Self-Awareness Guidance Lesson
4th - 5th Grade
Self-Awareness Goal
Question Before We Begin
- What is Self Awareness?
- Can you tell me one strength, challenge, and hope for the future you have?
Building Background
Today’s lesson is all about Self Awareness. What do those words mean?
Self Awareness includes knowing about your strengths, challenges, values, emotions, hopes, and dreams for the future. Do you know all of those things about yourself right now? Do you think your Self Awareness can change over time?
Becoming self aware isn’t a one-time deal. As you get older, you will change and grow. It’s important to always work to be aware of who you are, what matters to you, and what you want in life.
Mindful Moment
Melting Ice Game
1. Get a piece of ice. You are going to hold the ice it until it melts. It might feel uncomfortable to hold the ice, but it's safe and it won't hurt you.
2. Before you pick up the ice, what thoughts are you having? What are you feeling in your body?
3. Now pick up the piece of ice.
4. If the ice feels uncomfortable, take a few deep breaths and relax your hand and arm. If holding the ice is too hard, don't worry; put it down for a moment, then pick it back up and try again.
5. Without talking, notice how the ice feels in your hand as it melts. Do you like how it feels? Do you want to drop it?
6. Notice how your hand feels now. Does the feeling keep changing? What about your thoughts?
4th Grade
Watch "Hero: An Animated Short on Self-Identity"
Discuss After Watching
- Why did all the characters have cubes on their heads?
- What was the main character’s hope?
- What did you notice about the main character’s response to other’s criticism?
- How do you respond to criticism?
- How could you tell the main character was trying to improve?
- How are you trying to improve?
Watch The Reflection in Me
Activity
Tearing Off Your Labels
Have the kids stand/sit in a circle. The kids will go around in the circle naming various things as fast as they can. You will time each round. You can have them do rounds multiple times if you/they want to try to improve their time.
Round 1- say their name
Round 2- say name of person to their left
Round 3- say a cartoon character or sports figure
Processing:
Why could we say our own names faster than the name of others?
How easy is it for us to look or act like someone else?
What makes a person unique?
How hard is it not to compare yourselves to others? Does comparing ourselves to others help us to be our best self?
Why is it important to be the “real” you?
Is being the “real you” easier or harder than pretending you are someone else? Why? What things would make it easier?
5th Grade
DISC Personality Assessment
Materials Needed: Copy of DISC assessment for each student, Pencils, Painter’s tape
Prior to the start of activity make a quadrant on the floor with painter’s tape and put letter D/I/S/C in each quadrant.
Give students the DISC Personality Profile Assessment.
Explain how students will rate the words that go across in a row from 1 to 4. 4 is most like them and 1 is least like them. To make it easier read all four words out loud and give them a quick definition. Read for them row by row.
At the end have them total each column. Have them circle the highest number. Then place them in their quadrant.
C: Now we are going to talk a little bit about personalities. I am going to read some phrases about the people in each quadrant. Let’s see if they feel like it describes them.
(review each quadrant by reading a few phrases)
C: Now let’s talk about how that person may need help from you
(review each one)
*super insightful to have teacher take quiz and sit in quadrant with students for them to gain information about their students and for their students to learn about them
Check for Understanding
- Why is Self Awareness an important skill?
- What did you learn about your strengths, challenges, and hopes for the future?