- Define time management.
- Understand the importance of prioritizing tasks.
- Practice decision-making in group settings.
- Reflect on personal time management strategies.
- Grades 4-6
- Define altruism identifying key characteristics, such as selflessness and concern for others.
- Recognize real-world examples – Describe altruistic behaviors in various contexts, including cultural traditions, community support, and family life.
- Understand motivations behind altruism – Explain why people engage in altruistic acts without expecting rewards or recognition.
- Grades 4-6
- Define Altruism and identify its characteristics.
- Recognize and describe examples of altruistic behavior.
- Understand the motivations behind altruistic acts.
- Analyze challenges and sacrifices involved in altruistic acts.
- Explore different cultures’ perspectives on altruism.
- Collaborate in groups to research and present altruistic acts.
- Reflect on personal experiences and opportunities to practice altruism in daily life.
- Grades 4-6
- Define altruism.
- Identify altruistic acts and give examples of altruistic practices.
- Express altruism in creative ways
- Understand the importance of altruism in our society.
- Collaborate with other students.
- Grades 4-6
- Identify methods of maintaining positive relationships.
- Give examples of ways to maintain positive relationships in their personal lives.
- Develop creative ways to maintain positive relationships.
- Understand the importance of maintaining positive relationships in their lives.
- Grades 4-6
- Define what a positive relationship looks like.
- Identify their experiences with a relationship in their own lives.
- Articulate the importance of positive relationships and the impact on their own lives.
- Collaborate with other students.
- Grades 4-6
- Define courage and identify courageous behaviors
- Understand the relationship between fear and courage and connect it to personal experiences
- Identify strategies to overcome fear and embrace courage, applying these strategies to daily life
- Collaborate with peers to share thoughts about fear and courage
- Grades 4-6
- Define what healthy communication skills are.
- Identify their experiences with communicating with caregivers in their own lives.
- Articulate the importance of healthy and positive communication with caregivers.
- Grades 4-6
- Understand the concept of willpower (agency) and how it contributes to developing hope.
- Engage in activities that help them reflect on their own strengths, goals, and challenges.
- Apply hope-building strategies to real-life scenarios, learning how to analyze setbacks and maintain a positive mindset toward achieving their goals.
- Grades 4-6
- Understand the concept of pathways/Waypower and how it contributes to developing hope.
- Engage in activities that help them reflect on their own strengths, goals, and challenges.
- Apply hope-building strategies to real-life scenarios, learning how to analyze setbacks and maintain a positive mindset toward achieving their goals.
- Grades 4-6
- Define “lens switching” and explain its purpose.
- Identify negative thought patterns and reframe them into positive or balanced perspectives.
- Apply lens-switching techniques to personal experiences.
- Recognize the impact of perspective on emotions and well-being.
- Develop strategies for practicing positive thinking in daily life.
- Grades 4-6
- Define and differentiate constructive and destructive listening.
- Identify constructive and destructive listening behaviors in scenarios.
- Reflect on the importance of active listening and its effects on communication.
- Grades 4-6
A Quest to Manage Time
A Quest to Manage Time
This module introduces students to time management and helps them develop strategies for prioritizing tasks. The lesson emphasizes the importance of making thoughtful choices about how to spend time, working collaboratively, and recognizing the consequences of decisions. The module, designed around group-based activities, uses scenarios that simulate real-life decision-making challenges. Through a role-play activity centered on the fictional character “Game Master John,” students practice prioritizing tasks, deciding what is most important, and justifying their choices. The module concludes with a reflection on how students can apply time management strategies in their own lives through an exit ticket activity. Time Required: 45-50 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Altruism Around Me (pt 3)
Altruism Around Me (pt 3)
This module introduces students to the concept of altruism, helping them understand its significance in personal, cultural, and community contexts. Through real-world examples, students will explore how altruism is practiced globally, its motivations, and its impact on well-being. The lesson incorporates theories from psychology and philosophy, emphasizing that altruistic acts are performed selflessly without expectation of reward.
Students will analyze altruistic behaviors in different settings, including cultural traditions, neighborhood support, and family life. They will also engage in a Kindness Checklist activity, reflecting on their personal experiences and opportunities to practice altruism in daily life. Materials needed include a projector, internet access, printed checklists, and crayons or markers for interactive engagement. Time Required: 30-35 minutes.
Objectives:.
