Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grade 1-3 (ages 7-9)

Activity Objective: The goal of the poster is to help children become aware of different factors that boost their self-esteem (e.g., positive self-talk, perseverance in overcoming challenges, strengths, etc.). Each child will present their poster after completion.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

• Template poster to show children format
• Extra copies of template poster
• Paper (Suggestion: Bristol board, 11x17 legal-sized paper – the size of the paper would depend on the amount of time children have to work on their posters)
• Markers, pencil crayons, crayons
• Pencils and erasers

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

• Gather all materials to place out
• Photocopy template poster

Task Time: 50 min to 1 hour

• Time can be adjusted depending on whether or not children have more than one work period to complete the poster and to present
• 25-30 min is suggested for the presentation time

Activity Description:

Opening Discussion:

1.       Explain to the class that they will be making a poster to help boost their self-esteem

2.       Review over the concept of self-esteem and why it is important (if this activity does not take place directly after the Read Aloud and Discussion) by going through the Big Messages.

Activity:

3.       Show children the poster template and explain the importance of each section. Make this template available for children to refer to. Have children give an example of each:

Positive Self-talk: instruct children to write down 2-3 positive messages they can say to encourage themselves. Allow children to decorate around this area

A Challenge I Overcame: instruct children to write down and/or draw pictures of at least one challenge they overcame and how they did so (this could also include a challenge they are still working on)

What Makes Me Feel Good About Me: instruct children to write down and/or draw pictures of 2-3 things that they do that makes them feel good about themselves

My Strengths and Accomplishments: instruct children to write down and/or draw pictures of 2-3 of their strengths or accomplishments (this can include something that is in progress)

My Message Box: instruct children to write down a positive message that boosts their self-esteem. They can choose one from their self-talk box if that one is particularly important to them

4.       Distribute materials and give children time to work on their posters. Tell children that if they are not using the template, they can put the boxes in whichever order they would like

Wrap-up Discussion/Presentations:

5.       Re-gather children as a whole class or assign them to small groups of 4-5 individuals so that each individual has a turn to present each section of their poster

Potential Adaptations:

• Allow ELL learners to write in their first language if preferred
• Allow individuals to draw pictures rather than write for each category if writing is difficult

Activity Extensions:

• Children can present to a partner and then the two individuals can switch posters and present each others to help build classroom community and facilitate communication
• Children can make Self-esteem Message Posters with positive messages that can be displayed in the classroom or around the school

Additional Comments:

• It is important to recognize that self-esteem refers to having an overall healthy sense of self and this includes all things that make us feel good about ourselves or boost our sense of self-worth, including our ability to persevere through challenges. Please make sure not to overemphasize just strengths and accomplishments
• Some children may express that they do not have any strengths or accomplishments and do not feel good about themselves. Spend more time sitting with them to help them think of things that they have done and enjoyed or things that they like that contribute to their unique sense of self. Emphasize again that feeling good about ourselves does not only have to be about what we’re good at and what we have accomplished
• Because the goal of the activity is to help children boost their self-esteem and develop a positive sense of self, please allow them freedom in how they would like to decorate the poster (e.g., the use of bubble letters, etc.)
• This activity can be completed over successive sessions as time allows (e.g., 15 minutes each day and then a longer presentation period once everyone finishes)

Additional Resources:

Please feel free to review over the Self-esteem Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here.