Read this story about the skill of Staying Positive together.
Listen out for times when characters feel happy or sad and discuss if they are positive or negative emotions.
When you have finished the story, talk about:
An emotion is a strong feeling that is caused by something that is happening.
Talk about the different emotions you might feel during the day.
Look at the pictures below of things you might have at home.
Make a picture or collage to show how you are feeling, using materials of your choice.
Ask a friend or family member to make their own picture or collage too and then talk about your pictures and emotions together.
Talk about a time when you have had to keep trying, even when you wanted to give up.
Listen to the sound clip of someone who is feeling frustrated and wants to give up.
Think about what they are doing, how they feel and why they want to give up.
Share some ideas about what you would say to them to encourage them to keep trying.
I just can't do it!
I've been trying to build this model for days now for my brother's birthday tomorrow!
Why doesn't it look like the pictures? I'm following the instructions!
Arrghhh! I've got no choice but to give up!
I wonder what time the shops close?
Talk about a time when you have been working with others and something went wrong.
Look at the pictures below and flip the card to show encouraging words and phrases.
Set a timer for a short time of your choice e.g. 2 minutes and record or write down as many encouraging words and phrases that you can think of.
Think about which ones you would find most motivating and encouraging - why?
Look out for these story books which all include Staying Positive as a theme in your local library. Read, share and enjoy with your child.
Read this story about the skill of Staying Positive together.
Listen out for times when characters feel happy or sad and discuss if they are positive or negative emotions.
When you have finished the story, talk about:
An emotion is a strong feeling that is caused by something that is happening.
Talk about the different emotions you might feel during the day.
Look at the pictures below of things you might have at home.
Make a picture or collage to show how you are feeling, using materials of your choice.
Ask a friend or family member to make their own picture or collage too and then talk about your pictures and emotions together.
Talk about a time when you have had to keep trying, even when you wanted to give up.
Listen to the sound clip of someone who is feeling frustrated and wants to give up.
Think about what they are doing, how they feel and why they want to give up.
Share some ideas about what you would say to them to encourage them to keep trying.
I just can't do it!
I've been trying to build this model for days now for my brother's birthday tomorrow!
Why doesn't it look like the pictures? I'm following the instructions!
Arrghhh! I've got no choice but to give up!
I wonder what time the shops close?
Talk about a time when you have been working with others and something went wrong.
Look at the pictures below and flip the card to show encouraging words and phrases.
Set a timer for a short time of your choice e.g. 2 minutes and record or write down as many encouraging words and phrases that you can think of.
Think about which ones you would find most motivating and encouraging - why?
We have suggested modules to support your child's skill development at this stage. However, it can also be used to support individual needs or guide your child through a choice of courses based on the essential skills.
Your child (11+) can sign up to build their essential skills in three steps:
Identify key learning related to the skill step.
Practise the skill step with a choice of interactive online and offline activities.
Articulate (talk about) their understanding of the skill step through written words or discussion with others.
As a parent/carer, support your child to use Skills Builder Launchpad to:
Here are some suggested questions for you to talk about together when using Skills Builder Launchpad:
Support your child to build this skill with interactive learning modules.
Skills Builder Benchmark is an online tool for your child to reflect on their essential skills.
Your child (11+) can sign up to explore their essential skills in three steps:
Step 1: Choose an essential skill and answer some simple questions.
Step 2: Find their strengths and areas for development, alongside practical ideas to improve their skills.
Step 3: Download their own Skills Report to use and share with others at home or at school/college.
As a parent/carer, support your child to use Skills Builder Benchmark to:
Here are some suggested questions for you to talk about together when using Skills Builder Benchmark:
Discover strengths and areas for improvement with our self-assessment tool.
We have suggested modules to support your child's skill development at this stage. However, it can also be used to support individual needs or guide your child through a choice of courses based on the essential skills.
Your child (11+) can sign up to build their essential skills in three steps:
Identify key learning related to the skill step.
Practise the skill step with a choice of interactive online and offline activities.
Articulate (talk about) their understanding of the skill step through written words or discussion with others.
As a parent/carer, support your child to use Skills Builder Launchpad to:
Here are some suggested questions for you to talk about together when using Skills Builder Launchpad:
Support your child to build this skill with interactive learning modules.
Skills Builder Benchmark is an online tool for your child to reflect on their essential skills.
Your child (11+) can sign up to explore their essential skills in three steps:
Step 1: Choose an essential skill and answer some simple questions.
