Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

20 minutes

Tune In: Social media

15 minutes

Find Out: Introducing self-compassion

20 minutes

Take Action: Reframing for self-compassion

5 minutes

Reflection

Tune In: Social media

Preparation

Download the Teacher’s Guidebook prior to the lesson. This resource contains information on the science behind the Embrace Kids Classroom Program, top tips for implementing the program, approaches that are not recommended, and where to go for further support. Definitely a must-read!

Step 1

Ask your students:

How does what we see on social media influence the way we feel about how we look?

Give the students some space to share their ideas.

Step 2

Watch this video with your students:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7J87yRYk0A

Step 3

Let’s think about what Amelia Moseley says in the film:

How can you ever, as a real person, live up to a fake image or a fake depiction of someone?

Let’s use the video we’ve just watched and this quote to discuss some points:

Should filters be allowed on social media?
Should influencers have to tell us when they are using filters?
How can we make social media a more ‘real’ place or a kinder place?

You could run a Feelings and Options thinking routine on this last question: How can we make social media a more ‘real’ place or a kinder place?

1. Identify: Who are the different people involved in the dilemma? What challenges are they facing?

2. Feel: What do you think each person in the dilemma is feeling? Why might the situation be hard or challenging for each of them?

3. Imagine: Imagine options for how the situation could be handled. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Highlight or circle which option might lead to the most positive outcome, where most people feel good or taken care of.

4. Say: Thinking more about the idea you chose for handling the situation, what could the people involved say?

Step 4

Let’s create an action list: What actions can you take to make sure that social media is not too much of a negative influence? Your students might suggest:

Choose when, how much and which platforms you use.
Remove anything or anyone that makes you feel bad about yourself or your body.
Be the boss of the algorithm.
Follow real role models.
Be kind - to yourself and others.

Find Out: Introducing self-compassion

Step 1

One action we can take is to respond to ourselves with kindness instead of criticism. This is called self-compassion. Sometimes our inner voice can be pretty mean, and it is important to be aware of when this is happening.

Let’s take a mindfulness moment and practice self-compassion.

Step 2

Have your students find a comfortable spot and listen to this Compassionate Voice Guided Meditation.

Take Action: Reframing for self-compassion

Step 1

Let’s introduce the Self-Compassion Traffic Light. We’ve put together these slides to help. When you notice yourself comparing to images you see online, and feeling bad about it, you can use the self-compassion traffic light by moving through the steps, starting with red, then orange, and then to green.

Step 2

Let’s use the worksheet to put the traffic light into action. Think back to a time when you might have compared yourself to someone else, and it made you feel bad. You might have been comparing the way you look, your scores on a test, your artwork, or how fast you were running. Respond to the prompts in the worksheet to flip the comparison to compassion. Students can work in pairs or small groups to share their thinking.

What kind things can you say to yourself? Often we are great at supporting others, but not so great at supporting ourselves. Working on this task with others can help prompt students to think about what they would say to someone else in their situation.

Literacy extension: Students can create individual word banks of kind adjectives and adverbs. When they are in a challenging situation, they can come back to this word bank and use it to create a self-compassionate inner voice. They can build on this individualised word bank over time!

Reflection

This traffic light and speaking to yourself with kindness is a really important tool to have in your toolbox. You can use it in a range of different situations, and the more you practice this, the more automatic it will become to treat yourself with kindness.

Question: How can we remind our friends to be kind to themselves too?

Embrace Kids: Comparison to Compassion

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Summary

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