Teacher Script: Your Values, Your Superpower!

Introduction (Warm-Up)

(Slide 1: Your Values, Your Superpower!)

"Good morning, class! Today, we're going on an exciting adventure to discover something incredibly special about each of you. It's about your inner superpower, something that makes you, YOU! Our lesson today is called, 'Your Values, Your Superpower!'"

(Slide 2: Warm-Up: Value Check-In)

"To start, let's do a quick 'Value Check-In.' I want you to think about something you absolutely love to do, or something you care deeply about. It could be playing a sport, helping a friend, drawing, spending time with family, or even reading a good book. What brings you joy or feels really important to you? Once you have something in mind, turn to a partner and share it with them. You'll have about two minutes for this."

(Allow students to share. Circulate and listen to their responses.)

"Great sharing, everyone! It sounds like you all have wonderful things that matter to you. Today, we're going to learn about what we call 'personal values,' which are very much connected to what you just shared."

Introduction to Personal Values

(Slide 3: What Are Values?)

"So, what exactly are values? Well, values are like the core beliefs or principles that guide our actions and decisions. They are what's important to us deep down. Think of them as your inner compass! Just like a compass helps you find your way, your values help you decide what's right, what's fair, and what truly matters to you. Everyone has values, and often, they are different for different people. I'm going to hand out a short reading called Reading: What Are Values? that will explain this a bit more. We'll read it together or silently, depending on what you prefer."

(Distribute Reading: What Are Values?. Read aloud as a class, or give students time to read silently.)

(Slide 4: Examples of Values)

"Now that we've read a bit about them, let's look at some examples of values. Values can be things like Honesty, Kindness, Bravery, Creativity, Fairness, Respect, Hard Work, or even Family. Can anyone think of other values that might be important to people?"

(Listen to student responses and affirm them.)

(Slide 5: Why Do Values Matter?)

"These values aren't just words; they are powerful! They matter because they help us make choices. When you have a decision to make, your values can help you choose the path that feels right for you. They also show who we truly are – our character! When you act kindly, you're showing that kindness is a value for you. Values also help us understand others, and they make us feel good when we live by them. Living by your values makes you feel proud and authentic."

Activity: Value Sort Challenge

(Slide 6: Activity: Value Sort Challenge)

"Now, let's dive into an activity called the 'Value Sort Challenge.' I'm going to put you into small groups, and each group will receive a set of cards with different values written on them. Your task is to work together to sort these cards into categories: 'Most Important to Our Group,' 'Somewhat Important,' and 'Less Important.' There are no wrong answers here, it's about what you as a group value! Be ready to share why you chose your 'Most Important' values. You'll have about 15 minutes for this."

(Organize students into groups and distribute value cards (you can quickly create these by writing values on slips of paper). Circulate to facilitate and observe.)

Discussion: Values in Action

(Slide 7: Values in Action)

"Fantastic work with the Value Sort Challenge, everyone! It's clear you put a lot of thought into it. Now, let's bring it back to our own lives. I want us to have a discussion about 'Values in Action.'

• How do your values show up in your daily life? Can anyone give an example?
• When did a value, like honesty or fairness, help you make a decision?
• How do you see values in your family or friends? What values do they seem to live by?"

(Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging participation and active listening.)

Worksheet: My Personal Values Map

(Slide 8: My Personal Values Map)

"That was a wonderful discussion! Now it's time for some individual reflection. I'm going to give you a Worksheet: My Personal Values Map. On this worksheet, I want you to think about all the values we've discussed and written down your top 3 to 5 personal values. Then, for each value, briefly explain why it's important to you and how it guides you. This is your personal map! You'll have about 10 minutes to work on this independently."

(Distribute the Worksheet: My Personal Values Map. Provide support as needed.)

Game: Value Charades!

(Slide 9: Game: Value Charades!)

"To inject a little fun and help us remember these values, let's play a quick game called 'Value Charades!' I'll divide you into two teams. One person from a team will come up, I'll whisper a value to them, and they have to act it out without speaking. Their team has to guess the value! The first team to guess correctly gets a point. We'll play for about 5 minutes. Ready?"

