Lesson Plan
Your Motivation Mix
Students will be able to identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and apply strategies to boost their personal drive for goals.
Understanding what truly motivates them helps students stay engaged and achieve their goals, both in school and in life, especially as they prepare for life after high school.
Audience
High School Seniors
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and self-reflection.
Materials
Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck, My Motivation Menu Activity, Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future, and Teacher Script: Your Motivation Mix
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
Review the Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Your Motivation Mix, My Motivation Menu Activity, and Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future. Gather any necessary supplies for the activity, such as pens or pencils.
Step 1
Warm-Up & Introduction
5 minutes
- Begin by projecting the first slide of the Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck.
- Use the Teacher Script: Your Motivation Mix to introduce the topic of motivation and engage students with an opening question.
- Briefly explain the concept of motivation and its importance in achieving goals.
Step 2
Understanding Motivation Types
10 minutes
- Transition to slides explaining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Teacher Script: Your Motivation Mix to ensure students understand the differences.
- Provide real-life examples relevant to high school seniors.
Step 3
My Motivation Menu Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Motivation Menu Activity worksheet.
- Instruct students to complete the activity individually, identifying their own intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.
- Circulate to offer support and answer questions.
Step 4
Group Discussion & Wrap-Up
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion using the Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future.
- Encourage students to share insights from their activity and discuss strategies for maintaining motivation.
- Conclude the lesson by summarizing key takeaways and reinforcing the idea that understanding motivation is a valuable life skill.
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Slide Deck
Your Motivation Mix: What Drives You?
Understanding the 'why' behind your actions.
Why is it important to know what motivates you?
Welcome students and introduce the concept of motivation. Ask an open-ended question to get them thinking, like: 'What's one thing that really motivated you to do something challenging recently?'
What is Motivation?
The 'why' behind our actions, behaviors, and choices.
The drive that pushes us to achieve goals.
It can come from within or from external factors.
Explain motivation as the force behind our actions. Emphasize that it's not just about big goals, but also daily tasks.
Intrinsic Motivation: The Inner Spark
Doing something because it is inherently satisfying or enjoyable.
It comes from within you.
Examples: Learning for curiosity, personal challenge, enjoyment, sense of purpose.
Introduce intrinsic motivation. Provide examples relevant to seniors (e.g., learning a new skill for personal growth, pursuing a passion project, feeling good about helping others).
Extrinsic Motivation: Outside Influences
Doing something to earn a reward or avoid punishment.
It comes from external factors.
Examples: Getting good grades, earning money, receiving praise, avoiding trouble.
Introduce extrinsic motivation. Provide examples relevant to seniors (e.g., good grades, college acceptance, rewards from parents, avoiding punishment).
Your Motivation Mix
Most of us are driven by a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
What's your unique mix? How does it help or hinder you?
Prompt students to think about how both types of motivation appear in their lives. This slide sets up the activity.
Activity: My Motivation Menu
Identify 3-5 intrinsic motivators in your life.
Identify 3-5 extrinsic motivators in your life.
Reflect: Which type feels more powerful for your long-term goals?
Explain the instructions for the 'My Motivation Menu' activity. Ensure they understand they need to identify examples for both types.
Discussion: Fueling Your Future
Share your insights.
How can understanding your motivation help you achieve your goals?
Strategies for boosting intrinsic motivation.
Guide the discussion using the Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future. Encourage students to share their insights and listen to others.
Your Drive, Your Future
Understanding your motivation is a powerful tool.
Cultivate your inner spark and strategically use external boosts.
Keep exploring what truly drives you!
Summarize the key takeaways and empower students to use this knowledge. End with a positive and forward-looking statement.
Script
Teacher Script: Your Motivation Mix
Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 1)
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Take a look at our first slide: 'Your Motivation Mix: What Drives You?' Today, we're going to dive into something really important for all of you, especially as you look towards your future: motivation. Before we go any further, I want you to think for a moment. What's one thing that motivated you to get out of bed this morning? Just a quick thought, no need to share out loud yet."
(Pause for a few seconds.)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 2)
Teacher: "Now, let's look at what motivation actually is. As the slide says, it's the 'why' behind our actions, behaviors, and choices. It's that drive that pushes us to achieve our goals. Think about it: why is it important to understand what motivates you? How can knowing this help you, especially as you prepare for what comes after high school?"
