Developed By: Jennifer McCauley
Revised: Spring 2002

Level: 6-8

What Are My Strengths?

Standards

Learning 
Expectations

 This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards:
7. Self knowledge and interpersonal skills
The student will:
7.1 Discover personal interests, abilities, and skills
7.8 Recognize, respect, and appreciate individual and cultural diversity

General Approach		 The general approach is that students will discuss different personality traits and personal strengths.  Students will be given a card on which the other students will write positive personality traits or strengths of that student.

Activity Steps
  • Begin with discussion of different and unique personality traits or strengths and weaknesses.  Discuss how each person possesses a different personality, with everyone having some good traits.  Just like physical differences (hair color, height, skin color), personality differences make us all unique individuals.  Be sure to give examples of strengths or good personality traits (caring, respectful, friendly, creative, artistic, smart, hard-working, energetic, insightful, athletic, etc.). 
  • Pass out cards, preferably with students' names already on the front.  Have students pass their cards around the room and write something positive about each student on his or her card.  If you have a large group and time is limited, you may want to limit positive comments to 8-10.
  • When students receive their own card back, give them a few minutes to read the comments from the other students.  Ask them if they are surprised at any of the comments.  Give students an opportunity to share the comment they like the best or are most proud of.
  • Finally, ask students to think of the personality trait or strength they would most like to develop and specific ways they can do this.  Ask them to keep their cards as a reminder of all of the positive traits they already possess.

Time Required		 This activity will take about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of your group. 

Resources Needed
  • Cards made out of construction paper folded in half would work good for this activity.
  • Pens or markers

Performance
Indicators		 Students' answers to the question of what personality trait they would most like to develop will be a good indicator of students' learning.  The next session with this group could include follow up on the students' goals.