Lesson Plan
Your Voice, Your Power!
Students will be able to define self-advocacy and identify at least two strategies for expressing their needs and wants respectfully in various situations.
Learning to advocate for themselves helps students build confidence, solve problems, and communicate effectively with peers and adults, leading to healthier relationships and greater independence.
Audience
3rd Grade Boys
Time
35 minutes
Approach
Interactive learning and practice.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Self-Advocacy Superheroes Slide Deck, Speaking Up! Worksheet, Advocacy Scenarios Activity Cards, Advocacy Action Game Rules, and Self-Advocacy Charades Game Rules
Prep
Gather Materials & Review
10 minutes
- Review the Self-Advocacy Superheroes Slide Deck and discussion points.
- Print copies of the Speaking Up! Worksheet.
- Prepare Advocacy Scenarios Activity Cards by cutting them out.
- Familiarize yourself with the Advocacy Action Game Rules.
- Familiarize yourself with the Self-Advocacy Charades Game Rules.
- Ensure whiteboard or chart paper and markers are accessible.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do You Need?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "When you really need something, or something is bothering you, what do you usually do?" (e.g., tell an adult, get it yourself, stay quiet).
- Lead a brief discussion, emphasizing that everyone has needs and feelings.
- Introduce the idea of 'using your voice' to get what you need or express how you feel.
Step 2
Introduction to Self-Advocacy
7 minutes
- Use the Self-Advocacy Superheroes Slide Deck to introduce the concept of self-advocacy.
- Slide 1: Title Slide.
- Slide 2: "What is Self-Advocacy?" Define it in simple terms: "Speaking up for yourself and what you need." Give simple examples relevant to third graders (e.g., asking for help, saying no to something you don't want to do, telling a friend they hurt your feelings).
- Slide 3: "Why is it Important?" Discuss how it helps them in school, with friends, and at home.
- Slide 4: "How Do We Self-Advocate?" Introduce key strategies: clear words, calm voice, looking someone in the eye.
Step 3
Worksheet: Speaking Up!
5 minutes
- Distribute the Speaking Up! Worksheet.
- Guide students through the worksheet, asking them to identify when and how they might use self-advocacy in different scenarios.
- Circulate and provide support, encouraging them to think of their own examples. (Shorten this to allow for another game)
Step 4
Activity: Advocacy Scenarios
5 minutes
- Divide students into pairs or small groups.
- Distribute Advocacy Scenarios Activity Cards.
- Each group picks a card and discusses how they would self-advocate in that situation. Encourage them to role-play briefly.
- Bring the class back together to share a few examples and discuss effective strategies.
Step 5
Game: Advocacy Action!
5 minutes
- Introduce the Advocacy Action Game Rules.
- Play a quick round of the game, reinforcing the self-advocacy strategies learned.
- Conclude by reiterating the main message: "Your voice is powerful! Use it to speak up for yourself fairly and kindly."
Step 6
Game: Self-Advocacy Charades!
8 minutes
- Introduce the Self-Advocacy Charades Game Rules.
- Divide students into two teams.
- Play several rounds, encouraging students to act out and guess self-advocacy scenarios.
- After each round, briefly discuss the acted scenario and how clear communication can help. (This game will take a bit longer and is a great way to reinforce concepts physically.)
Slide Deck
Your Voice, Your Power!
Become a Self-Advocacy Superhero!
Welcome students and get them ready for an exciting lesson on using their voices!
What is Self-Advocacy?
It means speaking up for yourself!
- Telling someone what you need.
- Sharing how you feel.
- Asking for help when you need it.
Explain self-advocacy simply. Give examples like: 'Asking your teacher for help when you don't understand.' or 'Telling a friend you don't like it when they push you.'
Why Is It Important?
It's like having a superpower!
- You get the help you need.
- You feel more confident.
- You can solve problems.
- People understand you better!
Discuss why it's a superpower! How does it make their lives better? (e.g., get what they need, feel happier, solve problems).
