Be Uniquely You: Embracing Your Uniqueness

How can embracing what makes us unique help us accept and celebrate who we are?

Mastery Objective

• Students will be able to identify what makes them unique and practice expressing and embracing their uniqueness through discussion and art.

Day 1 - Students will:

• Listen to a message from Darryl McDaniels and “My Adidas” by Run-DMC
• Define unique
• Consider the benefits of embracing their unique qualities

Day 2 - Students will:

• Listen to “Video” by India Arie
• Define self-acceptance
• Consider how self-acceptance can reduce the stress of comparing themselves to others

Day 3 - Students will:

• Listen to “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw
• Consider obstacles to self-acceptance and how to overcome them
• Gather in groups to act out a scene about self-acceptance

Day 4 - Students will:

• Listen to “Love Myself” by BTS
• Discuss self-acceptance further, including accepting personal flaws
• Revisit the scene, What We Wear, and create new lines that show the characters dealing with negative talk and embracing their choices

Arts-Based Activity - Students will:

• Reflect on their feelings about accepting and embracing their uniqueness through discussion
• Express and embrace their unique qualities by creating mandala artwork

In this lesson, students will explore embracing uniqueness, striving for self-acceptance, and accepting their flaws. Students practice embracing their choices, preferences, and unique qualities in the face of negativity or pressure from peers and the media. The lesson concludes with students creating a personal mandala to illustrate and celebrate each student’s individuality.

Required for all lessons:

• Student Journals
• Art Supplies

Day 3:

• Handout - What We Wear

Arts-Based Activity:

• Handout - Color Meanings
• Handout - Line Meanings
• Handout - My Unique Mandala