- 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 6-8
- 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 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 6-8
- 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
- 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 6-8
- Define “challenge” and “purpose.”
- Explain how purpose can help in overcoming challenges.
- Identify personal strengths and values.
- Apply problem-solving skills to find meaning in difficult situations.
- Grades 6-8
- 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
- Identify and differentiate between constructive and destructive listening.
- Analyze listening behaviors in given scenarios.
- Reconstruct destructive listening situations into constructive interactions.
- Reflect on how active listening affects communication and relationships.
- Grades 6-8
- 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
- Define forgiveness
- Identify acts of forgiveness and give examples of forgiving others and self
- Understand why forgiveness is important
- Explain the forgiveness stories of historically famous people
- Collaborate with other students
- Grades 4-6
- Define forgiveness
- Identify acts of forgiveness and give examples of forgiving others and self
- Understand why forgiveness is important
- Explain the forgiveness stories of historically famous people
- Collaborate with other students
- Grades 6-8
Building Courage
Building Courage
This lesson builds on students’ understanding of courage by exploring a deep connection to fear. Using Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as a framework, students will analyze key moments where Alice encounters fear and demonstrates courage. Students will examine how fear presents challenges and how courage serves as a response to those challenges.Through discussion, examine how fear presents challenges and how courage action response to those challenges. Students will share personal experiences and develop strategies to cultivate courage in their daily lives. Time Required: 40 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 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
Ch 2: Waypower
Ch 2: Waypower
This module is designed for 6th-8th 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
Challenge Accepted!
Challenge Accepted!
This module helps students explore the relationship between challenges and personal purpose, guiding them to recognize how overcoming obstacles can lead to growth and meaningful experiences. Through discussion, reflection, and interactive activities, students will identify their personal strengths and values, understand the significance of purpose, and apply problem-solving skills to reframe challenges as opportunities. This lesson encourages students to reflect on their experiences and develop a growth mindset, helping them find motivation and resilience in the face of challenges. Time Required: 25-30 minutes.
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 builds on students’ prior knowledge of constructive and destructive listening by challenging them to actively transform negative listening behaviors into positive ones. Through discussion, collaborative activities, and scenario analysis, students will deepen their understanding of how listening impacts communication and relationships. By reconstructing destructive listening situations, they will practice applying constructive listening techniques in real-life scenarios. This lesson reinforces the importance of active listening and encourages students to practice mindful communication strategies. Time Required: 25 – 30 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
Creating Empathetic Responses (pt 3)
Creating Empathetic Responses (pt 3)
This final module encourages students to develop their own empathetic responses to everyday school situations that require understanding and compassion. Students learn three key strategies for creating empathetic responses: active listening, emotional acknowledgment, and appropriate responses. In the “Empathy Plan” activity, students work in groups to design and role-play responses to scenarios such as helping a classmate who feels excluded or comforting a friend who is upset. A discussion and reflection follow, allowing students to evaluate their responses and refine their understanding of empathy. This module helps students translate empathy from understanding to action, preparing them to respond thoughtfully and supportively in real-life interactions. These three modules collectively equip students with essential skills for recognizing, practicing, and expressing empathy, fostering a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent classroom environment. Time Required: 40 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
Creating Empathetic Responses (pt 3)
Creating Empathetic Responses (pt 3)
This final module encourages students to develop their own empathetic responses to everyday school situations that require understanding and compassion. Students learn three key strategies for creating empathetic responses: active listening, emotional acknowledgment, and appropriate responses. In the “Empathy Plan” activity, students work in groups to design and role-play responses to scenarios such as helping a classmate who feels excluded or comforting a friend who is upset. A discussion and reflection follow, allowing students to evaluate their responses and refine their understanding of empathy. This module helps students translate empathy from understanding to action, preparing them to respond thoughtfully and supportively in real-life interactions. These three modules collectively equip students with essential skills for recognizing, practicing, and expressing empathy, fostering a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent classroom environment. Time Required: 35 minutes.
Objectives:
Category
Grade Level
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