Lesson Plan
Who Am I... Really? Lesson Plan
Students will explore the various facets of their social-emotional development and identity, recognizing how they navigate relationships and express themselves in different social and community contexts. They will reflect on feelings of support, safety, and connection, and consider strategies for confident self-expression.
Understanding and embracing one's identity is crucial for healthy social-emotional development. This lesson helps students build self-awareness, foster positive relationships, and develop the confidence to be authentic, leading to a stronger sense of belonging and overall well-being.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and reflective activities.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Who Am I... Really? Lesson Plan, Who Am I? Warm-Up, Who Am I? Slide Deck, Who Am I? Script, and Who Am I? Cool-Down to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
- Ensure projector or interactive whiteboard is set up for the Who Am I? Slide Deck.
- Make copies of the Who Am I? Warm-Up and Who Am I? Cool-Down if distributing physically, or prepare for digital distribution.
Step 1
Warm-Up: My Social Circle
3 minutes
- Distribute the Who Am I? Warm-Up to each student.
2. Instruct students to individually complete the warm-up activity, reflecting on their social connections and feelings of belonging.
3. Briefly review responses as a class or in small groups (as time permits), encouraging students to share one insight without pressure.
Step 2
Introduction: The Many 'You's
2 minutes
- Using the Who Am I? Slide Deck and following the Who Am I? Script, introduce the topic of identity and social-emotional development.
2. Pose a guiding question to prompt initial thoughts: 'How do the different groups you're a part of shape who you are?'
Step 3
Exploring Identity and Connection
5 minutes
- Advance through the Who Am I? Slide Deck, facilitating a discussion using the prompts from the Who Am I? Script.
2. Focus on questions like 'Do you feel comfortable being who you are in front of others?' and 'Do you feel you are treated fairly in your community?'
3. Encourage students to share examples of when they felt truly themselves or when they felt a strong sense of connection.
Step 4
Discussion: Being Your Authentic Self
3 minutes
- Lead a brief discussion on the importance of authenticity and self-expression, referring to the themes in the Who Am I? Slide Deck and Who Am I? Script.
2. Ask students: 'What does it mean to be your authentic self? Why is it important?'
3. Highlight that it's okay to evolve and that self-discovery is an ongoing process.
Step 5
Cool-Down: One Word Identity
2 minutes
- Distribute the Who Am I? Cool-Down.
2. Ask students to complete the cool-down, reflecting on their key takeaway or a word that describes their identity journey after the discussion.
3. Collect the cool-down responses as an exit ticket.
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Warm Up
Who Am I? Warm-Up
Take a few minutes to reflect on the questions below. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts.
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List three different groups or communities you feel a part of (e.g., family, sports team, friend group, online community, school club, neighborhood).
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For each group, briefly describe one way you act or express yourself that might be different from how you act in another group.
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On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is "Not at all" and 5 is "Completely," how much do you feel like you can be your true self in most of these groups?
1 - Not at all
2 - A little bit
3 - Sometimes
4 - Mostly
5 - Completely -
What makes you feel most comfortable being yourself?
Slide Deck
Who Are You... Really?
Exploring Your Identity & Connections
- How do the different groups you're a part of shape who you are?
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Explain that today we're thinking about who we are in different parts of our lives. Connect back to the warm-up activity. This is slide 1 of 5.
Your Many 'You's
Identity is Like a Jigsaw Puzzle
- Roles: Student, friend, sibling, teammate
- Interests: Hobbies, passions, what you love to do
- Values: What's important to you
- Expressions: How you show up in the world
Think: Do you act differently with your family than with your friends? Why?
Discuss how our identity isn't just one thing, but a collection of traits, beliefs, and roles. Encourage students to think about how they present themselves in various social settings. This is slide 2 of 5.
Being Your Authentic Self
The Power of Being YOU
- Do you ever feel that you can't be yourself around your peers?
- Do you feel comfortable being who you are in front of others?
- Why is it sometimes hard to be our true selves?
Discussion: When do you feel most like yourself?
Focus on the idea of authenticity. Ask students about situations where they felt they couldn't be themselves, and situations where they felt completely comfortable. This is slide 3 of 5.
Connecting to Community
Finding Your Place
- Do you feel you are treated fairly in your community?
- How does feeling supported by others impact you?
- What makes a community feel welcoming and safe?
