Pre-­‐Adolescent  Girls  Empowerment  Group  

Week  4  Lesson  Plan:  Self-­‐Esteem    

1. Opening:  Select  a  sensation  word  card  that  best  describes  how  you  are  feeling  right  now.  Share  the  word  with  the  group  as  well  as  how  it  relates  to  you.  Keep  the  word  card  for  the  session.  

2. Personal  Power  Activity  a. Objective:  Students  will  focus  on  personal  achievements  and  strengths  in  order  to  help  promote  

self-­‐esteem  in  themselves  and  one  another.  b. Materials:  Drawing  paper  (four  sheets  for  each  student);  one  larger  sheet  of  paper  for  each  

student;  crayons  or  markers;  scissors;  any  additional  craft  materials  if  preferred  c. Procedure:  

i. Talk  to  the  group  members  about  the  importance  of  a  positive  self-­‐concept.  Explain  that  self-­‐concept  refers  to  the  way  that  we  view  ourselves.  Encourage  the  students  to  talk  about  reasons  it  is  important  to  have  a  positive  self-­‐concept.  

ii. Next  encourage  the  students  to  discuss  things  that  lower  self-­‐esteem  and  make  it  harder  for  us  to  believe  in  ourselves.  Explain  that  in  order  to  help  develop  a  positive  self-­‐concept  and  to  raise  self-­‐esteem,  people  must  be  able  to  identify  and  believe  in  positive  aspects  of  their  lives.  

iii. Give  each  student  a  sheet  of  paper  and  distribute  the  art  materials.  Explain  that  in  today’s  activity,  group  members  will  be  encouraged  to  “brag”  about  themselves  and  to  view  this  form  of  “bragging”  as  a  healthy  way  to  improve  self-­‐concept.  

iv. Instruct  the  students  to  draw  something  positive  about  themselves  (a  “brag”)  that  coincides  with  each  of  the  following  categories:  

1. One  activity  that  I  enjoy  or  am  good  at  doing  at  school  2. One  activity  that  I  enjoy  or  am  good  at  doing  at  home  3. One  way  that  I  help  my  friends  4. Something  that  I  am  working  on  achieving  or  learning  

v. After  the  students  have  drawn  their  four  “brags,”  instruct  them  to  glue  these  pages  on  the  larger  sheet  of  paper  and  label  it  “My  Brag  Collage.”  

vi. When  the  students  have  finished,  encourage  them  to  share  their  collages  with  the  rest  of  the  group.  

vii. Grades  3-­‐5  Alternative:  Instruct  each  student  to  create  two  additional  “brags”  of  their  choice  that  they  are  particularly  proud  of.  

d. Activity  Closing  Questions:  i. Why  do  you  think  girls  have  a  hard  time  concentrating  on  the  positive  aspects  of  their  

lives?  ii. What  do  you  think  would  help  girls  think  more  positively  about  themselves?  iii. What  did  you  learn  about  yourself  in  group  today?  iv. How  will  you  use  what  you  learned  today  in  the  future?  

3. Closing  Ritual:  Note  how  you  feel  now  in  compared  to  the  start  of  group.  Do  you  find  that  your  sensation  word  is  the  same  or  different?  Explain,  and  then  return  your  sensation  word  to  the  middle.    

 Lesson  Plan  Prepared  by  Allie  Gross,  BSW  Intern      Reference:  Girls  in  Real-­‐Life  Situations:  Group  Counseling  Activities  for  Enhancing  Social  and  Emotional  Development