Step 2: Find their strengths and areas for development, alongside practical ideas to improve their skills.
Step 3: Download their own Skills Report to use and share with others at home or at school/college.
As a parent/carer, support your child to use Skills Builder Benchmark to:
Here are some suggested questions for you to talk about together when using Skills Builder Benchmark:
Discover strengths and areas for improvement with our self-assessment tool.
Continue to build this skill at home by taking part in these weekly skill challenges - encourage all of the family to join in and have fun together!
Listen carefully as someone tells you a short story or reads one out loud. Now, try to put the events of the story in the correct order, or retell the story in your own words.
Challenge: Can you add more details or remember specific quotes from the story?
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Ask a family member or friend to describe their favourite place to you, like the seaside, a park, or a house. Without seeing any pictures, draw what you hear based on their description.
Extension: Swap roles! You describe something for someone else to draw. How similar is their drawing to what you imagined?
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
It is your 'secret' mission to find out three new facts about a family member or a friend. To do this you will need to listen very carefully and ask open questions to understand what they are saying and find out more.
You should think about:
At the end of the day talk with them about your mission - did they notice you were listening carefully to them?
Extension: Ask those involved how your careful listening made them feel. Share your thoughts about what you noticed too.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Choose someone in your household, or a friend on the phone, to interview about their dream career.
Prepare by writing a list of questions. For example:
During the interview, demonstrate active listening and make a note of their answers.
Extension: Interview two people and compare their perspectives.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Challenge yourself to listen actively to someone. This means you should try to understand what the person is saying, be able to respond and maybe even reflect on what was said.
It could be a family member, friend or even a teacher.
Once you have listened, tell someone else what that person told you.
Challenge: reflect on why active listening is important.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Ask a family member or friend to read you an interesting news story or tell you about something interesting that has happened.
Your aim is to show you are listening by using eye contact but also be able to summarise the story after they have told you it.
Extension: Switch roles with the person, tell them a news story or something interesting that has happened.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Demonstrate your listening skills by playing a game of 'Simon Says' with your family or friends.
Pick another member of your family or friends to be ‘Simon’. Everyone else must follow Simon’s instructions but only when they say ‘Simon says…’. For example, if 'Simon says touch your nose', you touch your nose. However, listen carefully because if the person does not say 'Simon says' you do not need to do it.
Extension: Encourage everyone to show their listening by changing who ‘Simon’ is.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Watch a video on a topic that you are interested in. After watching the video, take time a moment to think about what you heard and note down the key points covered.
Extension: watch the video again while reading your summary of the key points. Did you note down all of the most important information? If you missed something, add in that information.
Getting Started: How can you make sure you are listening carefully?
Intermediate: What does it mean to summarise what you have heard?
Advanced: Why is summarising or rephrasing what you have heard useful sometimes?
Mastery: How might changing the language (words) used affect how you feel about something?
Think of something you're good at, like drawing, cooking, or playing a game. Teach a friend how to do that activity. Break it down into simple steps, and speak clearly so your friend can follow along.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
You are the new radio host of the brand new radio show Skills Builder FM. Your role is to host the first session live in front of either family members or friends.
Decide:
Consider:
Extension: Ask your listeners for feedback. For example, what did they like about your show? Is there anything you could improve for next time?
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Imagine you are campaigning to be your country's leading politician.
Things to think about:
Extension: Ask your audience to pose challenging questions at the end of your speech.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Imagine you are providing the voice over for a documentary about life in your household.
Go from room to room and talk about who and what is in the room as if you were the narrator of a television programme. If you can, record your ideas and play it back to other household members to make them smile.
Challenge: Reflect on how clearly you spoke.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Organise a game of 'Who am I?' with your family or friends.
Each member of the family writes the name of a famous person and places it in a bowl. Take it in turns to pick a name, describe clearly the person without saying their name and see if your family can guess who it is.
Challenge: Use a timer to see how many names people can guess in one minute.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Think about the five most interesting facts about yourself.
Once you have thought about the facts, plan out the logical order that you would tell someone in.
Then, speak clearly when telling either a family member or friend these facts.
Think about how you might use tone, expression and gestures when telling a family member or friend.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Think about a person you admire. This could be someone that you know, someone that you’ve learnt about or someone from a story/movie. Imagine you could invite this person to your birthday party.
Plan how you could encourage the person to come to your birthday party by using facts and examples to support why you would like them to join your party.
