Lesson Plan
Your Life's Compass Lesson Plan
Students will create a timeline of three significant life events and articulate how each event influenced or shaped their perspective.
Understanding how past events shape our present views helps students develop self-awareness, empathy, and a stronger sense of personal narrative. It teaches them that their experiences are valuable and contribute to their unique identity.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Brainstorm, model, create, share.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Past to Present Slides, Timeline Graphic Worksheet, and Reflection Journal Page
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Past to Present Slides to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print or prepare to distribute the Timeline Graphic Worksheet for each student.
- Print or prepare to distribute the Reflection Journal Page for each student.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for presentation.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Shapes Us?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students to think about things that have happened in their lives that have changed how they see the world or themselves. (e.g., learning a new skill, moving to a new place, making a new friend).
- Briefly discuss a few examples. Introduce the idea of a 'life event' and 'perspective.'
- Use Past to Present Slides Slide 1-2 to guide this discussion.
Step 2
Model a Story Map
7 minutes
- Explain that everyone has a unique story map made up of important life events.
- Using Past to Present Slides Slide 3, briefly share a very simple, age-appropriate example of one of your own life events and how it shaped your perspective (e.g., getting a pet and learning responsibility, a family trip and seeing a new culture).
- Model how to fill out one entry on the Timeline Graphic Worksheet based on your example. Emphasize describing the event and its impact on your perspective.
Step 3
Create Your Own Story Map
10 minutes
- Distribute the Timeline Graphic Worksheet to each student.
- Instruct students to think of three significant life events. These could be big or small, happy or challenging. Emphasize that these are personal and they should only share what they are comfortable with.
- Guide students to fill in their timeline, focusing on the event and how it changed their perspective. Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
- Use Past to Present Slides Slide 4-5 as students work.
Step 4
Pair-Share Reflections
8 minutes
- Have students pair up with a partner.
- Instruct them to share one of their life events from their Timeline Graphic Worksheet and discuss how it shaped their perspective.
- After a few minutes, have partners switch and share another event. Remind students to listen respectfully and ask clarifying questions.
- Conclude by distributing the Reflection Journal Page and instruct students to complete it as an exit ticket or homework. Use Past to Present Slides Slide 6 for wrap-up.
Slide Deck
Your Story: What Shapes You?
What are some things that have happened in your life that changed how you see the world or yourself?
Greet students and start with an engaging question to activate prior knowledge about experiences. Ask them to think about how different things have made them feel or think differently.
Life Events & Perspective
Life Event:
Something that happens to you.
Perspective:
How you see and understand the world, yourself, and others.
* How do life events change our perspective?
Introduce the terms 'life event' and 'perspective.' Provide a simple definition for each. Emphasize that every event, big or small, can influence our perspective.
My Story Map: An Example
My Example:
- Life Event: Getting a pet dog named Max.
- How it shaped my perspective: I learned a lot about responsibility and how much joy an animal can bring into a home. It made me more patient and caring.
Explain the concept of a 'Story Map' or 'Timeline of Life Events.' Briefly share a personal, age-appropriate example. For instance, 'When I learned to ride a bike, I felt scared at first, but then I felt proud and learned that practice helps me succeed.' Show how this connects to the idea of perspective.
Create Your Own Story Map
Your Task:
- Think of three important life events from your life.
- On your Timeline Graphic Worksheet, write down each event.
- For each event, describe how it changed your perspective or how you see things differently now.
Remember: Your story is unique! You only share what you are comfortable with.
Distribute the 'Timeline Graphic Worksheet.' Clearly explain the task: students will identify three important life events and describe how each event shaped their perspective. Encourage them to think broadly about what constitutes a 'life event.'
Time to Reflect & Write
Work Time:
- What events come to mind?
- How did you feel during that event?
- How did that event change how you think or feel about things now?
(Teacher will circulate to assist)
Give students time to work on their worksheets. Circulate around the room to offer support, answer questions, and prompt deeper thinking if students are struggling to connect events to perspective changes. Remind them it's about reflection.
Share Your Story (and Reflect!)
With a Partner:
- Share one life event from your timeline.
- Tell your partner how it shaped your perspective.
- Listen to your partner's story and ask thoughtful questions.
After Sharing:
- Complete your Reflection Journal Page to think more deeply about your unique journey!
Explain the pair-share activity. Students will share one event and its impact with a partner. Emphasize respectful listening. After the activity, introduce the 'Reflection Journal Page' as a follow-up or homework assignment to deepen their individual reflection.
