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Who Am I When No One's Watching?

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Elizabeth Zichichi

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Secret Self Blueprint

Students will explore hidden aspects of their personalities and thought patterns through guided silent reflection and group sharing to build foundational self-awareness.

Self-awareness underpins academic success, healthy relationships, and personal growth. This lesson helps 10th graders recognize internal triggers and strengths, improving decision-making and emotional regulation.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided introspection through silent and shared activities.

Materials

  • Unseen Self Reveal slide deck, - Silence Snapshot warm-up prompt, - Silent Portrait art supplies, - Inner Monologue Share group discussion guide, - Hidden Thoughts Reflection journal pages, and - One-Word Exit exit ticket

Prep

Prepare Materials and Space

10 minutes

  • Load and review the Unseen Self Reveal slide deck.
  • Print copies of the Hidden Thoughts Reflection journal pages and the One-Word Exit exit ticket.
  • Gather art supplies (paper, pencils, markers) for Silent Portrait.
  • Arrange seating in a circle for discussion.
  • Familiarize yourself with prompts in Silence Snapshot and Inner Monologue Share.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Silence Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Silence Snapshot prompt to each student.
  • Instruct students to sit quietly with eyes closed for 1 minute, then write down three words describing their inner state.
  • Debrief briefly: ask volunteers to share one word and what it reveals about how they start their day.

Step 2

Introduction: Slide Deck Overview

5 minutes

  • Project the Unseen Self Reveal slide deck.
  • Define self-awareness and its importance (SEL Competency: Self-Awareness).
  • Explain today’s journey: silent reflection, creative expression, sharing, and journaling.

Step 3

Main Activity: Silent Portrait

10 minutes

  • Hand out paper and art supplies for Silent Portrait.
  • Ask students to draw a non-literal self-portrait that reflects how they think and feel when no one’s watching (no words allowed).
  • Encourage use of symbols, colors, abstract shapes—focus is on internal self, not appearance.

Step 4

Discussion: Inner Monologue Share

10 minutes

  • Form a circle and guide discussion with Inner Monologue Share.
  • Prompt 1: What symbols or colors did you choose and why?
  • Prompt 2: How does your portrait reveal hidden aspects of yourself?
  • Encourage respectful listening; students can pass if they choose.

Step 5

Reflection: Hidden Thoughts Journal

10 minutes

  • Distribute Hidden Thoughts Reflection pages.
  • Students respond to prompts:
    • Describe one recurring thought or feeling you discovered today.
    • Identify a personal strength revealed by your portrait.
    • Note one area for growth or exploration.
  • Circulate to support and clarify prompts.

Step 6

Cool-Down: One-Word Exit

5 minutes

  • Hand out the One-Word Exit exit ticket.
  • Ask each student to write one word describing how they feel after today’s lesson.
  • Collect tickets as students exit to gauge overall emotional takeaway.
lenny

Slide Deck

Who Am I When No One’s Watching?

An interactive journey into self-awareness
SEL Competency: Self-Awareness
Audience: 10th Grade | 45 minutes
Tier 1: Whole-class Lesson

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today we’re uncovering parts of ourselves that often stay hidden. Use an engaging tone to build curiosity.

What Is Self-Awareness?

• Recognizing your thoughts, feelings, and triggers
• Understanding how internal states influence your actions
• SEL Competency: Self-Awareness
Why it matters:
– Better decision-making
– Healthier relationships
– Stronger emotional regulation

Define self-awareness and connect to everyday life. Highlight relevance to academic performance, relationships, and personal growth.

Today’s Journey

  1. Warm-Up: Silence Snapshot (reflection)
  2. Silent Portrait (creative drawing)
  3. Inner Monologue Share (group discussion)
  4. Hidden Thoughts Reflection (journal)
  5. One-Word Exit (cool-down)

Outline today’s flow so students know what to expect. Use bullet points to keep it clear.

Activity: Silent Portrait

• Supplies: paper, pencils, markers
• Task: Draw a non-literal self-portrait of how you feel when no one’s watching
• No words allowed – focus on shapes, symbols, and colors
• Time: 10 minutes
• Goal: Visualize hidden feelings and thoughts

Explain the Silent Portrait activity step by step. Emphasize no words—symbols and colors only.