What tone might you use? What might you say to convince them to come?
Extension: Pretend a family member or a friend is the person you would like to invite and try to convince them to come.
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
Think of an activity that you enjoy doing. This might be something you do at home or at school.
Imagine that you are a teacher and you need to teach your friend how to complete this activity in a series of steps.
Plan how you would explain the activity clearly and put the steps in a logical order.
How might you use your hand gestures and body language to teach this activity more effectively?
Getting Started: How do we know if we are speaking clearly?
Intermediate: As you speak how can put your points into a logical order so you can be easily understood?
Advanced: How can you use tone, expression and gesture to make your speaking engaging?
Mastery: How can you adapt the content of what you are saying, in response to listeners?
You are in charge of planning a birthday party for a friend. You have a limited amount of money and time. How will you make sure everyone has fun? Think about the activities, food, and decorations you could use.
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Consider this problem: a town has an area of land that is abandoned and is no longer being used for anything. It has become untidy, littered wasteland. You have been chosen to completely change the space and design something that will make the town a better place.
You should:
Extension: Go back to your design, look at the resources that you will need to create it and decide how you can do this in the most environmentally friendly way.
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Consider this problem: your local park is going to have to close because of the amount of littering and treatment of the local wildilife. Your task is to come up with three different solutions to try and fix this problem.
Consider:
Extension: Consider which solution is best and pitch this to your friends and family!
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Consider this problem: Imagine you and your friends or family are in a shrinking space.
You need to:
Extension: Try again, but include more people in the shrinking circle!
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Consider the problem: a local charity wishes to organise an event in your local area which people of all ages can join in. The event could be sporting, musical, a fête - whatever you think would attract the most people to it.
Consider:
Challenge: Bring this event to life!
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Consider the problem: you are stranded on a desert island and need to find your way back home.
What would you do to try and get home? What items on an island could you use to help? What problems might you run into?
Come up with atvleast two different solutions as to how you would get home.
Extension: Pick which of your solutions is better and explain why.
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Imagine that you need to plan a fun activity for a group of people that you’ve never met before. It can be any type of activity, just something that you think everyone would enjoy!
What information could you use to help plan this activity? What questions could you ask to help you plan the activity?
Extension: Write down the pros and cons of the activity that you’ve planned.
Getting Started: What are the instructions?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Imagine that you are going on a trip to a place that you have never visited.
What information do you need to know to successfully plan the trip and make it as fun as possible?
Make a list of the questions that you need to answer and where you might be able to find the information you need.
Getting Started: Where are some of the different places you might find extra information?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of possible solutions?
Advanced: Why is it important to consider a range of solutions for problems?
Mastery: How might you choose between different solutions to a complex problem?
Imagine you can have any pet in the world, even if it does not exist: what pet would you have? Draw your pet and describe it. What does it eat? Where does it live?
Extension: Write a story about an adventure that your imaginary pet goes on.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Imagine you are a designer for a car company. You have been asked to come up with ideas for a brand new range of cars/vehicles that are environmentally friendly. You should generate ideas and design at least two different types of car (for example, a sports car, pick-up truck, luxury car, convertible, electric car).
You could:
Extension: Write down why you think your designs make great cars – how are they different from what already exists?
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Your local town or city is keen to build a new landmark to celebrate a local hero. You've been chosen to create this landmark!
You will need to generate ideas and decide which is best before creating the landmark.
Consider:
Extension: Write a summary of why you chose this person to celebrate.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Either on your own, or in a group invent a brand new type of chocolate and design the wrapper.
Consider:
Extension: Present your new chocolate to other members of your family or friends!
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Create a 'thank you' card for someone who has done something kind or helpful for you recently. This could be a friend, family member or even a teacher.
Develop ideas about what this card could include by considering what you know about this person.
Challenge: Consider how you might change the card if you were giving it to someone else.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Winter is the coldest time of the year. Design a new coat/jacket that could keep anyone warm no matter how cold it gets.
What will the coat look like? What specifically will keep people warm? Could it use technology in some way? How will it be different to a regular winter coat?
Extension: Think about who would most benefit from your newly designed coat.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Make a protective holder for an egg that would stop the egg from cracking if it was dropped from 2 metres high. Your aim is to generate an idea that fits this brief: do not break the egg!
Think about what materials you could use, think about if the materials are strong enough to hold the egg, think about how you could stop the egg from falling out of the holder.