Category
Grade Level
Altruism Around the World (pt 2)
Altruism Around the World (pt 2)
This module on altruism explores and explains the global impact of altruism through powerful examples like the Wenchuan earthquake volunteer efforts, Lampedusa’s fishermen rescuing migrants, and the heroism of 9/11 first responders. Students will explore the challenges and motivations behind altruistic acts, reflecting on why people risk their safety and well-being to help others. Through discussions and collaborative projects, they will identify altruistic actions worldwide and examine the emotional, legal, and economic hurdles altruists face. The module emphasizes empathy, teamwork, and critical thinking, encouraging students to become compassionate global citizens. Setup: Poster Board. Time Required: 30-35 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Altruism Defined (pt 1)
Altruism Defined (pt 1)
This module focuses on fostering altruism among students in grades 6-8, helping educators guide students through these essential social-emotional skills. Through interactive discussions, students will explore what altruism looks like in daily life and reflect on acts of kindness and forgiveness. The lesson includes an exercise that encourages students to perform altruistic actions. For older students, an exercise that ties forgiveness to altruistic actions encourages students to view it as a gift for others and themselves. Practical activities like crafting an altruism umbrella help reinforce learning and nurture a classroom environment of empathy and growth while promoting higher-order thinking and personal reflection. Setup: Poster Board. Time Required: 55-60 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Art of Maintaining Bonds
Art of Maintaining Bonds
Prepare for more bond-building fun in Maintaining Bonds! As an extension of the module “Building Bonds!” this module will revisit the definition and benefits of positive relationships and help students identify ways to maintain the positive relationships they have built. Students will understand and develop creative ways to maintain positive relationships in their lives and recognize how relationship maintenance impacts their lives. The module activities can be completed at the teacher’s discretion. The module activity for Grades 4-6 requires prior set-up. See the module “Building Bonds!” for the introductory content! Setup: Printable in lesson plan. Time Required: 30-45 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Building Bonds
Building Bonds
Plug in and get students connected with Building Bonds! This module introduces students to the benefits of positive relationship-building with others in the classroom, at home, and abroad. By the end of this module, students will understand and define what a positive relationship is, identify positive relationships in their own lives, and articulate the importance of positive relationships. Module activities can be completed at the teacher’s discretion. The module activity for Grades 4-6 requires prior setup. See the module “Maintaining Bonds!” for an extension of this exciting, bond-building content! Time Required: 45 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Building Courage
Building Courage
This lesson builds on students’ understanding of courage by exploring its deep connection to fear. Students will analyze J.K. Rowling’s journey, discussing how she overcame fear. Through small-group discussions, they will examine real-life scenarios, identify fears, share personal experiences, and develop strategies for showing courage in their daily lives. Students will learn techniques to overcome fear, such as acknowledging fear, staying positive, and seeking support. They will also discuss whether courage can exist without fear and reflect on personal experiences. By the end of the lesson, students will apply these strategies of showing courage to their own experiences. Time Required: 40 – 45 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Caregiver-Student Bridges
Caregiver-Student Bridges
Even parents will love their students becoming social architects in “Bridge Builders: Caregiver Edition!” In this module, students will learn how to communicate with their caregivers in effective, constructive, efficient ways that respectfully communicate their own needs. The best part? Everyone’s communication may look a little different, so students will also have the opportunity to see how others’ communication may take place in their households and draw cultural and social understandings of their peers and their families! Module activities can be completed at the teacher’s discretion. The module activity for Grades 4-6 and Grades 6-8 can be completed over time. Setup: Printable material in lesson plan. Time Required: 30-45 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Ch 1: Willpower
Ch 1: Willpower
This module is designed to help students build a hopeful mindset by strengthening their willpower (agency) through developing self-confidence, self-advocacy, resilience, and analytical skills. Students will learn that hope involves setting goals, believing in themselves, and finding ways to achieve those goals. The lesson emphasizes developing willpower through specific strategies. Students will reflect on their strengths and challenges and apply hope-building techniques to real life scenarios. Key activities include reflecting on persistence, self-advocacy, recognizing small victories, and learning from mistakes. The lesson also includes a booklet activity for students to track their willpower development and an observation rubric to evaluate student outcomes. Time Required: 15 minutes per day over 5 days.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Ch 2: Waypower
Ch 2: Waypower
This module is designed for 4th-6th graders to help them build a hopeful mindset by strengthening their Waypower, the ability to find and create pathways to achieve goals. This Chapter 2 builds upon a previous lesson on Willpower and emphasizes that Waypower is equally as important as Willpower to achieve goals. Students will learn that hope involves setting goals, believing in themselves, and finding ways to reach those goals. The lesson focuses on developing Waypower through specific steps: Setting goals, brainstorming multiple pathways, anticipating and planning for obstacles, and reflecting, adjusting, and maintain their path. Key activities include reflecting on goals, brainstorming pathways, planning for obstacles, and adjusting strategies. The lesson also includes a booklet activity for students to track their Waypower development and an observation rubric to evaluate student outcomes. Time Required: 15 minutes per day over 5 days.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Change Your View/Situation
Change Your View/Situation
The Change Your View module teaches students how to reframe negative situations by shifting their perspective. Through guided discussions, activities, and reflections, students will explore the concept of “lens switching”, a strategy that helps them see challenges in a more balanced and constructive way. By recognizing and adjusting negative thought patterns, students will develop emotional resilience and a more positive outlook on daily experiences. This interactive lesson helps students build a growth mindset, equipping them with tools to handle setbacks and view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Time Required: 35 – 40 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Constructive vs Destructive Listening
Constructive vs Destructive Listening
This module helps students differentiate between constructive and destructive listening. Through discussions and interactive activities, students will learn how active listening fosters positive communication while poor listening habits can create misunderstandings. By analyzing real-world scenarios, students will identify key listening behaviors and reflect on their impact. This lesson builds on prior knowledge of listening skills and encourages students to develop habits that improve their ability to engage in meaningful conversations. Time Required: 25 – 30 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
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