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 become aware of values and priorities.

Materials: One copy for each participant of the handout, “What’s Important to Me,”;scissors; tape or glue; one piece of blank paper for each participant; one business envelope for each participant; newsprint and markers or board and chalk

Time: 40-50 minutes

Planning Notes:

• Read the handout and add values statements of your own, if you wish, before duplicating the handout.
• Cut the individual handouts into strips. Place each set of strips in an envelope, creating a packet for each participant.
• Create a poster of prioritized values for Step 3, one for each value statement. The priorities should read from MOST IMPORTANT to SECOND MOST IMPORTANT and so on, down to LEAST IMPORTANT.

Procedure:

1. Remind participants of the introductory activity and the volunteer who had to choose from among several denominations of coins or bills. Point out that the coin or bill that had the most monetary value was the one chosen. Ask what would have been the second choice in that situation (Answer: the coin or bill with the next highest monetary value.)
2. Explain that for, this activity, the participants will choose among several intangible items, rating which they value most, second most, all the way to which they value least.
3. Go over instructions for the activity
   • I will give each of you an envelope containing 20 strips of paper. Each strip has the name of something intangible written on it. Arrange these strips so that what is of most value to you is on top and what is of least value is on the bottom. (Display the illustration you have drawn.)
   • Move the strips around until the ranking matches how you really value them. Then tape or glue your strips in the correct order to the piece of blank paper I will also give you.
   • This may be somewhat frustrating because you can have only one top priority. Sometimes, we have conflicting priorities. You must just do the best you can.
4. Distribute one envelope and one piece of blank paper to each participant. Ask participants to begin. Circulate, offering help if anyone who is having trouble understanding what it is you asked. Caution the adolescents to work slowly and think carefully about each item.
5. When all or most of the participants are finished, call time. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.

Discussion Points:

1. What were your top three or four values?
2. Was it easier to choose the things you value the most or the least? Why?
3. Were there items on the list that that you had never really thought about before? Which ones?
4. Were you surprised by your completed list of values? Why or why not?
5. How do you think your ranking of values would compare to your parents’ ranking?
6. How might you stand up for your top three values?

Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009.