Lesson Plan
Who's Got Your Back? Lesson Plan
Students will identify and list at least five trusted adults they can contact for support, understanding the importance of having a reliable support network.
Knowing who to turn to in challenging situations is a crucial life skill. This lesson empowers students to build a personal safety net, ensuring they feel supported and know how to access help.
Audience
6th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion and guided activity, students will compile a personal adult support contact list.
Materials
Who's Got Your Back? Slide Deck, My Support Squad Worksheet, and Who's Got Your Back? Cool Down
Prep
Preparation Checklist
15 minutes
- Review the Who's Got Your Back? Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the My Support Squad Worksheet (one per student).
- Ensure you have writing materials available for students.
- Review the Who's Got Your Back? Cool Down activity.
- Consider an example of your own adult support network to share with students, if comfortable, to model the activity.
Step 1
Introduction: The Importance of Support
5 minutes
- Hook (2 min): Begin by displaying Slide 1 and asking students: "Who do you go to when you need help or have a question?" Facilitate a brief class discussion, emphasizing that everyone needs support sometimes.
- Introduce Objective (1 min): Transition to Slide 2 and introduce the lesson's objective: to identify and list trusted adults who can provide support.
- Brainstorming Support (2 min): Using Slide 3, lead a quick brainstorm of different types of adults students might turn to (e.g., family members, teachers, coaches, neighbors, doctors, school counselors). Highlight the importance of identifying adults they trust and feel comfortable speaking with.
Step 2
Defining a Trusted Adult
5 minutes
- Discussion & Examples (3 min): Display Slide 4. Facilitate a discussion on what makes an adult
Step 3
Step 2: Exploring Trusted Adults
8 minutes
- Individual Brainstorm (4 min): Distribute the My Support Squad Worksheet. Instruct students to individually brainstorm and list different adults they trust in various areas of their lives (e.g., home, school, community). Encourage them to think broadly and include names and contact information if they know it. Display Slide 5 to guide them.
- Share & Discuss (4 min): In small groups or pairs, have students share a few of the adults they listed and explain why they chose them. Emphasize that it's okay if their lists aren't identical and that trust is personal. Circulate to offer support and answer questions.
Step 4
Building a Support Squad
7 minutes
- Identify Key Contacts (3 min): Guide students to review their lists and identify the 3-5 adults they feel are most reliable and accessible for different types of support. They can circle or star these on their worksheet. Discuss with Slide 6.
- Importance of Contact Info (4 min): On Slide 7, discuss why it's important to have contact information (phone number, email, or even knowing where to find them) for their support squad. If students don't have this information, encourage them to ask their trusted adults for it later.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Reflection
5 minutes
- Review & Reiterate (2 min): Briefly revisit the concept of a support squad and why it's important using Slide 8. Reiterate that it's a strength, not a weakness, to seek help.
- Cool Down (3 min): Distribute the Who's Got Your Back? Cool Down. Have students complete the exit ticket to reflect on their learning and identify one adult they feel most comfortable talking to. Collect the cool-down for assessment of understanding.
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Slide Deck
Who's Got Your Back?
Who do you go to when you need help or have a question?
Welcome students and prepare them for the lesson. Ask this question to get them thinking about who they rely on.
Our Goal Today
Today, we will identify and list trusted adults who can provide us with support when we need it.
Clearly state the lesson's objective.
Brainstorm: Who Can Help?
Who are some different adults you might turn to?
- Family members
- Teachers
- Coaches
- Neighbors
- School counselors
- Doctors
- And more!
Encourage students to think broadly about different types of adults.
What Makes an Adult "Trusted"?
What qualities make an adult someone you feel comfortable talking to?
- They listen without judgment.
- They respect your feelings.
- They offer helpful advice or guidance.
- They keep your information private (unless it's about safety).
- They are reliable and consistent.
Facilitate a discussion about the qualities of a trustworthy adult.
Your Support Squad Worksheet
On your worksheet, start listing adults you trust in different parts of your life:
- At home
- At school
- In your community
Don't worry about contact info yet, just the names!
Explain the worksheet activity.
Building Your A-Team
From your list, pick 3-5 adults who you feel are your most reliable and accessible 'A-Team' for support.
Circle or star these individuals.
Guide students to narrow down their list.
Why Contact Information Matters
Why is it important to have ways to contact your support squad?
- In an emergency.
- When you need advice quickly.
- To set up a time to talk.
If you don't have their contact info, that's okay! You can ask them later.
Emphasize the practical side of having a support list.
You've Got This!
Remember, having a support squad is a sign of strength.
It means you know how to take care of yourself by asking for help when you need it.
Reinforce the main message of the lesson.
Worksheet
My Support Squad: Who Has Your Back?
It's important to know who you can turn to when you need help, advice, or just someone to talk to. These are your trusted adults, your personal support squad!
Part 1: Brainstorm Your Trusted Adults
Think about the different parts of your life and the adults you trust in each. List as many as you can!
At Home / Family: (Think about parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, older siblings, grandparents, trusted family friends)
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
At School: (Think about teachers, counselors, librarians, coaches, school nurses, principals, office staff)
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
In Your Community: (Think about neighbors, youth group leaders, doctors, police officers, store owners, friends' parents)
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
- _____________________________________________
Part 2: Build Your A-Team (Your Top 3-5)
Look at all the adults you listed above. Now, choose 3-5 adults who you feel are your MOST reliable and accessible. These are the people you know you can count on for different types of support. Circle or star them above, then write them here and try to list their contact information if you know it.
My A-Team:
- Name: _________________________ Relationship: _________________________ Contact Info (if known): _________________________
- Name: _________________________ Relationship: _________________________ Contact Info (if known): _________________________
- Name: _________________________ Relationship: _________________________ Contact Info (if known): _________________________
- Name: _________________________ Relationship: _________________________ Contact Info (if known): _________________________
- Name: _________________________ Relationship: _________________________ Contact Info (if known): _________________________
Part 3: Reflection
Why is it important to have an
Cool Down
Who's Got Your Back? Cool Down
Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________
- List one important reason why it's good to have a