The Right to Be Me
Joseph J. Catena Elementary School
Overview
This activity will help students understand the right to be themselves, and others’ rights. Students will discuss differences and similarities, and why it is important to be accepting. They will learn to use self-esteem to protect against hurtful words, even if others are just trying to be honest. They will learn the distinction between honesty and appropriate honesty.
Lesson Objectives
Students will use words that state who they are in a positive manner.
Students will identify positive traits in their classmates that are different from their character traits.
Students will summarize how individual differences lead to a strong group.
Students will identify positive traits in their classmates that are different from their character traits.
Students will summarize how individual differences lead to a strong group.
Materials Needed
Morning Meeting Book by Roxann Kriete (2002, Northeast Foundation for Children)
Plot Your Profile worksheet
Plot Your Profile worksheet
Procedures
Meeting Greeting: Use the Morning Meeting Book by Roxann Kriete (2002, Northeast Foundation for Children) to introduce these greetings to students.
*Compliment Greeting (pg. 162)
*Pantomime Greeting (pg. 169)
•Use this greeting for students to introduce their personal strengths
Sharing:
Students will share something they are good at doing and something they struggle with.
Students will celebrate differences within the class with positive comments.
Group Activity:
Role play scenarios from the discussion column in the book or use actual scenarios from your classroom.
Plot your Profile: Students will individually plot their profiles, then class will share how no two profiles are identical.
Students will write “secret notes” to classmates with compliments on something they do well. (Notes should be handed in to teacher first.)
Students can make out “Right to be Me” contracts.
News & Announcements:
*Use your N & A to remind students about the objectives for the month.
Ex. “We have the right to be who we are!”
*Compliment Greeting (pg. 162)
*Pantomime Greeting (pg. 169)
•Use this greeting for students to introduce their personal strengths
Sharing:
Students will share something they are good at doing and something they struggle with.
Students will celebrate differences within the class with positive comments.
Group Activity:
Role play scenarios from the discussion column in the book or use actual scenarios from your classroom.
Plot your Profile: Students will individually plot their profiles, then class will share how no two profiles are identical.
Students will write “secret notes” to classmates with compliments on something they do well. (Notes should be handed in to teacher first.)
Students can make out “Right to be Me” contracts.
News & Announcements:
*Use your N & A to remind students about the objectives for the month.
Ex. “We have the right to be who we are!”
Assesment
Have a classroom discussion. What do students say when you ask, “What does, ‘I have the right to be me’ mean?’
Discuss how this involves accepting both ourselves and others.
“Why do individual differences bother some people?”
“How can self-acceptance help to protect us from the pain of verbal bullying?”
“Is pointing out someone’s shortcomings, faults, or weaknesses being honest? Or, is it not allowing them the ‘Right to Be Me’?”
Students will successfully complete and respond to the tasks.
Discuss how this involves accepting both ourselves and others.
“Why do individual differences bother some people?”
“How can self-acceptance help to protect us from the pain of verbal bullying?”
“Is pointing out someone’s shortcomings, faults, or weaknesses being honest? Or, is it not allowing them the ‘Right to Be Me’?”
Students will successfully complete and respond to the tasks.
Related Links and Resources
Credit
Joseph J. Catena Elementary School