Bonus Lessons
Curricular Focus: reinforcement of I AM Noticed Concepts & Practices
Lesson 1
I AM Noticed Sunshine Worksheet
Supplies needed: copies of the "I AM Noticed Sunshine" worksheet, writing and/or drawing supplies
Each student receives a copy of the I AM Noticed Sunshine worksheet. Before engaging with the worksheet ask the students to take a deep breath (or two or more if needed) and be in the present moment. Then ask the students to fill in the sunrays with words that represent the goodness they Notice about themselves.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: It is so important that we are intentional about how we are talking to ourselves. Remember, what you say after I AM is true for you! We are more confident when we are humbly grateful for the reflection we see in the mirror.
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Lesson 2
What Goodness Can We Notice About Our Class
Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups or with a partner to discuss the following questions:
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What does it feel like in our class?
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Are you proud to be in our class?
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What is your favorite thing about our class?
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When you need help who in our class will help you?
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When you describe our class to friends and family who do not get to be in our class, what do you tell them?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts, ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about our classroom. If time allows share thoughts as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: We get more of what we focus on. When we look for goodness to Notice our brains are more likely to recognize it because of a part of our brains called the reticular activating system (RAS). When we practice having positive conversations, that becomes a normal part of our culture.
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Lesson 3
Who Can You Notice Worksheet
Supplies needed: copies of the "Who Can You Notice" worksheet & writing utensil
Each student receives a copy of the "Who Can You Notice" worksheet.
Encourage students to think about and write the names of the people that they are grateful for in their lives.
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You may want to discuss (and ask students to share examples of) people who have made a positive difference in their lives to get the class thinking about the areas of our lives where there are people making a difference.
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Encourage the students to Notice the people on their list IRL (in real life). This can be as easy as telling the people that they wrote on their list that they are grateful for them.
Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: To Notice someone is to tell them, "I see you. I hear you. You matter to me." To Notice the goodness in someone is to intentionally and authentically compliment a person on goodness that you've seen in them.
Lesson 4
We Are Worksheet
Supplies needed: copies of the "We Are" worksheet & writing utensil
Each student receives a copy of the "We Are" worksheet to use to record their answers to the discussion prompts.
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Place students in small groups to collaborate.
Encourage your students to brainstorm all of the good words that they can use to describe who we are as a class.
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You can get the conversation started by using any or all of the following prompts:
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What is your favorite thing about our class?
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When was a time that you felt really good about being in our class?
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Who are you grateful for in our class? And why?
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How do you describe our class to family or friends who do not get to be in our class every day?
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Gratitude is a powerful tool when it comes to choosing a want-to attitude. When we think of all the positive things about who we are it gives us a lot to be grateful for and we remember that we get-to be here instead of feeling like we have-to be here.
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Lesson 5
What Goodness Can We Notice About Our Teachers Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small group or with a partner to discuss the following questions:
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What was a time that a teacher really helped you?
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What is an example of how a teacher has helped you be a better student, or even a better citizen?
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What are some of your favorite things about your favorite teachers?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about the teachers in their lives. If time allows share thoughts as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Teachers care so much about their students (you may want to share from your own perspective here).
The care and support that teachers provide is directly linked to the confidence that we feel at school and how positive our culture is here at school.
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Special Note to teachers: This activity may seem very vulnerable. If you, the teacher, get Noticed, modeling receiving is another gift you can give your students.
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Lesson 6
Random Acts of Kindness Notes
Supplies needed: copies of the "Random Acts of Kindness Notes" printout & writing &/or drawing supplies
Print copies and cut (or have students cut) into 4 pieces. These Random Acts of Kindness cards are intended to be left behind at the scene of any act of kindness.
This is a great activity to send home with students over any break. Encourage students to consider the members of their families. Who are they grateful for? Who would they like to show appreciation for by doing a random act of kindness? Share with the class a few examples of random acts of kindness ideas and then encourage them to brainstorm as a class their own ideas for random acts of kindness that they could do.
Let your class know that you look forward to hearing about their Noticing and random acts of kindness experiences once you are back in the classroom.
Students can write a note on the back of each card.
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Here is an example that you can use to get the brainstorming started:
Students could empty the dishwasher (without being asked) and leave a Random Act of Kindness Note taped on the dishwasher.
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Please share the following concepts as part of this lesson: Kindness is contagious. When we spread kindness, we create ripples of goodness. This can help us feel happier and it helps other people feel good too!
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Lesson 7
What Goodness Can We Notice About Our School
Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups or with a partner to discuss the following questions:
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What is your favorite thing about our school?