Reflection Prompts

Take 10 minutes to respond in your journal:

  1. One recurring thought or feeling you noticed today
  2. A personal strength revealed by your portrait
  3. One area for growth or exploration

Transition from drawing to personal reflection. Read prompts aloud and encourage honesty.

Discussion: Inner Monologue Share

Form a circle and discuss:
• What symbols or colors did you choose? Why?
• How does your portrait reveal hidden aspects of yourself?
• How might this self-awareness support you in everyday life?

Facilitate group discussion with respect and active listening. Remind students they may pass.

Closure: One-Word Exit

• Write one word that describes how you feel after today’s lesson
• Submit as you leave to share your emotional takeaway
Thank you for participating—carry this self-awareness forward!

Close the lesson, gather emotional feedback, and preview next steps on self-awareness.

lenny

Warm Up

Silence Snapshot Warm-Up

Instructions:

  1. Sit quietly with your eyes closed for 1 minute. Reflect on your inner thoughts and feelings.
  2. After the minute is up, open your eyes and write down three words that best capture how you feel right now.

Use the lines below to record your responses:

Word 1: _________________________


Word 2: _________________________


Word 3: _________________________


Take a moment to think about why you chose these words. You’ll have a chance to share one word and its meaning with the class during our debrief.

lenny
lenny

Activity

Silent Portrait Activity

Time: 10 minutes
Supplies:

  • Plain drawing paper
  • Pencils or pens
  • Colored pencils, markers, or crayons

Instructions:

  1. Sit quietly for a moment and reflect on how you feel when you’re completely alone—no one watching or listening.
  2. Using your paper and art supplies, create a non-literal self-portrait that represents your inner thoughts, emotions, and personality when you feel most hidden.
  3. Do not use any words or labels. Instead, choose symbols, abstract shapes, lines, textures, and colors to express your feelings and ideas.
  4. Focus on capturing how you feel and why—not what you look like.
  5. When your drawing is complete, set it aside. We’ll use it in our group discussion next.

Goal: Visualize and externalize hidden aspects of yourself through shape, color, and symbol rather than literal imagery or text.

lenny
lenny

Discussion

Discussion Guide: Inner Monologue Share

Objective:
Students will verbally explore the symbols, colors, and shapes in their Silent Portrait to deepen self-awareness and connect internal insights to real-world behaviors.

Discussion Norms:

  • Speak one at a time; listen actively.
  • Use “I” statements (e.g., “I felt…,” “I chose this symbol because…”).
  • Maintain confidentiality: what’s shared in the circle stays in the circle.
  • You may pass on any question—no pressure to share.

Core Prompts:

  1. Describe one symbol, shape, or color you used. Why did you choose it?
  2. What hidden thought, feeling, or part of your personality does this element represent?
  3. How might this new insight support you when facing challenges or making decisions?

Follow-Up Questions (as needed):

  • Can you tell us more about how that symbol reflects your inner world?
  • What emotions did you feel as you drew this element?
  • How does recognizing this part of yourself help you connect with others or manage stress?

Timing:
• Aim for 3–4 volunteers, about 2–3 minutes per share (total ~10 minutes).

Wrap-Up:

  • Thank students for their honesty and respectful listening.
  • Highlight any themes or common strengths you heard.
  • Reinforce how naming and acknowledging these inner elements builds stronger self-awareness and prepares us for our next reflection in the Hidden Thoughts Reflection.
lenny
lenny

Journal

Hidden Thoughts Reflection

Take the next 10 minutes to respond thoughtfully to the prompts below. Use the space provided to explore your inner world and deepen your self-awareness.

  1. Describe one recurring thought or feeling you discovered today.






  1. Identify a personal strength that was revealed by your Silent Portrait.






  1. Note one area for growth or exploration that you’d like to focus on moving forward.






When you’ve finished, prepare to share any insights with the group or keep them as a private reflection to guide your personal growth.

lenny
lenny

Cool Down

One-Word Exit Ticket

Prompt:
Write one word that best describes how you feel after today’s lesson.

Word: _________________________

Collect these tickets as students exit to gauge their overall emotional takeaway.

lenny
lenny