Extension: Once you have tested the egg holder, write down how how you would improve it for next time.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Think of your favourite meals and foods. Create a cookbook to show others how they can make these meals.
How could you explain the recipes to others? Could you use words, pictures or videos?
Extension: imagine a brand new meal that you would like to eat and add the recipe to your cookbook.
Getting Started: How can you share what you imagine?
Intermediate: How can you come up with lots of different ideas?
Advanced: How can you combine different ideas to create new ones?
Mastery: How can you help someone else to be creative?
Think of one person each day you can say something kind to, perhaps you could give them a compliment, say thank you or give them some encouragement.
Think about how you will deliver this message. Will you tell them in person or write it down?
Extension: Keep a journal of all the kind words you’ve shared throughout the week and how they were received.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: When might you have to support others to stay positive?
Affirmations are positive statements that can help people feel better when they are having negative thoughts or are feeling negative emotions.
Think about a challenge that you are facing and write down five affirmations (positive statements) that help you to think about this challenge positively. Your statements (or affirmations) can help you stay positive more generally and can be as simple as: 'I can do hard things' or 'I am a good friend'.
You should:
Extension:
Create a poster with your affirmations on to remind you of them regularly.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Do something to spread positivity among your family/friends or even in your local area today.
For example, you could:
Extension: Write down how it felt to spread positivity.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Create a 'positivity jar/box' - Using an empty jar/box, fill it with notes and messages that when you read make you and others feel positive.
Once you've finished making it, ask people in your household to take a message from the jar/box.
Extension: Decorate the jar/box.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Either write down or draw a picture showing what Staying Positive means to you.
For example, it could mean someone managing their emotions following a setback, or looking on the bright side of a difficult situation.
Challenge: Around your definition write down an example of how you have stayed positive during the week.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Get a piece of paper and write down everything that you have done to make yourself feel proud this week.
Think about if you faced any challenges. Think about every time you kept trying. Think about every time you encouraged someone else to keep trying too.
Extension: Do the same activity but for a family member or a friend, show them why they should feel positive and proud as well.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Think about the last few weeks. Write down something that has happened that didn’t go to plan or even went wrong.
Below it, write down how you responded and how you kept trying to overcome the issue.
Extension: Do this multiple times to begin a journal/diary about how you stay positive.
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Choose a character from a book you have read or a film you have watched. Did the character feel positive or negative? How did you know? Think about what they may have said or done to show you how they were feeling.
Think about how their mood may have changed throughout the book or film. Did they continue to feel positive or negative? If their mood changed, why did it change?
Getting Started: How does this activity make you feel?
Intermediate: How could you use this activity to feel more positive when something goes wrong?
Advanced: How could this help you to look on the bright side of something?
Mastery: How can you manage your emotional response to best support others?
Pick one task you do often, like organising your school bag or doing a chore. Aim to do it better than ever before! Think about steps you can take to make it your "personal best," such as doing it faster, more neatly, or with more focus.
Extension: once you have completed your task, think about how it felt to do this activity in a different way.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Set a goal that you would like to achieve in the next few weeks or months of the year.
You should:
Extension: Share your goal and your tracker with members of your family or friends, they might even have some suggestions to help you reach your goal.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Write or draw your dream career in the middle of a piece of paper. Around the writing or drawing, note down everything you need to achieve your dream.
You could include:
Extension: Write down why this is your dream career and why you think that you would be good at it.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Summer is almost here - it's a great time of year to think of the future. What would you like to achieve in the coming months? Write down a goal you have and begin to plan how you can reach that goal.
Consider:
Extension: Consider how you are going to track this goal.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Set yourself a challenge to complete during the week!
It doesn't matter how big or small the challenge is. Once you have decided on the challenge, create a plan which outlines what you will do each day to achieve it.
Extension: Set yourself a monthly or even a yearly challenge.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Think about a hobby you practise regularly, like reading or playing a particular game.
Set yourself a new challenge to help you improve at the hobby. This could be learning new words from a book or learning a new skill in a game. Give yourself a deadline to achieve this.
Think about what you might need to do to achieve this goal and then give it a go.
Extension: think about why having goals is important.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Think about everything that you have accomplished at home and at school this year. Then think about what else you want to achieve next year.
Write down 3-5 goals that you want to achieve next year.
Extension: Put these goals in order of importance, start with the least important and end with the most important.
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
Think of a task that you do on a regular basis. For example, brushing your teeth or reading a book. What do you need to do this task really well? For example, to concentrate on reading, you might need to remove distractions or find a quiet place in the house.
