Prep Bulletin
A snapshot into Wellbeing
Learning Intention: To identify my personal strengths (what I am good at).
Learning Experience Overview:
During the lesson, students explored and identified meaningful ways to practice self-compassion and treat themselves like their own ‘BFF’. By learning how to show compassion and care towards themselves first, students build a foundation for extending kindness to others. This term, the Preps are participating in Friendology (UR Strong) as part of our wellbeing program. The program includes eight sessions:
- Inner Ninja
- True Colours
- Making Friends
- Friendship Facts
- Friend-o-meter
- Friendship Fires
- Tricky Situations
- Kind + Strong
This lesson is from Session 1: Inner Ninja. It focuses on helping students identify their personal strengths and understand how these strengths can support their friendships. The key message is: You have to be kind to yourself and be your own BFF before you can be a great friend to others.
Whole:
First, we watched Episode 1 of URstrong about the Inner Ninja.
We discussed what a friendship ninja is, as well as talking about the ups and downs that happen in all friendships. We reminded ourselves that it’s normal to have challenges, and it’s how we react to those situations that matters.
Prompts:
- What does it mean to be kind to yourself?
- How can you treat yourself like your own best friend?
- What are some things that you enjoy that make you your own bff?
Next, we read All the Ways to Be Smart, by Davina Bell, which celebrates our differences and reminds us that there are many different ways to be smart. The book encouraged children to reflect on their own unique strengths and the qualities that make them who they are.
Small:
Students created a pair of footprints that ‘Stand Strong,’ - just like they do! Inside each footprint, they wrote or drew all the ways they show self-compassion or treat themselves like their own BFF.
Whole:
Students celebrated their learning by sharing their strengths with a peer.
In this learning experience, students are working towards:
- Identifying personal strengths
- Practising self-kindness and compassion
- Naming ways they can treat themselves like a best friend
Examples of Student Work:
How you can continue the learning at home from this experience:
- Ask your child to explain what they drew or wrote on their footprints and why it’s important to them
- Explore together what it means to treat yourself with the same care as a best friend
- Discuss ways to show kindness to yourself, especially during tricky moments
- Reflect on how being your own best friend can help you feel strong
Talk about simple activities they enjoy that help them feel good
Warm regards,
Alyssa, Ruby and Julian
Prep Team
Alyssa.Thermos@education.vic.gov.au