‘Finding Your Why’

Overview

In this lesson students will brainstorm and participate in a teacher facilitated discussion about finding one’s purpose and identifying individual core values. This is the bed rock of the IDEA Market as students need to understand what motivates them so they can use that motivation to create a business that adds social impact to their community.

Grades 6-12

Subject areas:

• Language Arts
• Entrepreneurship 110

What you’ll need

• Paper copies of worksheet 3.4 (attached)
• White board
• Internet access
• Projector
• Speakers
• Pencils and pencil crayons for students
• Student Journal

Instructions

Step 1: Begin the class by writing the word ‘Why’ on the board. Give students a few minutes to write in their journal about what they know of the word ‘Why’/ What does the word ‘why’ mean. Have a class discussion about it and write down similar responses. In the end give the students the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of the word, which is, ‘for what reason, cause, or purpose’.

Step 2: Watch the five-minute YouTube video titled ‘Finding your WHY’ by Simon Sinek. When the video is over, facilitate a discussion about it with the students. In the discussion focus on core values and what that means. Have students complete the two attached questions on the work sheet.

Step 3: The next part of the work sheet, students will complete an activity called ‘Define and Depict’. Explain that depict means draw, and that for each term (there are three) they will define it, draw a picture of it (however they want to draw it), and write a personal anecdote about the word. Alternatively, the class and teacher could come up with the definition of the word and let the students complete the depict and personal anecdote on their own.

Step 4: After the define and depict portion is over, students will go on to write three values they hold. They could do this individually or in partners. It is suggested that the teacher employ the ‘Think-Pair-Share’ method for students to come up with a list of values. This is done by having the students first think of a few values. Next, they share with a partner or table group. After a few minutes have each group give their top values they game up with and write them on the board so all students can see them. Now that common values are written out on the board, students will pick three and complete the core value exercise.

After students have completed their three core values, they can individually answer the remaining questions. The teacher should go over all questions before students begin this to ensure understanding of what the question is asking.

New Brunswick Curriculum outcomes

English 6-12

• GCO 1: Students will be expected to speak and listen to explore, extend, clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences.
• GCO 2: Students will be expected to communicate information and ideas effectively and clearly, and to respond personally and critically. clearly, and to respond personally and critically.
• GCO 8: Students will be expected to use writing and other ways of representing to explore, clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and learnings; and to use clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and learnings; and to use their imagination. their imagination.

Entrepreneurship 110

• SCO 1.1: Students will assess how personal attributes influence the success of a venture
• SCO 1.2: Students will prioritize the attributes associated with successful entrepreneurs

Personal Development and Career Planning K-12

• SCO 3.3: Each student will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between personal qualities and work.

New Brunswick Global Competencies

• Communication
• Self-Awareness and Self-Management
• Collaboration