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 discover one’s positive qualities that others see

Materials:  One copy of the handout, Interview about Me (pdf), for each participant, pens/pencils

Time: 20 minutes (Session 1); 40 to 45 minutes (Session 2)

Procedure:
Session 1

1. Say that sometimes people who are close to us know more about our strengths than we do.  Sometimes they see special qualities in us that we don’t recognize.
2. Explain that participants will choose four people – adults and other youth – who know the participants well.  The adolescents will each interview the four people he/she chose.
3. Distribute the handout, Interview about Me, and review it with the group.  Go over the following instructions:
• Choose four people who know you well.  For each one, write his/her first name or initials beside the box that best describes the relationship to you – that is, he/she is parent, brother, sister, neighbor, teacher, other adult, or male or female friend your age.
• In the box labeled Myself, list three things you like about yourself.
• Before our next session, interview the four people you have chosen.  Ask each to name three things about you that he/she likes best.  Write the answers in the box beside her/his name or initials.
• Bring your completed handout back on _______________________(date).
4. Be sure participants understand the date that they are to return their completed handouts.

Session 2

1. Ask the participants to share their experiences completing the handout.
2. Conclude the activity using the discussion points.

Discussion Points:

1. How did it feel to learn what other people like about you?
2. Did you learn anything that surprised you?  If so, was it that you learned about some strengths you did not know you had?
3. Was anyone disappointed that no one mentioned a strength you have and consider important? How can you make people more aware of that strength?
4. Did more than one person name some of the same positive qualities in you? What does that tell you about yourself?
   

Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009