 2–3 pairs to share affirmations aloud
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Slide Deck

Strengths Spotlight

Welcome to our Strengths Spotlight! Today you’ll learn what strengths are, why they matter, and how to find and describe your own.

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Script: “Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re shining a light on our personal strengths. By the end of this lesson, you’ll know what strengths are, why they matter, and how to spot yours.”

What Are Strengths?

• Strengths are qualities or skills you do well and enjoy using.
• They can be talents, traits, or abilities that make you unique.

Define the term and engage students. Ask: “Who can share a strength they think they have?”

Why Recognize Your Strengths?

• Builds confidence and self-esteem
• Helps you make positive choices
• Improves teamwork and relationships

Explain each bullet. Relate to real life: choosing friends, solving problems, feeling proud.

Examples of Strengths

• Creativity: drawing, storytelling
• Empathy: understanding others’ feelings
• Leadership: guiding and motivating peers
• Perseverance: sticking with challenges

Share examples and invite students to suggest other strengths. Write student ideas on board.

Describing Your Strength

Use this formula:
“I am a good [strength] because I [action/example].”

Try it: I am a good ________ because ________.

Model the sentence frame. Then call on a volunteer to complete it with their own strength and example.

Gallery Walk Instructions

  1. Stations labeled Creativity, Empathy, Leadership, etc.
  2. Write one personal example of that strength on a sticky note.
  3. Place it on the matching poster.
  4. Read and learn from your classmates’ notes.

Explain the gallery walk procedure step by step. Emphasize quiet movement and respectful reading of peers’ ideas.

Reflection Prompt

Choose one strength from the gallery. In your journal, write:
• Why it’s a strength
• When you use it
• How it helps you or others

Distribute journals. Circulate and prompt deeper thinking: “How does this strength help you?”

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Warm Up

Superpower Snapshot Warm-Up

Take 2 minutes to quickly list 3–5 things you’re good at or enjoy doing. Don’t overthink—go with your first ideas!

  1. _________________________________


  2. _________________________________


  3. _________________________________


  4. _________________________________


  5. _________________________________


Reflection: Choose one of your “superpowers” above. Write a sentence about when you use it and how it helps you or others.






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Activity

Strengths Gallery Walk

Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Posters labeled with strength categories (Creativity, Empathy, Leadership, Perseverance, Collaboration), sticky notes, markers

Setup & Instructions

  1. Station Setup: Teacher arranges the posters around the room, one per strength category.

  2. Write & Post: Students rotate quietly to a station. On a sticky note, they complete the prompt:

    “I show [Strength] when I…”
    And write a brief example or story.
    They then stick it to the matching poster.

  3. Read & Rotate: After posting, students spend 1–2 minutes reading peers’ notes at that station before moving on.

  4. Repeat until they’ve visited at least four different stations.

Sticky-Note Prompts

  • I show Creativity when I…
  • I demonstrate Empathy when I…
  • I lead with Leadership by…
  • I practice Perseverance when…
  • I build Collaboration by…

Reflection Questions (After the Walk)

  1. Which example on the walls stood out to you, and why?


  2. Did you discover a strength you hadn’t considered before? Explain.


  3. How might you use one of these strengths in a future project or team activity?





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