Describe how internal and external factors influence self-esteem

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.115.27.G7.04A primary
  describe how internal and external factors influence self-esteem;
• TEKS.115.27.G7.04B primary
  identify and develop strategies for setting long-term personal goals;

Lesson Overview

This Grade 7 Health Education lesson focuses on helping students understand how internal and external factors influence self-esteem and how to identify and develop strategies for setting long-term personal goals. Grounded in TEKS standards, the lesson supports students in developing a healthy self-concept through self-assessment, evaluation, goal setting, and decision making. Students will engage in discussions, role plays, and reflections to explore these concepts and apply them to their own lives.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how internal factors such as thoughts, feelings, and beliefs influence self-esteem.
• Describe how external factors like family, friends, media, and environment impact self-esteem.
• Identify strategies to build and maintain healthy self-esteem.
• Recognize the importance of setting long-term personal goals for personal growth.
• Develop strategies for setting achievable long-term personal goals.

Success Criteria

• Students can list internal and external factors that influence self-esteem.
• Students can explain the relationship between these factors and their own self-esteem.
• Students can identify at least two strategies to improve or maintain healthy self-esteem.
• Students can articulate the importance of long-term goal setting.
• Students can create a plan or outline for a long-term personal goal using appropriate strategies.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of emotions and personal feelings, and be familiar with the concept of self-esteem as a part of mental health and wellness.

Key Vocabulary

• Self-esteem
• Internal factors
• External factors
• Self-concept
• Goal setting
• Long-term goals
• Self-assessment
• Decision making

Materials and Resources

• Whiteboard or chart paper
• Markers
• Paper and pencils
• Goal-setting worksheet or template
• Scenario cards for role play

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare scenario cards illustrating various internal and external factors affecting self-esteem.
• Create a goal-setting worksheet that guides students through identifying and planning long-term goals.
• Review TEKS standards TEKS.115.27.G7.04A and TEKS.115.27.G7.04B to align lesson activities.
• Prepare examples of internal and external factors to share with students.
• Set up the classroom for group discussions and role plays.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to how we feel about ourselves, including our sense of worth and value. It is a key part of our mental health and wellness and influences how we think, feel, and behave. Self-esteem is not fixed; it can change based on different influences.

Internal Factors Influencing Self-Esteem

Internal factors are those that come from within ourselves. These include our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes about ourselves. For example, if a student believes they are capable and worthy, their self-esteem tends to be higher. Negative self-talk or feelings of failure can lower self-esteem. Understanding these internal factors helps students recognize how their own mindset affects their self-worth.

External Factors Influencing Self-Esteem

External factors come from outside influences such as family, friends, teachers, media, and the environment. Positive feedback, encouragement, and supportive relationships can boost self-esteem. Conversely, criticism, bullying, or unrealistic media portrayals can harm self-esteem. Students should learn to identify these external influences and how they affect their feelings about themselves.

Strategies to Build Healthy Self-Esteem

Students can develop healthy self-esteem by practicing positive self-talk, setting realistic goals, seeking support from trusted people, and focusing on their strengths. Recognizing and challenging negative internal and external messages is important. Role-playing scenarios can help students practice responding to situations that affect self-esteem.

Importance of Long-Term Personal Goals

Setting long-term personal goals helps students focus on their growth and future success. Goals provide direction and motivation and can improve self-esteem by giving a sense of accomplishment. Students should understand that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Developing Strategies for Setting Long-Term Goals

Students can develop strategies for goal setting by reflecting on their interests and values, breaking goals into smaller steps, and planning how to overcome obstacles. Writing down goals and sharing them with a supportive person can increase commitment. Teachers can guide students through a goal-setting worksheet to practice these strategies.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

In small groups, students discuss how the scenarios might affect a person's self-esteem and share their thoughts with the class.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What is self-esteem?
2. Developing: Name two internal factors that can influence a person's self-esteem.
3. Application: Describe one way that a friend’s behavior can affect your self-esteem.
4. Analysis: Explain how setting a long-term goal might help improve someone’s self-esteem.
5. Challenge: Given a scenario where a student receives mixed messages from family and media about their abilities, analyze how these external factors might interact with their internal thoughts to affect their self-esteem, and suggest strategies to maintain a healthy self-concept.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. Self-esteem is how a person feels about themselves, including their sense of worth and value.
2. 2. Two internal factors are a person's thoughts about themselves and their feelings or emotions.
3. 3. A friend's encouragement can boost your self-esteem, while criticism or bullying can lower it.
4. 4. Setting a long-term goal gives a person direction and motivation, and achieving steps toward the goal can increase their sense of accomplishment and self-worth, thus improving self-esteem.
5. 5. The family’s messages might either support or challenge the student’s beliefs about themselves, while media portrayals could create unrealistic expectations. These external factors can influence the student’s internal thoughts, causing confusion or self-doubt. Strategies include focusing on positive self-talk, seeking support from trusted individuals, and setting realistic personal goals to build confidence and maintain healthy self-esteem.

Guiding Questions

• What internal and external factors influence self-esteem?
• How can you recognize and respond to these factors?
• Why is it important to set long-term personal goals?
• What strategies can help you achieve your goals?

Common Misconceptions

• Self-esteem is fixed and cannot change over time.
• Only external factors influence self-esteem, internal feelings do not matter.
• Setting goals is only for academic or career purposes, not related to self-esteem.
• Negative feedback always destroys self-esteem permanently.

Differentiation

Assessment

• Observe student participation in discussions and group activities about self-esteem factors.
• Review completed goal-setting worksheets for understanding of strategies.
• Ask students to explain internal and external factors during guided questioning.
• Write one internal and one external factor that influence your self-esteem.
• List one strategy you will use to build healthy self-esteem.
• Describe a long-term personal goal you want to set and one step to achieve it.
• Write a short essay explaining how internal and external factors influence self-esteem and how setting long-term goals can support a healthy self-concept.
• Create a presentation or poster illustrating strategies for maintaining healthy self-esteem and setting goals.

Answer Guide

• What is self-esteem?
  Answer: Self-esteem is how a person feels about themselves, including their sense of worth and value.
• Name two internal factors that influence self-esteem.
  Answer: Thoughts about oneself and feelings or emotions.
• Describe one external factor that can affect self-esteem.
  Answer: Support or criticism from family, friends, or media.
• Explain why setting long-term goals is important for self-esteem.
  Answer: Because it helps provide direction, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment, which can improve self-esteem.
• Identify a strategy to maintain healthy self-esteem.
  Answer: Using positive self-talk, seeking support, or setting realistic goals.

Real-Life Application

Encourage students to discuss with their family or caregivers about factors that influence their self-esteem and share their long-term goals. Families can support students by providing encouragement and helping them plan steps to achieve their goals.

Homework or Home Connection

• Encourage students to discuss with their family or caregivers about factors that influence their self-esteem and share their long-term goals. Families can support students by providing encouragement and helping them plan steps to achieve their goals.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students learned that self-esteem is influenced by both internal factors like thoughts and feelings, and external factors such as family, friends, and media. They explored strategies to build and maintain healthy self-esteem and understood the importance of setting long-term personal goals. Through discussions, role plays, and goal-setting activities, students developed skills to assess themselves, make decisions, and plan for their personal growth, supporting a healthy self-concept as outlined in the TEKS standards.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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