(Explain rules and facilitate the game.)

Assessment & Reflection

(Slide 10: Your Value Shield Project)

"Excellent participation in the game! Now, before we wrap up our main lesson, I want to introduce an exciting project you'll have the opportunity to work on: 'My Value Shield.' This project is your chance to get creative and design a shield that visually represents your core values! I'll be providing you with a Project: My Value Shield guide and a Rubric: My Value Shield Project with all the details and how you'll be assessed. We'll discuss this more, but keep it in mind as a way to express your learning."

(Slide 11: Assess Your Value Voyage!)

"To help me understand what you've learned today, we'll have a quick Quiz: Value Voyage soon, and a more comprehensive Test: Personal Values Deep Dive later on. These are great ways for you to show what you know about personal values. I have an Answer Key: Value Assessments for my grading, so you don't need to worry about that now."

(Slide 12: Cool-Down: One Word, One Value)

"Alright, class, we're almost done for today. For our 'Cool-Down,' I want everyone to take a moment and think: In one word, what's a value you feel most connected with today, after our lesson? Write that word down on a slip of paper as your exit ticket. If you'd like to share it with the class, you're welcome to!"

(Collect cool-down slips as students leave.)

"Thank you for a wonderful discussion and for exploring your inner superpowers today! Remember, your values are what make you truly special. Have a great day!"

Warm-Up: Value Check-In

Instructions: Think about something you love to do, or something you care deeply about. It could be a hobby, a person, an activity, or even a feeling. Write it down in the box below.

Then, turn to a partner and share what you wrote and why it's important to you.

My Important Thing:

Why it's important to me:

Reading: What Are Values?

Have you ever wondered what makes you, you? What makes you choose to be kind when someone is sad, or work hard on a project even when it's difficult? The answer often lies in your personal values.

What Are Values?

Think of values as your inner compass. Just like a compass helps a sailor find their way, your values help guide your decisions and actions. They are the beliefs and principles that are most important to you. They tell you what you think is right, good, and worthwhile in life. Everyone has values, whether they realize it or not!

Some common values include:

• Honesty: Telling the truth, even when it's hard.
• Kindness: Being friendly, generous, and considerate to others.
• Respect: Treating others and yourself with honor and care.
• Responsibility: Being dependable and doing what you say you will do.
• Fairness: Treating everyone equally and justly.
• Creativity: Using your imagination to make new things or solve problems.
• Courage: Being brave even when you are scared.
• Perseverance: Never giving up, even when things are tough.

Why Do Values Matter?

Understanding your personal values is super important for a few reasons:

1. They help you make choices: When you know what's important to you, it becomes easier to decide what to do in different situations. For example, if 'fairness' is a big value for you, you'll likely stand up for a friend who is being treated unfairly.
2. They show who you are: Your actions often reflect your values. If you always try to help others, it shows that 'helpfulness' or 'compassion' is a value for you.
3. They help you feel good: When you live in a way that matches your values, you tend to feel happier and more content. It's like your inside feelings and outside actions are working together.
4. They help you understand others: Knowing about values helps you see why other people make the choices they do, even if their values are different from yours.

So, as we go through this lesson, start thinking about what values truly speak to you. What makes your inner compass point in the direction it does? These are your unique superpowers!

Activity: Value Sort Challenge

Objective: To identify and prioritize different personal values.

Materials: A set of value cards (provided by teacher, e.g., Honesty, Kindness, Respect, Courage, Creativity, Fairness, Responsibility, Loyalty, Patience, Determination, Compassion, Curiosity, Optimism, Generosity, Forgiveness).

Instructions:

1. Work in your assigned small groups.
2. Spread all the value cards out on your table so everyone can see them.
3. As a group, discuss each value. What does it mean? Give an example of someone showing that value.
4. Together, sort the value cards into three piles:
   • Most Important to Our Group: These are the values your group believes are absolutely essential and guide your choices most often.
   • Somewhat Important: These values are good to have, but perhaps not as central as the Most Important ones.
   • Less Important (for our group): These values might still be good, but they don't seem as crucial to your group at this moment.
5. Once your piles are complete, choose your top 3 Most Important values and be ready to explain to the class why your group chose these values.

