j----_. - New York Civil Liberties Union

Mahopac 432
Teacher Notes on Lesson 22
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Background
This lesson explores the "inside" and "outside" of persons in order
to build respect and appreciation for the feelings-the "inside" as
well as what may be outwardly expressed by another. The lesson
requires sensitivity on your part. In this activity students use containers
to represent how they perceive themselves and who they are.
Students will select pictures that represent how others might see
them to be attached to the outside of the container and others that
show "who they are" to be placed inside the container. In some
schools/ you may have to provide materials for the students to take
home to work with. On the outside of the container students may
include pictures or objects which represent:
CI appearance
I\) activities
e favorite characters.
The inside of the container would include pictures or objects which
represent:
'" feelings
• attitudes
• wishes/dreams
'" personal qualities.
In Effective Communication students are given the opportunity' to
share the significance of one "outside" and one "inside" piece in
small groups. No student should be forced to explain the inside contents
to another. The key to this lesson is helping students to recognize
their uniqueness. Realizing and affirming one's own attributes/
internal and external/ can help to develop self-knowledge and selfesteem.
Students may also want to discuss the similarities and differences
between one's "inside" and one's "outside." These understandings
help the student to gain an awareness of self that aids in
self-appreciation, as a prerequisite for positive health behaviors that
uphold one's sense of self.
It is as important for each student to recognize that his/her "inside"
may look different from his/her" outside" as it is to recognize it about
other students. Realizing and affirming one's own attributes/ internal
and external, can help to develop self-knowledge and selfesteem.
These understandings help the student focus on behaviors
that help to reduce risk.
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