Lift Ups

Introduction Who are we? What are we involved in at Centennial? What are we involved in outside of school?

LESSON OBJECTIVE Students will be able to understand why it can be hurtful to give put downs instead of lift ups.

Activity #1 – Weigh Me Down 1 Volunteer Was it hard? Could you feel the backpack as you were doing the activities? Did the backpack stop you from being able to do the activities?

Activity #1 – Weigh Me Down Have you ever been called a name or made fun of on campus? For example: “stupid” or “shorty”

Activity #1 – Weigh Me Down Discussion Time! Have any of you felt like you walked around with a backpack on with yucky stuff in it? (Raise hands if yes) Volunteer: How did it feel to be wearing the backpack? Is this how it feels for some people at school? How or why? (Talk with elbow partner) Why do we put people down or give people labels? (Talk at tables) What are some other things that make people weighed down? (alone) What kind of effect does it have when we put people down? (alone) What are some things we can do to lift people up instead of putting them down? (whole group)

Activity #1 – Weigh Me Down Positive Words – What positive words or actions make people feel good? Because it is so important to make people feel good, we’re going to look at the actions we can take and how we can make that happen more.

Activity #2 –Heavy stuff… lighten up On the Heavy Stuff…Lighten Up worksheet write down five things that could weigh someone down. (ex: not making soccer team, or an argument) Under Lighten Up, write what you can do to lighten up their friend’s load if some of these things are happening to them. Be prepared to share your ideas for the positive words or actions that can make people feel good.

Talk at your tables about the importance of today’s lesson. CLOSING STATEMENT Talk at your tables about the importance of today’s lesson. It is so much nicer to receive positive comments from people rather than put downs. If we could life people up everyday instead of putting them down, school would be a lot nice of a place to be for everyone.

Intro to activity three To talk more about how important it is to make people feel good, we are going to take part in another activity that really shows how difficult it can be to take back something that you regret saying or doing.

Activity #3 – Take It Back 2 Teams Volunteers! Squeeze the entire tube into the center of the paper plate in less than 30 seconds. On your mark! Get set! GO!

Activity #3 – Take It Back 2 Teams More Volunteers! Your job is to try to put the toothpaste back into the tubes. You have one minute! On your mark! Get set! GO!

Activity #3 – Take It Back Discussion Questions Did you notice that neither of them got all the toothpaste back into the tube? Do you think that if you were given more time you would have been able to get more back in the tube? ( Talk at your tables for 30 seconds) Could you ever get the toothpaste back in the tube the way it was? (Raise hands for yes; raise hands for no.) How is this like saying something or doing something negative to someone? (talk with your elbow partner 30 seconds). What effect does it have on someone when they are hurt by something said or done to them? Could it change them? How? (complete alone) What can we do to prevent this from happening in the first place? (complete alone) What can you do when you leave this room to be nicer? Talk to your neighbor and be ready to share your ideas with the class. Let’s lift each other up and see what that feels like!

Activity #4 – Labels We give people labels all the time, but most of the time they are negative. Today we are going to give people in our class positive labels! Look at the people that are at your table. Each of them will receive a positive label or comment from you. Put your name on your post- it and turn it face down. Your post -it will then be passed around your table. When you receive another person’s post-it, look to see whose it is and write a sweet word or comment. We will pass post-its until everyone has written on the others. Read your post it- on your toothpaste worksheet, record how those words made you feel. Anyone want to share?

Closing It’s so much nicer to receive positive comments from people rather than put downs. If we could lift people up everyday instead of putting them down, school would be a lot nicer of a place to be for everyone. Thank you!