Overview
In this module, students learn how to set and work towards meaningful goals and practice self-reflection. Students also learn to take ownership of their thoughts, emotions, and actions when dealing with various situations, including peer pressure and grief.
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1:
Mirror, Mirror: Practicing Self Reflection
In this lesson, students will learn about self-reflection as a tool for personal growth. They will begin by defining self-reflection and understanding its benefits. Students will identify three key feelings that signal when self-reflection would be most valuable. Students will learn strategies for managing difficult emotions that arise during self-reflection and develop skills to transform challenging feelings into motivation for positive change. Finally, students will create a visual arts project that represents their understanding of self-reflection and personal growth.
Lesson 2:
Dreams to Reality: Goal Setting Through Sketchnoting
In this lesson, students will be introduced to sketchnoting—visual notes that utilize handwriting, drawing, word art, shapes, and visual elements—and use this creative technique to work through a four-step goal-setting process. Students will use sketchnoting in their journals throughout the lesson to creatively respond to each step: setting SMART goals, identifying their "why," mapping out smaller steps, and planning for obstacles. At the end of the lesson, students will create a final Goal Journey Sketchnote that combines elements from their daily journal work into one comprehensive visual story. This arts-based approach to goal setting equips students with creative tools they can use for personal and academic growth in school and beyond.
Lesson 3:
Level Up: Building Success Strategies with Steve Aoki
In this lesson, students explore success strategies through Steve Aoki’s creative journey. Students will define growth mindset and neuroplasticity, examining how the brain develops through challenge and practice. They will learn about D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) approaches and their benefits for creativity and personal development. Students will then discover how D.I.T. (Doing It Together) enhances individual efforts through collaboration. The lesson culminates with students creating collaborative zines that integrate growth mindset, D.I.Y., and D.I.T. principles.
Lesson 4:
Unbreakable: Developing Resilience for Life’s Challenges
In this lesson, students define resilience and learn four ways to build it. Students begin by exploring inner strength through Kendrick Lamar's metaphor of developing a solid “inner core” - a foundation they can draw upon when facing challenges. They then explore how supportive relationships help build resilience, learn practical stress management techniques through the T.I.P.P. strategy, and discover how building mastery leads to confidence and resilience over time. The lesson culminates in students creating visual art to process and express their understanding of resilience.
Lesson 5:
Stand Your Ground: Managing Peer Pressure
In this lesson, students will explore peer pressure as a common experience and develop practical skills for navigating it confidently. Students will define peer pressure and understand why adolescents are particularly susceptible to it. They will identify what peer pressure looks like and practice four response strategies: knowing what’s right, using ready responses, changing the subject, and seeking support. The lesson extends beyond personal coping to include recognizing when others need help and learning concrete ways to support peers facing pressure. The lesson culminates in a collaborative tableau project where students synthesize their learning by creating and performing scenes that demonstrate effective responses to peer pressure situations.