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When you need help, who are the people at school who will help you?
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What makes you proud to be a part of our school community?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about our school. If time allows share as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: It can be easy to take for granted the things that we experience every day. Being mindful of the goodness that we Notice about our school helps us to choose a positive "want-to" attitude which helps us all to be more confident.
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Lesson 8
Send You Are Notes
Supplies needed: copies of the "You Are Notes" printout & writing &/or drawing supplies
Print copies and cut (or have students cut) into 4 pieces. These Random Acts of Kindness cards are intended to be left behind at the scene of any act of kindness.
This is a great activity to send home with students over any break. Encourage students to consider the members of their families. Who are they grateful for? Who would they like to show appreciation for by doing a random act of kindness? Share with the class a few examples of random acts of kindness ideas and then encourage them to brainstorm as a class their own ideas for random acts of kindness that they could do.
Let your class know that you look forward to hearing about their Noticing and random acts of kindness experiences once you are back in the classroom.
Students can write a note on the back of each card.
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Here is an example that you can use to get the brainstorming started:
Students could empty the dishwasher (without being asked) and leave a Random Act of Kindness Note taped on the dishwasher.
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Please share the following concepts as part of this lesson: Kindness is contagious. When we spread kindness, we create ripples of goodness. This can help us feel happier and it helps other people feel good too!
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Lesson 9
What Goodness Can You Notice About Family
Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups to discuss the following questions:
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Who are the people in your family?
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What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
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When you need help who in your family will help you?
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Where is your favorite place to hang out with your family?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about their families. If time allows share as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Families can mean many different things to many different people. One way to look at it is to think about who loves you and who supports you. When we are supported, we can be more confident and that is something to be grateful for.
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It can be easy to take for granted the things that we experience every day. Being mindful of the goodness that we Notice about our families helps us to choose a positive "want-to" attitude which helps us all to be more confident.
Lesson 10
A Letter to Our Families
Supplies needed: copies of the "Dear Family" worksheet & writing utensil
Each student receives a copy of the "You Are Noticed" worksheet to use to write a letter of appreciation to one or more people in their family. Provide students with extra copies if they would like to create more than one based on their family dynamics.
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Encourage your students to think about what they are grateful for about their family.
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You can share any or all of the following prompts to get them thinking:
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What goodness can you Notice about your family?
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What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
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Who are you grateful for in your family?
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How does your family support you?
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Once the students have had a chance to gather their thoughts, ask them to write a write a letter to their family using the "You Are Noticed" worksheet provided.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Family can mean many different things to many different people. One way to look at it is to think about who loves you or who supports you. When we are supported, we can be more confident and that is something to be grateful for.
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Lesson 11
What Goodness Have You Noticed In Our Community
Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups to discuss the following questions:
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What are some of the jobs in our community?
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Who are you grateful for in our community? Our city?
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How do the people of our community make our community better?
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What inspires you about our community?
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​Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about their community. If time allows share as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: It can be easy to take for granted the things that we experience every day. Being mindful of the goodness that we Notice about our community helps us to choose a positive "want-to" attitude which helps us all to be more confident.
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Lesson 12
You Are Poster
Supplies needed: poster board and markers
Students can participate in the creation of the poster and/or they can simply sign their names to a poster that you create. The idea of this lesson is to share this poster outside of your classroom such as business or community partners, another school or class at another school in your district, etc. The possibilities are endless! Some classes have created a digital "You Are Noticed" poster and sent it to schools they have connected with around the world.
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** If you have done some discovery to know some specific goodness that you have Noticed about the people you are Noticing you can write a note on the back of the poster to share your compliments.
Please share the following concept as part of this lesson: Discovery is such an important part of connecting and building relationships. There are so many ways to learn about others. We can discover goodness to Notice by personal interaction, researching on-line, and inviting people to share their stories.
Lesson 13
What Goodness Can You Notice About Our World?
Writing Prompt
Supplies needed: Journal or paper and writing utensils
Although you can jump right into this lesson by instructing the students to consider the following writing prompts and write their opinions independently, there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups, or with a partner, to discuss the following questions:
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What is your favorite thing about living on planet earth?
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Who makes the world a better place?
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How are kids making a difference in the world?
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What inspires you about our world?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the writing prompts ask the students to write independently about what goodness they have Noticed about the world. If time allows share as a class.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: It can be easy to take for granted the things that we experience every day. Being mindful of the goodness that we Notice about our world helps us to choose a positive "want-to" attitude which helps us all to be more confident.