How Do We Self-Advocate?
Use Your Super Skills!
- Clear Words: Say exactly what you mean.
- Calm Voice: Speak in a steady, friendly tone.
- Eye Contact: Look at the person you're talking to.
Introduce the three key ways: clear words, calm voice, eye contact. Practice each one quickly.
Remember Your Power!
You have a voice, and it matters! Use it to speak up for yourself and others.
Conclude by reminding them they have this power and can use it every day.
Worksheet
Speaking Up! Worksheet
Instructions: Read each situation below. Think about how you would use your voice to speak up for yourself. Write or draw your answer in the space provided. Remember to use clear words, a calm voice, and eye contact!
Scenario 1
Your friend keeps taking your pencil without asking during class. You need your pencil to do your work.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 2
You are playing a game with your friends, and someone starts changing the rules without everyone agreeing. You feel frustrated.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 3
You don't understand what the teacher just said about the homework, and you're worried you won't know how to do it.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 4
Someone in your group project isn't doing their share of the work, and you're worried your group will get a bad grade.
What would you say or do?
Activity
Advocacy Scenarios Activity Cards
Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards and cut them out. Divide students into pairs or small groups. Each group will pick a card and discuss or role-play how they would use their self-advocacy superpowers (clear words, calm voice, eye contact) in that situation. Encourage them to think about what they would say and do.
Card 1: Missing Marker
You are drawing a picture, and you realize your favorite red marker is gone. You see your friend using a red marker that looks just like yours.
What would you do?
Card 2: Loud Games
You are trying to read during quiet time in class, but some kids at a nearby table are talking very loudly and distracting you.
What would you do?
Card 3: Unfair Turn
During recess, you and your friends are taking turns on the swings. One friend has been on the swing for a very long time and isn't letting anyone else have a turn.
What would you do?
Card 4: Lunch Mix-Up
At lunch, you open your lunchbox and realize it's not yours! It looks very similar, but it has different food inside. You see someone else with your lunchbox.
What would you do?
Card 5: Feeling Left Out
You want to play kickball with a group of friends, but they keep saying there are too many players, even though there's still room.
What would you do?
Card 6: Accidental Bump
Someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway and makes you drop your books. They don't seem to notice and keep walking.
What would you do?
Game
Advocacy Action! Game Rules
Objective: To quickly identify and practice self-advocacy skills in fun scenarios!
Players: 2 or more (can be played in small groups or as a whole class)
Materials: The teacher reads scenarios aloud.
How to Play:
-
Teacher Reads a Scenario: The teacher will read a short situation where self-advocacy is needed.
-
Think Fast! Students quickly think about:
- What they would say (clear words).
- How they would say it (calm voice).
- Who they would say it to (looking at them).
-
Show Your Action! Students can:
- Option A (Whole Class): Raise a hand and share their advocacy sentence.
- Option B (Small Groups): Turn to a partner and whisper their advocacy sentence. (Teacher can call on a few groups to share).
-
Teacher Feedback: The teacher provides quick, positive feedback on good advocacy examples, highlighting the use of clear words, a calm voice, and eye contact. If a response isn't quite right, gently guide them to a better self-advocacy statement.
Game Scenarios:
- Scenario 1: You are drawing with crayons, but the yellow crayon is missing. You see it under another student's desk.
- *(Self-advocacy example:
Game
Self-Advocacy Charades! Game Rules
Objective: To act out and guess different self-advocacy situations!
Players: Two teams
Materials: Small slips of paper with self-advocacy scenarios written on them (see examples below), a hat or bowl.
How to Play:
-
Prepare Scenarios: The teacher will have small slips of paper with different self-advocacy scenarios in a hat or bowl.
-
Team Up: Divide into two teams.
-
Take a Turn: A player from Team A picks a scenario slip from the hat.
-
Act it Out! The player acts out the self-advocacy scenario without speaking. They can use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to show:
- What they need or how they feel.
- Who they are talking to.
- The