Discussion: Values in Action

Objective: To help students connect personal values to real-life situations and discuss their importance.

Instructions: As a class, let's discuss the following questions. Remember to listen respectfully to your classmates' ideas and share your own thoughts.

1. Thinking about your own life, how do your values show up in your daily actions and decisions? Can you give an example of a time when a specific value guided you?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Can you think of a time when someone you know (a friend, family member, or even a character from a book/movie) demonstrated a strong personal value? What was the value, and how did they show it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why do you think it's important for people to understand their own values? How might it help them in life?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Imagine two people have different values. How can they still get along and respect each other?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Game: Value Charades!

Objective: To review and reinforce understanding of personal values through a fun, interactive game.

Materials: Slips of paper with various values written on them (e.g., Honesty, Kindness, Courage, Creativity, Fairness, Responsibility, Respect, Patience, Generosity, Determination).

Instructions:

1. The class will be divided into two teams.
2. One student from a team will come to the front of the class.
3. The teacher will secretly show or whisper a value from a slip of paper to that student.
4. The student must then act out the value without speaking or making any sounds. They can use gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
5. Their team has a time limit (e.g., 60 seconds) to guess the value.
6. If the team guesses correctly within the time limit, they earn a point.
7. Teams take turns acting and guessing. The team with the most points at the end wins!

Example Values to Use:

• Honesty
• Kindness
• Courage
• Creativity
• Fairness
• Responsibility
• Respect
• Patience
• Generosity
• Determination
• Loyalty
• Forgiveness
• Curiosity
• Optimism

Worksheet: My Personal Values Map

Objective: To help you reflect on and identify your own core personal values.

Instructions: Think about all the values we discussed today. What are the 3-5 values that are MOST important to you? Write them down below. Then, for each value, explain why it is important to you and how it guides your decisions and actions.

My Top Personal Values:

1. Value:

Why it's important to me & how it guides me:

2. Value:

Why it's important to me & how it guides me:

3. Value:

Why it's important to me & how it guides me:

4. Value (Optional):

Why it's important to me & how it guides me:

5. Value (Optional):

Why it's important to me & how it guides me:

Answer Key: Value Assessments

This answer key provides the correct responses and reasoning for the Quiz: Value Voyage and Test: Personal Values Deep Dive.

Quiz: Value Voyage Answer Key

1. What are personal values?

• Correct Answer: Beliefs that guide our actions
• Reasoning: Personal values are fundamental beliefs that influence our behavior and decisions, acting as an internal guide.

2. Which of these is NOT an example of a personal value?

• Correct Answer: A video game
• Reasoning: A video game is an object or activity, not a guiding belief or principle.

3. Why is it important to know your personal values?

• Correct Answer: Knowing your personal values helps you make good decisions, shows who you are, and helps you feel good when you live by them.
• Reasoning: Understanding values promotes self-awareness, ethical decision-making, and a sense of integrity and well-being.

4. If fairness is a value for you, what might you do?

• Correct Answer: Treat everyone equally
• Reasoning: Fairness is about treating all individuals justly and without bias.

5. Name one personal value that is important to you and explain why.

• Correct Answer: Answers will vary, but should include a value (e.g., Kindness) and a reason (e.g., because I like to help people).
• Reasoning: This is an open-ended question designed to assess individual reflection and understanding of their own values.

Test: Personal Values Deep Dive Answer Key

1. Which of the following best describes a 'personal value'?

• Correct Answer: A strong belief that guides your actions
• Reasoning: Personal values are core convictions that shape an individual's character and direct their behavior.

2. Give two examples of personal values and briefly explain what each one means to you.

• Correct Answer: Answers will vary but should include two distinct values (e.g., Honesty, Kindness, Respect) with a short explanation for each (e.g., Honesty means telling the truth; Kindness means being nice and helpful).
• Reasoning: This assesses students' ability to recall and define specific values in their own words.

3. Why is it important for you to know your own personal values?

• Correct Answer: It helps you make choices that feel right to you
• Reasoning: Knowing one's values provides a framework for decision-making that aligns with personal integrity and principles.

