Exploring Special Interests Lesson Plan

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Standards Addressed

• Self-Awareness: the ability to recognize emotions and how they influence behavior.
• Social Awareness: the ability to demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives of others and show respect and empathy.
• Relationship Skills: the ability to develop positive relationships with diverse individuals and groups.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Identify and articulate their special interests
• Explain the personal significance of their interests
• Present their findings using an online presentation format

Materials

• Paper, pencil, or a device for answering prompts and reflection
• Online presentation software (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.)

Assessment

Students can be assessed on:

• Classroom discussion participation
• Special Interest Presentation
• Reflection

Activating Prior Knowledge

• Ask "What is one thing you love to do in your free time?"
• Break students into pairs and have them share their responses to encourage interaction and connection with classmates. Have pairs come back and share what their partner shared with them.
• Then ask students to write in a notebook the answer to the following prompt: "Why do you think we enjoy certain activities?"

Lesson Steps

1) Introduce the concept of special interests, how they relate to identity, and how they evoke specific feelings (e.g., happiness, calmness).

2) Explain the assignment: create a presentation about one of their special interests.

3) Model how to use the presentation software (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.) showing how to insert text and images.

4) Instruct students to create a minimum 5-slide presentation about their special interest. They must include at least one slide for each of the following:

• What is your interest?
• Describe details/facts about your interest (include pictures if possible)
• When and where do you spend time on your interests?
• What do you specifically like about this interest?
• How does it make you feel?

Encourage students to add additional slides with fun facts or a story related to their interest.

5) When completed, have students share their presentations. Encourage students to ask the presenter thoughtful questions. The goal is to have students get to know each other better and see their commonality in all having interests that make them feel a certain way.

Reflection

Have students write a reflective paragraph responding to the following question: When was the first time you remember exploring your interest? What drew you to it? How did it feel the first time you spent time on this interest?

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Here is the printable version of Exploring Special Interests.

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