Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Self-Awareness · Grade 8

My Strengths

Eighth graders learn to recognize their character strengths — perseverance, kindness, creativity, responsibility, curiosity — building the self-awareness and confidence to use them.

Grade 8CASEL: Self-Awareness40 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name character strengths.
  • ✓Match strengths to actions.
  • ✓Recognize your own.
  • ✓Use your strengths.
Essential Question

Everyone has strengths — things they’re good at and qualities that make them THEM. Knowing yours builds confidence. What are character strengths?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Strength

Project this and match each strength to what it looks like — tap a strength, then tap the action.

💪 Match each strength to what it looks likeTry it
Strength
What It Looks Like
Now tap what it looks like!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — What Are You Good At?

5 min

Everyone has strengths that make them THEM — what are they?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Ask about strengths.
  • Be caring.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Character Strengths

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain character strengths.
  • Note everyone has some.
  • Give examples.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn it.
  • Note it.
  • Note them.
3

Practice — Match the Strengths

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Strength.
  • Match each one.
  • Explain them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Explain.
  • Check.
4

Apply — My Strengths

9 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name one of your strengths.
  • Give an example.
  • Say how to use it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Give one.
  • Use it.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a strength.
  • Say why it matters.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say why.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Identify personal strengths.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Build a sense of self-confidence.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Recognize strengths in actions.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Use strengths to make choices.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Strength + action cards.
  • Sentence frame: “My strength is ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with kindness.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Give an example.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Name three strengths.
  • Explain a growth area.
  • Set a goal using a strength.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 💪Strength cards
  • 💻Match the Strength
  • 📓Journals
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

strengthsomething you’re good atcharacterwho you are insideperseverancenot giving upkindnesscaring for otherscreativitynew ideasresponsibilityfollowing throughcuriositywanting to learnconfidencebelief in yourself
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does perseverance look like?
Not giving up when something is hard.
QUESTION 2
What does responsibility look like?
Doing what you said you’d do.
QUESTION 3
Why is it good to know your strengths?
It builds confidence and helps you use them.

Reflect: use a strength.

Have students name one strength and one way they’ll use it this week. A printable strengths sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Self-Awareness: My StrengthsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Self-Awareness: My StrengthsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Self-Awareness: My StrengthsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: character, confidence, creativity, curiosity, kindness, perseverance, responsibility, strength
  1. new ideas
  2. who you are inside
  3. not giving up
  4. following through
  5. something you’re good at
  6. caring for others
  7. wanting to learn
  8. belief in yourself

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does perseverance look like?
  2. What does responsibility look like?
  3. Why is it good to know your strengths?
Answer key — Part A: 1) creativity · 2) character · 3) perseverance · 4) responsibility · 5) strength · 6) kindness · 7) curiosity · 8) confidence
Part B: 1) Not giving up when something is hard. 2) Doing what you said you’d do. 3) It builds confidence and helps you use them.