Script
My Story Map Script
Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to explore something really interesting: Your Life's Compass! We all have unique stories, and the things that happen to us help guide us. To start, I want you to think about this question: What are some things that have happened in your life that changed how you see the world or yourself? Maybe it was learning a new skill, moving to a new place, or even making a new friend. Take a moment to think."
(Allow a few moments for students to think. Call on a few students to share brief, appropriate examples. Use Past to Present Slides Slide 1)
Teacher: "Great examples! It sounds like you've all had experiences that have shaped you. Today, we're going to call these 'life events.' And how these events change us? That's what we call our 'perspective.' Our perspective is how we see and understand the world, ourselves, and others.
(Display Past to Present Slides Slide 2)
Teacher: "So, how do you think life events can change our perspective? Give me an idea!"
(Listen to a few student responses.)
Model a Story Map (7 minutes)
Teacher: "Exactly! Every event, big or small, can influence our perspective. We're going to create something called a 'Story Map' or a 'Timeline of Life Events.' It's like a map of your journey so far. I'll show you an example."
(Display Past to Present Slides Slide 3)
Teacher: "One life event for me was getting a pet dog named Max. Before Max, I knew I liked animals, but I didn't truly understand the daily responsibility of caring for another living thing. Max taught me so much about patience, routine, and unconditional love. So, getting Max shaped my perspective by teaching me about responsibility and how much joy an animal can bring."
"Now, I'm going to model how you'll record this. I'll take out our Timeline Graphic Worksheet and write 'Getting my dog Max' under 'Life Event' and 'I learned about responsibility and the joy pets bring, making me more patient and caring' under 'How it Shaped My Perspective.'"
(Demonstrate filling out one entry on a blank Timeline Graphic Worksheet on a document camera or whiteboard.)
Create Your Own Story Map (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now it's your turn! I'm going to give each of you a Timeline Graphic Worksheet. Your task is to think of three important life events from your own life. These could be big things like moving schools or small things like learning to ride a bike. For each event, describe how it changed your perspective or how you see things differently now.
(Distribute the Timeline Graphic Worksheet. Display Past to Present Slides Slide 4)
Teacher: "Remember, your story is unique! You only need to share what you are comfortable with. As you work, think about these questions:
- What events come to mind?
- How did you feel during that event?
- How did that event change how you think or feel about things now?
(Display Past to Present Slides Slide 5. Circulate around the room, offering support and answering questions. Encourage students to elaborate on the 'how it shaped my perspective' section.)
Pair-Share Reflections & Wrap-Up (8 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, class, let's bring it back together. Now you have some amazing life events and reflections on your worksheets. We're going to do a quick pair-share. Find a partner near you.
"With your partner, you're each going to share one life event from your timeline and explain how it shaped your perspective. Then, listen to your partner's story and ask thoughtful questions. Remember to be respectful of each other's experiences.
(Allow 3-4 minutes for sharing, then prompt students to switch if time permits.)
Teacher: "Wonderful sharing, everyone! It's clear that our experiences really do make us who we are. To continue thinking about your unique journey, I'm going to hand out a Reflection Journal Page.
(Distribute the Reflection Journal Page. Display Past to Present Slides Slide 6)
Teacher: "You can complete this journal page as an exit ticket or for homework. It will help you think even more deeply about your story. Thank you for sharing your incredible stories today!"
Worksheet
My Personal Story Map: Timeline Graphic
Name: _____________________________
Think about three important events from your life. For each event, describe what happened and how it changed or shaped the way you see the world, yourself, or others. Your story is unique!
Life Event 1:
What happened?
How did it shape your perspective? (How did it change how you think or feel about things now?)
Life Event 2:
What happened?
How did it shape your perspective? (How did it change how you think or feel about things now?)
Life Event 3:
What happened?
How did it shape your perspective? (How did it change how you think or feel about things now?)
Journal
My Story, My Self: Reflection Journal Page
Name: _____________________________
Take some time to think more deeply about your unique story and the events that have made you who you are.
Prompt 1: The Power of Perspective
Looking at your Story Map, choose one event that you feel had the biggest impact on your perspective. Describe this event again and explain why you think it changed you so much. What new understanding did you gain?
Prompt 2: Sharing Our Stories
Why do you think it can be important to share our personal stories and perspectives with others? What can we learn from listening to other people's life events?
Prompt 3: Looking Ahead
What is one thing you hope to experience or learn in the future that might shape your perspective in a new way? Describe what you imagine might happen and how it could change you.