“The Great Power Within” Lesson 3.15 Created By: Pam Gunter

Preparation Materials Needed: A large glass or plastic container. Chalkboard or whiteboard. Paper, scissors and pencil for each student. Classroom Setup: Sit at tables or desks.

The Activity Place the glass or plastic container in front of the class. Explain to the students that today they are going to create something similar to a time capsule. Ask the students what they have learned over the past several weeks that has helped improve themselves. Write down their answers on the board,such as: Making right choices, honesty, building self-esteem, treating others with respect, respecting themselves, communication techniques, making right choices, etc. Explain that if we went to school each day but never used the lessons we learned, we would forget what we learned. Just like learning to read, write, and calculate math problems, we need to continue using the life skills that we’ve learned in these lessons to become better students, friends, and examples to others.

The Activity - Continued We have the power to influence our family, our classroom, our classmates, our school, and everyone around us. It is our choice how we choose to be a powerful force for good. We can do many wonderful things to make our world a better place for ourselves and others to live in. Have the students divide their paper into four sections by folding it in half and again once lengthwise. Ask the students to cut it into four pieces. Have them write their name on each piece. Ask the students to think back on the things they have learned. Have the select four things they want to work on for the rest of the year, to use their personal power to improve their classroom, school, family or themselves. They could: Use proper language, keep their desk organized, be a good example to their friends, stand up for others when they are being bullied, get homework turned in on time, etc.

The Activity - Continued Once they have shared their ideas, have them select two things that they would like to work on for the rest of the year. Have them write two promises to themselves on what they are going to accomplish by the end of the year. Such as: “I promise to treat everyone with respect in the classroom, on the playground and in my home.” “I promise to be honest in my schoolwork by keeping my eyes on my own work.” “I promise to only write nice and positive notes and texts to my friends.” “I promise to turn all of my homework in on time.” Have them make a copy of their promise for the class jar and a second copy for themselves so they remember what they are working on.

The Activity - Continued Have each student take turns folding up and putting their promises in the jar. Decorate the jar by adding a label such as, “Promise Capsule” Explain to the students that at the end of the year you are going to pass out the promises they’ve made to themselves and see how they have done. Encourage the students to keep their copies so they can remember what they are working on. Emphasize how their positive power, their positive influence, their positive choices, and their positive behavior will change their class, their friendships, their world.

The Object of the Lesson Points instructor needs to bring out: Remind students they have they have much power and potential. Through their choices and example, they can become anything they choose. They have the choice to make great and wonderful decisions that will make their class, their school, their families stronger and better places to be, through their example. Emphasize that by using the life skills they have been taught, they can accomplish many amazing things, they just need to do it! Explain that at the end of the year they will pull out their promises and see how they did. Encourage them to rely on their personal heroes if they need to for help, support and encouragement.