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

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 clearly identify things that matter and why

Materials: Newsprint and markers or board and chalk; paper; pens/pencils

Time: 30-40 minutes

Planning Notes:
Write each of the questions below on the board or newsprint for use in Step 2. Leave plenty of space to briefly record their answers in Step 4.

1. You have a free day, with no school, no work, and no responsibilities. What would you most like to do with that day?
2. What would you buy if you suddenly had to spend $500 (or the equivalent in your nation’s currency) in the next 24 hours?
3. Without mentioning any names, what are three things you respect most about an adult in your life?
4. If the place where you live were on fire and you could only save three things, what would you save? You can assume that all the people and animals are already safe from the fire.
5. If you could change one thing in your community, what would it be?
6. If you were trapped on a tropical island with one other person, who would you want the other person to be? Why?
7. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

Procedure:

1. Begin by saying that sometimes it is hard to know exactly what our values are. Families and others who teach us values do not usually say, “These are our values.” One way to identify your values is to answer questions about your life and see which values surface.
2. Ask the participants to take out paper and a pen or pencil. Point to the seven questions you previously wrote on the board or newsprint. Now, go over the instructions for this activity:
• I will read these seven questions aloud, one at a time.
• Write down your answers as I read each question.
• Be honest and write exactly what you feel. There are no wrong answers.
3. Read the questions slowly and give the participants time to consider and write their responses.
4. When everyone has finished, ask for volunteers to share their responses to the first question. Write several responses on the board or newsprint. Then repeat the process with the remaining questions.
5. Facilitate a brief discussion to help the adolescents identify values from their answers. For example, you could help them recognize that they value family by pointing out that some said they would buy something their family needs or save objects from the fire that have sentimental value to the family.
6. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.
   

Discussion Points:

1. What similarities and differences did you notice in the answers to the questions? Why do you think the responses were similar? Different?
2. Were there any differences that seemed to reflect gender or racial/ethnic background?
3. At your age, your values are pretty well formed by the influences of your family, culture, education, and religion. Activities like this are not intended to change your values but to make you more aware of them. Why is being aware of your values important? (Answers can include but are not limited to: Being aware of personal values means we can use them to guide our behavior. We can choose friends and romantic partners with similar values. We can understand and appreciate others’ values, even when they are different from ours. We can look for a job based on values.)
   

Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009.