Today I want to share with you a group dynamic related to self-esteem, related to what could be called the self – affirmation of your students. It is a simple but effective activity that will help your students reflect on the concept they have about themselves, about their perception of themselves. Ready to boost your students’ self-esteem? Ready to work emotions with your group of students?
How to improve self-esteem among students?
Activity title: The world’s first wonder.
Age: Between 10-14 years (the age range can be extended depending on the characteristics of the class group).
Material: A small box with a mirror at the bottom. If a mirror is not available, a paper containing the following quote can be put in the background. The first wonder of the world is you.
Activity duration: 30 minutes.
Distribution of students in the classroom:
- During the development of the activity: Normal arrangement by rows.
- After the activity (optional): Forming a circle of chairs in the center of the classroom to reflect on dynamics.
Development of the activity on self-esteem
One of the most important aspects when carrying out an activity is how we present it. What does this mean? Well, from the first moment, create high enough expectations to capture the interest.
The teacher enters the classroom holding the box in his hands and teaching it to the whole group. To create expectations, I recommend that, while teaching it to the whole group, do not speak. Why? Because all the attention must be located in the box, you hold in your hands.
It is time to explain to your students about the activity. The first wonder of the world will consist of. It may be interesting to make a subsection to comment on what are the seven architectural wonders of the world and why they are considered so special. They can be cited, projected on the digital board, show some photos of the great monuments created by man … On these wonders, you have to influence their beauty, their exceptionality, the admiration that people profess them …
The teacher is then responsible for informing his students that they are about to see what is considered the first wonder of the world. If you look at this moment, you are creating expectations that increase interest and attention, as well as a better chance of participation.
At this precise moment, it is when the activity that consists of each student gets up from his chair and goes to the place where the box containing the first wonder of the world. It has been placed very carefully. The student opens the box and observes the wonder. It must be emphasized that each student must open the box very slowly and with great care so they then look carefully inside the box.
After the student has seen what the box contains inside, there is a rule that all students must respect. In fact, you can write on the board for all students to remember after seeing the contents of the box:
When all the students in the group have opened and seen the contents of the box, the first part of the activity is terminated.
After the activity on self-esteem
For this second part, I would recommend that the students form a circle in the center of the classroom to facilitate discussion and reflection on the activity.
Now is the time for reflection on what each of your students has seen when opening the box. For this, I recommend that you start the group reflection with a series of questions depending on the age and maturity of students:
- What was inside the box?
- What have you seen reflected in the mirror of the box?
- What do you think of what the box has taught you?
- Who has been surprised by what you saw when you opened the box?
- Who liked what you saw inside the box?
- Who felt disappointed after looking at the box and seeing what was inside? Why?
- What did you expect to find inside the box?
These first questions break the ice and start an open and orderly debate. It is about verbalizing what they have seen, felt, and experienced.
Once these initial questions have been answered, the important moment of dynamics comes. The teacher must show his students that every one of his students is the first wonder of the world. They are something unique and special, something different and extraordinary. What does this mean? Well, what each person is a wonder in itself
The box contained a wonder. We all have a wonder in that can make us special. If we can publicize and share this wonder with the class group, the class group will also become something unique and exceptional. Something that we will live as something incredible. Just like the seven wonders of the world How many people admire.
The mirror becomes the object that tells us what we are, that tells us how we are, how we look, what perception we have of ourselves. The mirror is the reflection of our self-esteem and the self – concept of each one of us has of itself.
Well, now is the time to think about what makes each of your students unique, what makes them wonderful, which makes them extraordinary. But this is already a matter for another dynamic …
Self-esteem activity
Self-esteem and self-concept. Why not work them in the classroom? Why not reflect on its importance in a class group? I like to insist that there is an education of doing, a curricular education. This education of doing does not have to exclude the education of being, the education of emotions, of self-esteem, of self-awareness.
This dynamic of self-esteem will allow your students to reflect on themselves, reflect on what they see each day when they get up and stand in front of a mirror. Why not teach them from self-esteem than what they see every day is extraordinary? If, as I think it is worth a try, I invite you to be encouraged to carry out this activity. I assure you will not leave your students indifferent.
