Lesson Plan
Your Support Squad
Students will be able to identify the importance of seeking help and list personal support systems after watching the provided video.
Learning to ask for help is a crucial life skill that builds resilience and emotional well-being. This lesson empowers students to recognize when and how to access support, fostering a stronger sense of self-reliance and connection.
Audience
7th Grade Individual Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through video debrief, discussion, and reflection, students will explore seeking help.
Materials
"Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve" video, Your Support Squad Slide Deck, Support Squad Script, and My Support Network Journal
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Your Support Squad Lesson Plan, Your Support Squad Slide Deck, Support Squad Script, and My Support Network Journal.
- Ensure the "Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve" video is accessible and ready to play.
- Prepare a comfortable and private space for the individual session.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Greet the student and briefly introduce the session's purpose: discussing how to get help and build resilience, inspired by the video. (Refer to Support Squad Script for exact wording).
- Play the "Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve" video.
Step 2
Video Debrief & Discussion (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Facilitate a discussion using prompts from the Support Squad Script to explore the video's themes, focusing on Hunter and Eve's experiences and the importance of seeking help.
- Encourage the student to share their initial thoughts and connections to the video's message.
- Guide the student in identifying different types of support (family, friends, teachers, counselors, etc.) and why each is important.
Step 3
Personal Reflection: My Support Network (8 minutes)
8 minutes
- Introduce the My Support Network Journal activity. Explain that this is a private space for them to reflect on their own support systems.
- Provide the student with the journal and allow them time to complete it.
- Offer gentle guidance or clarification if needed, emphasizing that this is about personal identification of resources.
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Next Steps (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Conclude the session by reiterating the main takeaways: it's okay to ask for help, and everyone has a support network.
- Briefly review any insights or strategies identified during the discussion.
- Thank the student for their participation and offer a chance for any final questions or thoughts.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Your Support Squad!
Today, we're going to talk about something really important: getting help when you need it and building your strength from within. We'll watch a video, chat about it, and think about your own 'Support Squad'.
Welcome the student and set a positive tone for the individual session. Briefly introduce the topic of getting help and building resilience. Explain that you'll be watching a short video together.
Let's watch and learn about Hunter and Eve!
Introduce the video. "We're going to watch a short video featuring Hunter and Eve. As you watch, think about what happens when they face challenges and how they go about getting help. What kind of help do they seek? Who do they turn to?"
What Did You See?
Let's talk about Hunter and Eve!
- What challenges did they face?
- How did they try to solve their problems?
- Who did they ask for help?
After the video, open the discussion. Use the script to guide initial thoughts. "What was your initial reaction to the video? What did Hunter and Eve do when they faced difficulties?"
Your Support Squad
Who is in your corner?
- Friends
- Family
- Teachers
- Counselors
- Other trusted adults
Why is it important to have these people?
Transition to the concept of a support squad. "Hunter and Eve had people they could turn to. We all have people like that in our lives. We can call these people our 'Support Squad'. Who makes up a good support squad?"
My Support Network
Time to reflect!
- Who helps you when you need it?
- What makes them a good support person?
- How can you ask for help?
(Complete the My Support Network Journal privately)
Explain the journal activity. "Now, we'll take a few minutes for you to privately think about your own support squad and what you learned today. This journal is a space for your thoughts." Offer the My Support Network Journal to the student.
Stay Strong, Seek Support!
Key Takeaways:
- It's okay (and smart!) to ask for help.
- Everyone has a support squad.
- You are not alone.
Who can you reach out to if you need to talk more about this?
Wrap up the session by summarizing key points. "Remember, it's a sign of strength to know when to ask for help, and you have people around you who care and want to support you."
Script
Support Squad Script
Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Hi [Student Name]! Thanks for coming in today. We're going to spend about 30 minutes talking about something really important for building strength and confidence: knowing how to get help when you need it. We're going to watch a short video called 'Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve,' and then we'll chat about it and think about your own 'Support Squad.' Sound good?"
Teacher: "Great. So, as you watch this video, I want you to pay attention to Hunter and Eve. Think about what kind of challenges they face, how they try to solve their problems, and most importantly, who they turn to for help. What kind of help do they get?"
(Play the "Getting Help - Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve" video. Insert video link here if available.)
Video Debrief & Discussion (15 minutes)
Teacher: "Thanks for watching! What was your initial reaction to the video? What stood out to you?"
Teacher: "Hunter and Eve faced some common challenges. Can you tell me about a challenge one of them faced?"
Teacher: "How did they try to solve their problems on their own at first?"
Teacher: "At what point did they decide to ask for help? What made them do that?"
Teacher: "Who did Hunter or Eve ask for help? And what kind of help did they receive?"
Teacher: "That's a great observation. It shows that sometimes the best way to deal with a problem isn't to try and handle it all by yourself, right? It's about reaching out to others. We can call these people our 'Support Squad.'"
Teacher: "Who do you think are common people someone might have in their 'Support Squad'? Think broadly – not just family."
Teacher: "Exactly! Friends, family, teachers, counselors, coaches, religious leaders, older siblings, other trusted adults... all of these people can be part of your support squad. Why do you think it's so important to have these different types of people in your corner?"
Teacher: "Yes, because different people can offer different kinds of support. Sometimes you need advice, sometimes you need comfort, and sometimes you just need someone to listen."
Personal Reflection: My Support Network (8 minutes)
Teacher: "Now, I want you to take a few minutes to think about your own support squad. I've prepared a short My Support Network Journal for you to complete. This is a private space for you to reflect on who helps you, what makes them a good support person, and how you might reach out to them. There are no right or wrong answers, it's just for you to think about."
(Hand the student the My Support Network Journal and allow them time to work. Offer quiet presence and gentle support if they seem stuck, but emphasize it's their private reflection.)
Wrap-Up & Next Steps (2 minutes)
Teacher: "As we wrap up today, what's one main idea you're taking away from our conversation or from the video and journal?"
Teacher: "That's a really important takeaway. Remember, it's a sign of strength to know when to ask for help, and you have people around you who care and want to support you. You are not alone in facing challenges. Your 'Support Squad' is there for you."
Teacher: "If you ever want to talk more about this, or anything else, please know that you can always come back and talk to me, or to any of the trusted adults we discussed. Thanks so much for your thoughtful participation today!"
Journal
My Support Network Journal
Sometimes, even when we feel like we can handle everything on our own, it's really helpful to know who we can turn to when things get tough. This journal is a private space for you to think about the people who support you.
1. After watching the video, what did you learn about getting help that you hadn't thought about before?
2. Who are the people in your life that you consider part of your "Support Squad"? (Think about family, friends, teachers, coaches, counselors, other adults you trust.) List at least three people.
- Person 1:
- Person 2:
- Person 3:
- Person 4 (Optional):
3. What makes each of these people a good person to go to for help? What kind of support do they offer?
- Person 1 offers:
- Person 2 offers:
- Person 3 offers:
4. Imagine you're facing a small challenge or feeling a bit down. Who from your Support Squad would you feel most comfortable talking to first, and why?
5. What are some ways you could reach out to someone in your Support Squad if you needed help? (e.g., talk in person, send a text, write a note)
6. What's one thing you can do this week to strengthen your connection with someone in your Support Squad?