4. Describe a situation where a personal value, such as 'courage' or 'fairness,' helped someone make a difficult decision. What happened?

• Correct Answer: Answers will vary but should describe a scenario where a value like courage (e.g., standing up to a bully) or fairness (e.g., sharing equally) led to a positive outcome in a challenging situation.
• Reasoning: This evaluates students' ability to apply abstract value concepts to concrete situations and demonstrate critical thinking.

5. If 'responsibility' is an important value to you, which action would you most likely take?

• Correct Answer: Finish your chores without being asked
• Reasoning: Responsibility involves being accountable for one's duties and actions, completing tasks diligently.

6. How can understanding someone else's values help you get along better with them, even if their values are different from yours?

• Correct Answer: Understanding someone else's values can help you see their perspective, be more empathetic, and respect their choices, even if you don't always agree with them. It helps to avoid misunderstandings and build stronger relationships.
• Reasoning: This question assesses students' understanding of empathy, respect for diversity, and social-emotional intelligence in the context of differing values.

Project: My Value Shield

Objective: To creatively represent your personal values through a visual 'Value Shield'.

Introduction: Throughout history, shields have been used to protect and represent what is important to a person or a group. In this project, you will design your own personal Value Shield, showcasing the values that are most important to you and make you who you are.

Materials:

• Paper or cardboard (to create the shield shape)
• Pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons
• Optional: Glitter, fabric, pictures, magazine cutouts, glue, scissors (for decoration)

Instructions:

1. Identify Your Core Values (5 minutes): Look back at your Worksheet: My Personal Values Map and decide on your top 3-5 most important personal values. These are the values you will represent on your shield.

2. Design Your Shield (20 minutes):

   • On your paper or cardboard, draw a shield shape. You can make it any shape you like (traditional, modern, unique!).
   • Divide your shield into sections (one section for each value, plus a center for your name or a personal motto).
   • For each of your chosen values, create a symbol, drawing, or a short phrase that represents that value. Think about:
     • What color best represents this value?
     • What image or symbol comes to mind when you think of this value?
     • Is there a short word or phrase that captures its meaning for you?
   • Decorate your shield creatively. Use colors, patterns, and designs that reflect you and your values.

3. Add a Personal Motto (5 minutes): In the center or at the bottom of your shield, write a short personal motto (a phrase or sentence) that summarizes your overall approach to life, based on your values.

4. Write a Reflection (10 minutes): On a separate piece of paper, write a short reflection (1-2 paragraphs) explaining your Value Shield. Include:

   • The values you chose and why they are important to you.
   • What each symbol or image on your shield represents.
   • How you plan to live by these values in your daily life.

Presentation (Optional): Be prepared to share your Value Shield and reflection with the class. Explain your design choices and the meaning behind your values.

Due Date: [Teacher will specify date]

Rubric: My Value Shield Project

Student Name: _________________________

Project: My Value Shield

Objective: To creatively represent personal values and reflect on their importance.

Cool-Down: One Word, One Value

Instructions: On the line below, write down ONE word that represents a personal value that you feel most connected with after today's lesson. This is your exit ticket!

My One Word Value: ____________________________________

Optional: If you wish, you can also write a very short sentence explaining why you chose that word.

Activity: Value Sort Challenge

Objective: To identify and prioritize different personal values.

Materials: A set of value cards (provided by teacher, e.g., Honesty, Kindness, Respect, Courage, Creativity, Fairness, Responsibility, Loyalty, Patience, Determination, Compassion, Curiosity, Optimism, Generosity, Forgiveness).

Instructions:

1. Work in your assigned small groups.
2. Spread all the value cards out on your table so everyone can see them.
3. As a group, discuss each value. What does it mean? Give an example of someone showing that value.
4. Together, sort the value cards into three piles:
   • Most Important to Our Group: These are the values your group believes are absolutely essential and guide your choices most often.
   • Somewhat Important: These values are good to have, but perhaps not as central as the Most Important ones.
   • Less Important (for our group): These values might still be good, but they don't seem as crucial to your group at this moment.
5. Once your piles are complete, choose your top 3 Most Important values and be ready to explain to the class why your group chose these values.