A Lesson Plan from Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program (Chapter One)

NOTE:  Life Planning Education (LPE) is currently being revised. The printed/for-sale version includes an older version of this lesson plan. Please make sure you have looked at the PDF of Life Planning Education before purchasing - that is the version that is available to buy. 

Purpose: To identify and display individual strengths

Materials: Newsprint and markers or board and chalk; scratch paper and a copy of the Handout, Tee Shirt Symbols (pdf), for each participant; art materials, such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.

Time: 35 to 45 minutes

Planning Notes:

• Create a poster that displays commonly recognized symbols.  See the Leader’s Resource for examples and ideas (pdf).  Display the poster throughout this activity.
• Write in large letters – on the board or on newsprint – the questions listed in Step 3 below.  Post the questions where all participants can see them.
  

Procedure:

1. Point out that throughout history, people have created images of themselves or their group, displaying these images on shields, signs, and banners.  Today, people sometimes wear tee shirts that display their membership in special groups, their values, and/or their beliefs.
2. Explain that participants will create tee shirt designs that illustrate their individual strengths and skills.
3. Distribute copies of the handout and scratch paper.  Instruct teens to draw pictures, designs, or symbols that answer one or more of the following questions and symbolize something personal about them.  Tell teens that they will have until the next session to finish their designs.  (Display or point to the questions you have prepared.)
• What or whom do you most value?
• What is something that you do well?
• What would you like most people to remember about you?
• What is one important thing you have done so far?
• What do your friends really like about you?
4. Give verbal examples of illustrations for the tee shirts.  For example, someone who sings, plays an instrument, or writes music might draw a musical sign or instrument to illustrate one thing she/he does really well.  An adolescent who cares for younger siblings or who cares for the family’s animals might draw children or animals to represent his/her work.
5. Allow as much time as possible for participants to play around with ideas and designs, but be sure to reserve 10 minutes for discussion.  Ask the adolescents to complete their tee shirt designs at home and to bring them back at the next session for display.
6. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.
   

Discussion Points:

1. What was it like to think of positive, important things about yourself that you would share with others?
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself as you did this?
3. What is something you learned about someone in the group?
4. Do you see major differences between the tee shirt designs of some youth and those of others?  If yes, what differences do you see?
   

Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009