High School, Personal/Social, Developmental Guidance Lesson

Kristen Sonju

MSUM Intern 2001-2002

Chaska Middle School East

Chaska, Minnesota

Description of the Lessons

The two lessons that follow are aimed at high school level students (mostly grades 9 & 10, but could be adapted to fit 11^th & 12^th grade, if desired). Each lesson takes approximately 45 minutes. The purpose of the lessons is to reinforce the importance of the concept, “the power of choice”. Students will look at related ideas such as ‘Vision’, ‘Initiative’, and ‘Perspective’.

LESSON 1: The Power of Choice – Part 1

Introductory Activity: “Our Lives are Like a Gold Mine”

…”When working with students who can only see the negative aspects of their lives, etc., it can be helpful to use the following analogy. Talk to them about gold miners. Gold miners work days, months, and years sifting through tons of dirt looking for that one little glimpse of shiny gold. If all they focused on each day was the dirt, they would get very depressed and give up. But they focus on, and hold out for, that glimpse of gold that they know is always right there. This gives them the drive to keep going. We all have dirt in our lives (bad family or friend situations, health problems, financial problems, teasing by others, people putting us down, etc.) as well as gold (friends that really care, good health, people who believe in us, individual talents, positive opportunities, etc.). We have a choice. We can focus on the dirt in our lives or on the gold. What we focus on will determine our attitude and direction in our lives.” (activity by Clayton Irwin; found in “Counselor Tips”, located at counselors@counselor club.org)

A. Review the concept that attitude is a choice. We can choose to think in a negative or positive way regarding certain situations.

B. Activity

1. Divide blackboard into two sections. Label with a + and – sign.

2. Write a negative statement on the board and have the students “choose” an appropriate positive statement to counteract the negative.

3. Introduce and show Parts 1 & 2 of the Quest video: “Power of Choice” (or other video with similar topic).

4. Discussion questions and wrap-up activity

a. What is meant by “Vision”? Why is it so important?

b. Complete the following sentences in journal:

-I am a person who _____

-It is important that I _____

-In the future I want to _____

LESSON 2: The Power of Choice – Part 2

A. Review Vision

1. What is Vision?

-Vision is knowing who you are and what you want to be.

2. How does Vision help you make choices?

3. How would you know if a choice you made reflects the vision you have of yourself?

4. How does learning how to love yourself help you make good choices?

a. Building Self-Esteem

1. List your good qualities

2. Set personal goals

3. Compliment your peers

4. Help others

5. Choose positive role models

6. Be yourself

B. Initiative

1. Initiative means making decisions based on what’s best for you.

-Act positively based on what’s best for you.

-Decide what’s best for you and then make it happen.

-Don’t make decisions out of fear or spite.

B. Perspective

1. Perspective means to look at the big picture. Just because something negative happens, it doesn’t mean it will last forever.

2. Things do get better with time.

3. It helps to talk out problems.

“It’s O.K. to be depressed – it is not O.K. to stay that way.”

4. A sense of humor helps.

5. Be aware of the consequences of your choices.

C. Wrap-up activity

1. Respond to the following question, in your journal:

-How can I apply what I have learned to my own life right now?

Connections to Related Standards, Competencies and Domains

This personal/social developmental guidance lesson meets the requirements of Minnesota Graduation Standard Number 8: Decision-Making. The high school content standard focuses on Individual and Community Health. Its emphasis is on students demonstrating an understanding of decision-making processes and community health practices that promote healthy nutrition, fitness practices, and that reduce and prevent tobacco use, drug and alcohol use, intentional and unintentional injuries, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintentional pregnancies. It attaches itself to the developmental guidance lesson from the perspective that one’s choice of attitude (cognitions) influences their feelings, and their feelings in turn will influence their behavior (producing healthy or unhealthy choices).

The lesson emphasizes both the Personal/Social and Educational domains of the Minnesota School Counselors’ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling. Lesson 1 focuses on self-understanding as it asks students to look inward and determine whether they tend to look at the dirt or the gold in their lives. Lesson 2 addresses social skills in that it makes note of the need for making choices/decisions that best for them (this will often lead to more healthy and satisfying relationships). The Educational domain is reached under school and world understanding, which focuses on the idea that one’s attitude, and thus choices, influences where one will go in life.

Additionally, the lessons plug directly into the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee Standards for high schools in Self-Knowledge and Educational and Occupational Exploration. The Self-Knowledge competency area focuses on understanding the influence of a positive self-concept (attitude influences self-concept), gaining the skills to interact positively with others (a positive attitude supports making wise choices for oneself, thus influencing interactions with others), and having knowledge of the importance of growth and change (if one doesn’t generally maintain a positive attitude, they need to learn that the responsibility is on them to develop such an outlook). The Educational and Occupational Exploration competency area stresses the need for students to have knowledge of the skills necessary to seek and obtain particular jobs (one can’t be a whiner/complainer, instead need to be a go-getter, believing things can be good).

References and Resources

“Quest” program resources, especially the “Power of Choice” video.

For Further Information

Kristen Sonju

MSUM Intern 2001-2002

Chaska Middle School East

Chaska, Minnesota

Phone 952-556-7600

Fax 952-556-7609

E-mail

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