Unit 1: Getting Started
Lesson Overviews
Unit Purpose: The purpose of Unit 1 is to familiarize students with the concepts of self-awareness and self-advocacy, provide students opportunities to identify and discuss their strengths and needs, and help them identify questions they have regarding self-awareness and self-advocacy. Additionally, students are introduced to the KWL chart and the ME! Book, both of which are used throughout the remaining lessons and units.
Lesson 1: Understanding Self-Awareness & Self-Advocacy
Objectives
Students will:
Materials
Activities and Procedures: Students begin Lesson 1 by listening to and analyzing a scenario read to them by the teacher. Once students have discussed the scenario, they complete Worksheet 1-1: Understanding Self-Awareness and Self-Advocacy. As they complete worksheet 1-1, students define the terms self-awareness and self-advocacy and answer a series of questions requiring them to identify personal likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. Once students finish worksheet 1-1, they each complete a copy of the ME! Scale, which should take approximately 10 minutes. Students must also take home a copy of the YOU! Scale to be completed by a parent or guardian. Each student will need a copy of the completed YOU! Scale to use in Lesson 2.
Student Evaluation:
Extension Activity: Lesson 1 includes one Extension Activity. For the activity, students are asked to revisit the scenario read at the beginning of Lesson 1. Students work in small groups to change the scenario by including examples of self-awareness and self-advocacy. Each group shares their story aloud once it is completed. This activity takes approximately 15-30 to complete.
Lesson 2: Understanding What It’s all About
Objectives
Students will:
Materials
Activities and Procedures: Before beginning Lesson 2, students need their completed worksheet 1-1, their ME! Scale, and YOU! Scale from Lesson 1. Lesson 2 begins with a review of the terms self-awareness and self-advocacy. Next, students compare the results of the two scales and use that information to complete worksheet 1-2: My Improvement Plan. Once students complete their worksheet, they begin assembling their ME! Book using the instructions and table of contents provided with the lesson materials. Next, students are introduced to the KWL chart, which is completed as a class. It is important to model the KWL procedure for students during Lesson 2, prior to introducing the individual KWL chart in Unit 2. As a closing activity each student completes the Unit 1 Knowledge Quiz.
Student Evaluation:
Extension Activity: Lesson 2 Extension Activity requires students to work in small groups to develop a story based on 11 guiding questions. Next, each group shares aloud the completed story as a way to facilitate discussion about self-advocacy and self-awareness. The time required to complete this activity varies based on the number of students in your class and the extent to which you require groups to write the story. This activity should take a minimum of 30 minutes.
Below are three short videos (less than 5 minutes each) that provide an introduction to self-awareness. Watch each of them and think about what self-awareness is.
Additionally, here are three videos about self-advocacy, another concept that builds on the development of self-awareness. Please watch the introduction. If you like, watch the others as well.
This is a quick overview of Self-Advocacy.
Self advocacy is more than just a means to an end. It provides an increased level of confidence which leads to the promotion of self-reliance in the accomplishment of one's life goals.
This video highlights a variety of people with intellectual disabilities.