Description of the Lesson

This lesson is the first of six on self-esteem for fourth and fifth grade elementary students. The content is taken from the Thinking, Changing, Rearranging curriculum by Jill Anderson. In the first lesson students will learn what self-esteem is, where it comes from and how we get it. In addition, the lesson introduces the concept of self-talk. Through an activity that will be explained later, students begin to learn the difference between self-talk (clear mind) and negative self-talk (mud mind or whispers) as well as the effects negative self-talk has on self-esteem.

The lesson begins by asking the students what they know about self-esteem. What is self-esteem? What’s the difference between high self-esteem and low self-esteem? How do we get self-esteem? Where does it come from? Follow the discussion by reading Don’t Feed the Monster on Tuesday. Talk about what it means to feed the monster and challenge students to not say anything negative about themselves or others on Tuesdays. (Because this particular school is on a letter schedule, we challenged students to not feed the monster on the particular letter day we were in the classroom. For example: Don’t feed the monster on B days).

Materials for the lesson include:

-Book; Don’t Feed the Monster on Tuesdays by Adolph J. Moser

-2 baby food jars filled with water

-2 eyedroppers

-Clear Mind = any heavy motor oil

-Mud Mind = black ink (water soluble)

-Worksheet on self-talk and whispers

Activity: “Mud Mind, Clear Mind”

The purpose of this activity helps students to understand how our mud mind and our clear mind can affect the quality of our day. To continue the lesson on negative self-talk and how it can affect self-esteem, take the two jars of water and tell the class they will represent two generic students. Talking about one student at a time, use one eyedropper and the mud. Ask the class for things that could go wrong on a school day (miss the bus, forget homework, didn’t study for a test, get in a fight with a friend, etc.) With each idea, add a drop (or more depending on the “severity”) of mud in to the jar. The more bad things that happen, the darker the water becomes. The more we allow

Don’t Feed the Monster - 2

those bad things to affect us, the lower our self-esteem. Ask the class what happened to this student?

Do the activity again to demonstrate the Clear Mind. This time use the motor oil. Students will notice that the oil doesn’t mix with the water. Ask the class what happened to the second student? What is the difference between the two? Who feels better? Why? What is each student’s frame of mind? What is the oil doing that the mud isn’t? How does a person do that? Explain that everyone has a choice about how they will let those bad things affect their day, and longer term, their self-esteem.

To conclude the lesson on self-esteem and negative self-talk, hand out the worksheet. The worksheet provides practice in recognizing the clear mind and the mud mind (whispers). Read each statement and decide whether the statement is an okay self-talk statement or a whisper (negative self-talk). Have students circle the whispers. Do this together as a class. Emphasize that negative self-talk is all the thoughts that we have about ourselves and about someone else. Upon completion of the worksheet, remind students of their challenge: Don’t feed the monster on Tuesdays.

Example statements for the Whispers worksheet:

“I can.” “Nobody likes me.”

“I really want a new bike.” “I can’t do it.”

“He makes me so mad.” “This is hard for me.”

“I’m feeling sort of low.” “I would like to be his friend.”

“She’s so mean.” “I never get to go anywhere.”

“I sometimes have a hard time with spelling but I keep trying.”

Source: Pumsy: In Pursuit of Excellence by Jill Anderson, 1987.

References and Resources:

Anderson, Jill (1981). Thinking, Changing, Rearranging. Eugene, Oregon.

---------- (1987). Pumsy: In Pursuit of Excellence. Timberline Press, Inc. PO Box 70187 Eugene, Oregon 9701

Moser, Adolph, J. (1996). Don’t Feed the Monster on Tuesdays

For more information:

Klaudia Perry

Professional School Counselor

Lincoln Choice K-8 School

Rochester, MN 55904

Phone: 507-281-6095

E-mail: klperry@rochester.k12.mn.us