Lesson 206: Identifying strengths

❤️ SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Understanding Myself

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Objective

I can name some of my own strengths. I can notice things I am good at doing and good ways I act, and I can say simple "I am…" sentences about myself.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Everyone has strengths

A strength is something that is strong about you. It can be what you can do or how you act.

Two kinds of strengths

  • Skills: things you can do, like reading, drawing, running, building, helping with chores.
  • Character strengths: how you are on the inside, like being kind, brave, curious, or patient.

Examples of strengths

  • "I am a good listener."
  • "I try again when work is hard."
  • "I am kind to younger children."
  • "I am careful with animals."

Important ideas about strengths

  • Everyone has strengths.
  • You do not have to be the best to have a strength.
  • People have different strengths. That is a good thing.
  • We can use our strengths to help ourselves and others.

This lesson helps children notice strengths in a gentle, non-competitive way and practise kind words about themselves.

Picture strip: Three different strengths

Guided Practice — My strengths T-chart

You and an adult will make a simple chart to notice two kinds of strengths.

  1. Draw a big T-chart on the page (a big letter T). On one side write or trace "Things I can do". On the other side write or trace "How I act".
  2. Think about things you can do that feel like strengths. The adult can give gentle ideas, such as: "I can ride my scooter.", "I can build with blocks.", "I can read short books." Add two or three to the first side.
  3. Now think about how you act. Are you kind? brave? careful? a good friend? With the adult, choose two or three words for the second side, such as "kind", "brave", "helpful".
  4. Put a small star or heart next to the ones that feel most true for you today.
  5. Practise saying simple "I am…" sentences using your chart, for example: "I am a kind friend." or "I am a brave learner.".
  6. The adult can remind the child: "You are still growing. Strengths can grow too."
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "I am a kind helper."

Practice — My "I am" strengths poster

Use this practice to help your child see and say a few of their strengths in a kind way.

  1. Turn the page sideways. At the top, write or trace the title "My strengths".
  2. Draw a simple picture of yourself in the middle of the page.
  3. Around the picture, draw 4–6 small speech bubbles or stars. In each one, the adult helps you write or trace a short strength sentence, such as:
    • "I am a kind friend."
    • "I am a good helper at home."
    • "I am a careful listener."
    • "I am a brave learner."
  4. Colour your picture and add small symbols that show strength, like stars or hearts.
  5. Read your "I am" sentences aloud together. The adult can add one more kind sentence they notice about you.
  6. Put the poster somewhere safe (for example, on a wall or in a folder) so you can look at it again on days when you forget your strengths.

Quick Check — Identifying strengths

Answer each question about strengths and kind "I am" sentences.

1) What is a strength?

A strength is something strong or good about you.

2) Which is a skill strength?

Being able to build with blocks is a skill strength.

3) Which is a character strength?

Kindness is a character strength.

4) Which sentence is a good "I am" strength sentence?

"I am a good helper" is a kind strength sentence about yourself.

5) Which is true about strengths?

Everyone has strengths. They do not have to be the same.

6) Your friend says, "I am a good listener." This is an example of…

They are noticing and naming a strength.

7) You are still learning to tie your shoes, but you always try again. Which strength fits best?

Keeping on trying is an important strength.

8) Which choice shows kind self-talk?

Kind self-talk remembers that you are learning and have strengths.

9) If you cannot think of your strengths, what can you do?

Trusted adults can help you see your strengths.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

The goal is to notice strengths and speak kindly about ourselves.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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