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Lesson 14
Noticing Goodness Around The World
Supplies needed: device for internet research, optional paper for print out for bulletin board &/or access to Power Point/ Google Slides/ etc. for presentation
Ask students to pick a person (past or present) who inspires them because of the difference that he or she has made in the world. Then ask the students to research that person and record what goodness there is to Notice about him or her. Students can also think about how this person inspires them to make a difference in the world.
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Students can then create a presentation or print out of their findings to share with the class and/or school community.
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As an option, you can create a bulletin board with a map of the world on it and put a picture of each inspiring person on the map at the place where they are from.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Having positive role models is so important. When we Notice the goodness in someone, we can then discover characteristics and qualities about the person that can help us to decide who we want to be. Having and even BEING a positive role model is a powerful success strategy.
Lesson 15
You Are The Rock In Your Ripple
Supplies needed: river rocks (one per student), sharpies (metallic sharpies work well on darker rocks), a container or small body of water (ex. bucket, baby pool, or small pond)
Have each member of your class (yourself included) write your name on a river rock. Everyone can get creative and decorate the rock as they wish. Then allow each person to toss his/her rock into the water so that he or she can witness the ripples that the rock creates. Time permitting, allow the water to calm so that each person can witness his or her own ripples.
Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: You are the rock in your ripple. Just like the ripples in the water, who you are ripples out to the people around you. You matter so very much!
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Lesson 16
Let's Connect - Active Listening
Supplies needed: journal optional
Discuss "active listening" as a class. Ask students to share indicators that communicate active listening (i.e. eye contact, leaning in, smiling, giving appropriate feedback, etc.) Then ask students to think back to a time when they experienced active listening and a time when they didn't. Maybe they were telling a friend a story about something that happened in their day and the friend was dialed in, hanging on every word, wanting all the details. Or on the contrary, maybe they were telling about how they did on a test, and their friend was on their phone and didn't really seem to care at all. If time allows use the following journal prompts: How can I practice active listening?
Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Often times in our busy world we get distracted; especially when we are on our devices! Being distracted may not be intentionally mean, but it can feel that way. Actively listening to the people in our lives is a great way to Notice them! This skill set helps build relationships, and ultimately communicate how much we matter.
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Bonus! This is a real-world learning skill that can help us in every role (and role to come) in our lives.
Lesson 17
Practicing Receiving
Journal Optional
This lesson is all about practicing giving and receiving compliments. Each participant will be able to experience sharing quick compliments with and receiving compliments from several people in the class.
Have students stand up and form two equal lines facing each other. Identify one line as Row A and the other line as Row B. The people in Row B will remain stationary. The people in Row A will shift one person to the right each time you say "switch, wait...go". (At each switch the person on the end of the line will run around and start at the beginning.) Approximately 30 second segments are recommended however you can adjust the times between each switch to meet the needs of your class. Here's a play-by-play for the actual activity:
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Once students are prepped student get into rows.
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You start off the activity by saying "Go".
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Row A students shares a quick compliment with the Row B student across from them. Row B student receives and responds (hopefully with "thank you"). Then Row B students share a quick compliment with the student across from them in Row A. Row A student receives and responds (hopefully with "thank you"). This should take about 30 seconds.
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After 30 seconds you say "switch, wait (give the student at the end of Row A time to run down to the beginning of their line.)
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Say "Go" to begin the next segment.
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Repeat as time allows/
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Receiving goodness is as simple as saying "thank you", and it is an important skill set for developing self-confidence. By simply receiving a compliment and saying "thank you" we can keep the goodness going. Research shows that we can positively (or negatively) impact someone's day in as little as 6 seconds. Words are important and sharing even the simplest kindnesses can make a BIG difference!
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Lesson 18
What is Confidence?
Supplies needed: white board, dry erase markers
poster, markers & journal optional
Although you can jump right into this lesson by asking the students to share aloud their answers to the question "What is confidence?", there is a real advantage to small group conversation as part of this lesson. If time allows first place students in small groups, or partners to discuss the one or more of the following questions:
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What is confidence?
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How do you know if someone is confident?
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When is a time that you have felt confident?
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What are some things that can help us be more confident?
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Who is a role model of confidence for you?
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Once the students have had a chance to consider the prompts ask the students to share as a class and record the answers on the board.
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You may want to capture some of the answers for a poster for your class as a ongoing visual reminder for the class, and/or ask the student to journal their responses to the question in their journals.
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Please share the following concepts as a part of this lesson: Confidence is one of those words that can often be misunderstood. By definition confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, and a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities. Individual confidence increases cultural confidence and the positive practices of I AM Noticed help us to increase our confidence.