Think: How can we create more inclusive spaces for everyone?
Shift the focus to community and belonging. Discuss how feeling accepted and treated fairly impacts our sense of self. This is slide 4 of 5.
Your Identity Journey
Always Growing, Always Learning
- Your identity is unique and constantly evolving.
- Authenticity builds stronger connections.
- Feeling connected and treated fairly matters.
Remember: Embrace who you are and who you are becoming!
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage continued self-reflection. Reinforce that identity is a journey. This is slide 5 of 5.
Script
Who Am I? Script
(Teacher Introduction - 1 minute)
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Today, we're going to dive into a really interesting and important topic: ourselves! Specifically, we'll be thinking about our identity and how we connect with others in our lives. We'll explore how we feel in different groups and how we express who we are."
Warm-Up: My Social Circle (3 minutes)
"To get us started, please take out the 'Who Am I? Warm-Up' handout I just distributed (or open the digital version). I'd like you to spend the next three minutes quietly reflecting on these questions. Think about the different groups you belong to and how you show up in each. There are no wrong answers here, just your honest thoughts.
(Pause for 3 minutes while students complete the warm-up.)
"Alright, let's bring it back together. I won't ask anyone to share anything they're uncomfortable with, but would anyone like to share one interesting thought or observation they had while completing the warm-up? Perhaps something new you noticed about yourself or your groups?"
Introduction: The Many 'You's (Slide 1 - 2 minutes)
"(Display Who Am I? Slide Deck - Slide 1)
"Take a look at this question on the slide: 'How do the different groups you're a part of shape who you are?' This builds directly on our warm-up. Think about your family, your friends, your sports team, your online communities, your school clubs – how do these different environments influence how you act, what you say, and even what you believe?"
Exploring Identity and Connection (Slides 2-4 - 5 minutes)
"(Display Who Am I? Slide Deck - Slide 2)
"Our identity is like a jigsaw puzzle, made up of many pieces: our roles, our interests, our values, and how we express ourselves. You might be a student, a friend, a sibling, a teammate. You might love art, or gaming, or volunteering. All these things make you, YOU! And sometimes, we adjust how we act depending on who we're with. Do you ever feel you act differently with your family than with your friends? (Pause for brief responses). It's totally normal to have different 'sides' to yourself."
"(Display Who Am I? Slide Deck - Slide 3)
"Now, let's talk about the 'Power of Being YOU.' The screen asks: 'Do you ever feel that you can't be yourself around your peers?' and 'Do you feel comfortable being who you are in front of others?' It's a really important question. Why do you think it can sometimes be hard to be our true selves? (Allow for student responses). It takes courage to be authentic. When do you feel most like yourself? What are those moments or places where you feel you can truly just be you?"
"(Display Who Am I? Slide Deck - Slide 4)
"Moving on to 'Connecting to Community.' This is about how we fit in with the larger groups around us. The slide asks: 'Do you feel you are treated fairly in your community?' Your community could be your neighborhood, your school, or even broader groups you identify with. How does feeling supported by others impact you? Think about a time you felt really welcomed or supported. What did that feel like? What makes a community feel welcoming and safe for everyone?"
Discussion: Being Your Authentic Self (3 minutes)
"Let's take a moment to discuss: What does it truly mean to be your authentic self? (Allow for student responses and guide the discussion). It's about being honest about who you are, what you believe, and what you need. And why is that so important? (Guide responses towards building trust, stronger relationships, and personal well-being). Remember, your identity isn't fixed; it's always growing and evolving, and that's a wonderful thing!"
Cool-Down: One Word Identity (Slide 5 - 2 minutes)
"(Display Who Am I? Slide Deck - Slide 5)
"As we wrap up today, please take out the 'Who Am I? Cool-Down' handout. I'd like you to write down one word or phrase that describes your identity journey after our discussion today, or one key takeaway. This is your personal reflection to cap off our session.
(Pause for 2 minutes while students complete the cool-down.)
"Thank you all for your thoughtful participation today. Your journey of self-discovery is unique and valuable. Have a great rest of your day!"
Cool Down
Who Am I? Cool-Down
Take a moment to reflect on our discussion today.
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In one word or a short phrase, what is your biggest takeaway or new thought about your identity after today's lesson?
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What is one way you can practice being more authentically YOU this week?