Once you have completed this task, how do you know that you have completed it well? How does it feel when you have done something well?
Getting Started: How do you know if something is too difficult for you?
Intermediate: Why is it important to be willing to take on new challenges?
Advanced: What resources might you need to achieve your goals?
Mastery: What steps do you need to put in place to make your goals happen?
When you are speaking with a friend or family member, listen carefully to what they are saying. Think about how they are feeling when they are speaking to you. Reflect on how you know this.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Ask members of your family or friends about their strengths and talents and create a poster to celebrate the strengths of your family or friendship group.
You could ask:
Extension: Include yourself on the poster.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Think about something you can do really well. It could be a dance, singing, a sport, storytelling - anything you like. Your task is to teach this talent to a family member or a friend.
To do this, you should:
Extension: Ask the person you are teaching for feedback on what you did well and how you could improve your teaching.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Organise a fun activity for your household to do over this weekend (or next!)
Encourage everyone to come up with different ideas for the activity and when it might take place. It could be anything you all enjoy, from a pizza night to a walk to your favourite park, but everyone needs to take part.
You might need to organise a vote to decide. Manage disagreements carefully and most importanly, have fun!
Extension: Consider what you might need to organise in advance of the activity.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Design a new chores rota for your household.
Extension: do this for another household activity or routine.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Hold a discussion with your family members or a group of friends to decide on an indoor activity that you are going to do together.
Think about how you will include everyone. Think about how you are going to manage a group discussion and come to a shared decision.
Extension: With your family members or a group of friends, give the activity a go.
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?Draw a picture of yourself in the middle of the page, around the picture write down all of your strengths. For example, ‘I listen to others without interrupting’.
After you have written your strengths, in a different colour write down anything you could improve on. For example, ‘I listen to others and record important information as I do'.
Extension: Circle or underline the thing you most want to improve on.
Getting Started: When do you feel different emotions?
Intermediate: What could you do if things don’t go to plan?
Advanced: What are good leaders able to do?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Draw a picture or cut out pictures of three people. Imagine they are all on the way to play a sport. Draw a thought bubble to show how each person feels. Make each person have a different emotion. How might they show that emotion? How might the other people react?
Getting Started: How can you find out about how others are feeling about something?
Intermediate: How can you find out more about strengths and weaknesses in others?
Advanced: How might you be able to motivate others to improve their weaknesses?
Mastery: What kind of leader would you like to be?
Work with your family to plan a fun outing or adventure for everyone. Together, decide where you’ll go, what you’ll need to bring, and how you’ll get there.
Try to ensure that everyone contributes to the planning of your adventure.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Work with other people in your household or a group of friends to build a landmark that has significance to you as a family or as a friendship group.
You should:
Extension: Afterwards, as a group reflect on what you have created. What worked really well? How could it be improved?
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Create a piece of collaborative artwork with members of your family or your friends.
You should:
Extension: Work together to present the artwork to anyone who hasn't been involved in designing and creating it.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Work with members of your household or friends to create a short dance routine. This could be inspired by a dance that you know or have already seen. As a group, decide on the music and work together to choreograph a set of dance moves.
Extension: Find an occasion where you can perform your dance!
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Research a culture or religion that is different from your own.
Then, create a poster or blog post celebrating what you have learnt.
You could include:
Challenge: Consider why having an understanding different cultures, ideas or religions is important when working in a team.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Work with members of your family or your friends to create the tallest free-standing tower. This means it can't lean on anything.
You can use anything in your house to create it. You could use cushions, cereal boxes, Lego, cardboard boxes. You could even challenge yourself and others by trying to use unexpected items.
Extension: If and when it falls over, try to make it even taller.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Work with members of your family to cook or bake something. Share your ideas and come to a group decision on what you will make and how you will make it.
Make sure everyone involved has a task that they are responsible for.
Extension: Once you have finished cooking/baking, discuss with your family why it was useful to work in a team.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?
Think of a job you might like to do in the future. Do you have to work as part of a team in this job?
Write a list or create a poster of how you might be expected to behave and communicate in this job. You might like to think about the dress code, what time you would arrive to work, what language you might use when speaking with your teammates.
Getting Started: When do you find it easier (or more difficult) to work with others in a positive way?
Intermediate: Have you helped make decisions with others?
Advanced: How can you encourage others to help out too?
Mastery: What is an 'unhelpful conflict'? How can you avoid this when working with others?