(Allow 1-2 students to share brief responses. Validate their ideas.)
Understanding Motivation Types (10 minutes)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 3)
Teacher: "There are generally two main types of motivation. Let's start with 'Intrinsic Motivation: The Inner Spark.' When you're intrinsically motivated, you're doing something because it's inherently satisfying or enjoyable. It comes from within you. Can anyone think of an example of something you do purely because you enjoy it or for a personal challenge, not because someone told you to or because there's a reward?"
(Solicit a few examples from students. Guide them if needed with examples like learning a new instrument for fun, reading a book just because you're curious, or helping a friend because it feels good.)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 4)
Teacher: "Now, let's look at the other side: 'Extrinsic Motivation: Outside Influences.' This is when you do something to earn a reward or avoid punishment. It comes from external factors. What are some things you do primarily because there's an external reward or consequence?"
(Solicit a few examples. Guide them with examples like studying for a test to get a good grade, working a job to earn money, or cleaning your room to avoid your parents getting upset.)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 5)
Teacher: "The truth is, most of us are driven by a mix of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. It's rarely one or the other exclusively. For example, you might study for a test because you enjoy learning (intrinsic) AND because you want a good grade for college applications (extrinsic). Your task now is to explore your unique mix."
My Motivation Menu Activity (10 minutes)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 6)
Teacher: "I'm going to hand out an activity called the My Motivation Menu Activity. On this worksheet, I want you to identify 3-5 intrinsic motivators in your life and 3-5 extrinsic motivators. Then, take a moment to reflect: which type feels more powerful for your long-term goals? There's no right or wrong answer, just honest reflection. You have about 10 minutes to complete this."
(Distribute the activity. Circulate the room to answer questions and provide support.)
Group Discussion & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 7)
Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. I hope that activity gave you some good insights. Now, using our Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future, let's share some of our thoughts. Who would like to share one intrinsic motivator they identified, and why it's important to them?"
(Facilitate discussion using the prompts from the Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future. Ensure multiple students have a chance to speak.)
(Display Our Motivation Mix Slide Deck - Slide 8)
Teacher: "Excellent insights, everyone! To wrap up, remember this: understanding your motivation is a truly powerful tool. By cultivating your inner spark (intrinsic motivation) and strategically using external boosts (extrinsic motivation), you can better achieve your goals. Keep exploring what truly drives you! Thank you."
Activity
My Motivation Menu
Introduction: What truly drives you? Let's explore your personal menu of motivators! Understanding what makes you tick can help you achieve your goals and stay resilient.
Part 1: My Intrinsic Motivators (The Inner Spark)
These are the things you do because they are inherently satisfying, enjoyable, or meaningful to you. They come from within.
List 3-5 intrinsic motivators in your life. For each, briefly explain why it motivates you.
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Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator (Optional): ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator (Optional): ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: My Extrinsic Motivators (Outside Influences)
These are the things you do to earn a reward, avoid punishment, or meet external expectations. They come from outside yourself.
List 3-5 extrinsic motivators in your life. For each, briefly explain why it motivates you.
-
Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator: ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator (Optional): ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________ -
Motivator (Optional): ____________________________________________________
Why it motivates me: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Part 3: Reflection
Consider your lists. Which type of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic) feels more powerful or sustainable for your long-term goals (e.g., college, career, personal development)? Why do you think that is?
Discussion
Discussion Guide: Fueling Your Future
Introduction: Now that you've reflected on your own motivators, let's share our insights and discuss strategies for truly fueling your future. Remember to listen respectfully to your classmates' perspectives.
Discussion Questions:
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Based on the "My Motivation Menu" activity, what was one intrinsic motivator you identified, and why is it particularly important to you?
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What was one extrinsic motivator you listed? How do you feel about its influence on your actions? Is it a positive or negative influence?
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Can you think of a goal you have (academic, personal, or future-oriented) where both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations play a role? How do they work together?
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How can understanding the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation help you stay motivated when facing challenges or setbacks?
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What are some strategies you can use to cultivate more intrinsic motivation in your daily life or for your long-term goals?
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Looking ahead to college or career, why will it be important to understand and manage your own motivation?