UN

IT 1

Grade level: 6-8

Learning objectives:Participants will learn:• thedefinitionofleadership•whyleadershipisimportant• thecharacteristics/traitsofa

leader• toidentifytheirleadership

qualities

Codes for TEKS:English

Codes for 40 Developmental Assets: •Positivepeerinteractionandinfluence

•Youngpeopleareengagedinlearning

•Stimulatingactivityandhomework

National Education Standards:Language Arts

Life Skills Model: LeadershipTeamworkSocialskillsCommunication

Time required:60minutes(mayextendtomorethan1dayifneeded)

Equipment/materials:PencilsNewsprintorchalkboardMarkersorchalkScotch™tapeormaskingtapeIndexcards(optional)

Handouts/support materials:Building LeadershipWhoAmI?

Take the LeadLesson 1:Qualities of a Leader

“The moment you stop learning, you stop leading.”– Rick Warren

Todaywearegoingtobeginaunitonleadership.Whatisthefirstthingthatpopsintoyourmindwhenyouhearsomeonementiontheword“leadership?”

Allowparticipantstoanswer.

Theterm“leadership”canbedefinedinmanyways.Itmaybeanofficeheldwithanorganization,companyorgroup.Whatareexamplesofthisdefinitionofleadership?

Possibleanswers:president,chairman,vicepresident,secretary,otherofficertitles.

Leadershipmayalsobeatitlepasseddownfromonegenerationtothenext.Whatisanexampleofthisformofleadership?

Anexamplewouldbeakingorqueenpassingthetitletohisorherchild.

Anotherdefinitionofleadershipistoprovideguidanceordirection.Inagroup,individualsmaytakeontheleadershipofdifferenttasks.Leadershipinvolveshavingapositiveinfluenceonothermembersofagroupandhelpingthegroupachieveitsgoals.

Let’stakeaquicksurvey.Ifyoubelievethatleadershipabilityissomethingyouarebornwith,lineupontheleftsideoftheroom.Ifyoubelievethatleadershipisaskillthatcanbelearned,lineupontherightsideoftheroom.

Allowparticipantstomaketheirchoicesandmovetotheleftorrightsideoftheroom.

Actually,boththingscouldbetrue.Somepeoplehaveanaturalabilitytolead,whileotherslearntobegoodleaders.Researcherswhostudyleadershiphavelearnedthattheskillsandtraitsnecessarytobeaneffectiveleaderchangefromonesituationtoanother,dependingontheneedsofthegroup.

Haveyoungpeoplereturntotheirseats.

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1 - page 2

Sowhatqualitiesdoyouhavethatmakeyoualeader?IwouldlikeyoutousetheBuildingLeadershiphandoutandthinkforaminuteabouttheleadershiptraitsorcharacteristicsyouthinkyouhave.Writeonecharacteristicineachblock.Ifyoucomeupwithmorethanten,addmoreblocksandkeeplistingasmanyasyoucanthinkof.I’llgiveyouacoupleofminutestocompletethisactivity.

DistributetheBuildingLeadershiphandoutandapenciltoeachparticipant.

Let’sseewhatleadershiptraitsyoucameupwith.I’llstartamasterlist.Eachofyouwillnameoneoftheleadershiptraitsyouhaveuntileveryonehashadachancetonameatleastone.Asatraitismentioned,ifthatsametraitisonyourpaperputacheckinthatboxandwe’llavoidduplicatinganswers.We’llkeepgoingwiththelistuntilallofthetraitshavebeenidentifiedfromyourindividuallists.

Recordtheleadershiptraitsonachalkboardornewsprintpaper.

Nowthatwe’velistedallofyourideas,arethereanyothertraitsnotonourlistthatyoufeelit’simportantforaleadertohave?

Hereisalistofpotentialleadershiptraits.Addanyofthesetheyoungpeopledon’tmention.Theymaythinkofotherstoaddaswell.

AdaptableCaringCommunicateswellCompetentCompromiseswhennecessaryConfidentCourageousCreativeDecisionmakerDecisiveDelegatorDependableDirectEncouragesothers

Has enduranceEnthusiasticFairFacilitatorFlexibleHas high standardsHonestShowsinitiativeHas integrityInvolvedGoodjudgmentKnowledgeableListens wellLoyal

MotivatorOptimisticOrganizedPlanner ProblemsolverPunctualResolvesconflictRespectfulRolemodelSenseofhumorTactfulTeam playerUnselfishHasvision

Qualities of a Leader

Isitimportantforeveryleadertohaveeverytraitwehavelisted?Why?Whynot?Doanyofyouhavealloftheseleadershiptraits?

Unit 1, Lesson 1 - page 3

Allowparticipantstodebatethisquestion.

Itisreallynotnecessaryforaleadertohaveallofthesetraits.Onepersonmaybegreatatorganization,communicationandteamwork,butmaynotbeabletomanageconflict.

Isapersonaleaderallofthetime?No.Leadershipshouldchangeassituationschange.Thebestleadersarethosewhocanrecognizethattheyshouldstepdownandletsomeoneelseleadindifferentsituations.

Activity: Who Am I?

Preparation:CopytheWhoAmI?cardsandcutthemapart.Youmightlaminatethecardssotheycanbeusedmorethanonce.

Instructions:WearegoingtoplayagamecalledWhoAmI?Haveanyofyoueverplayedthegame20Questions?Thisgameissimilarbutthereisnolimitonthenumberofquestionseachpersonmayask.Ihaveastackofcardswiththenameofafamouspersononeachcard.Thesepeoplemaybepoliticalfigures,TVpersonalities,actors/actresses,businessmenorwomen,athletes,orfictionalcharacters.I’mgoingtotapeacardtoeachperson’sback.Yourjobistofigureoutwhoyourcharacterisbyaskingquestionsoftheothersinthegroupandnarrowingdownthepossibilitiesuntilyoucanidentifyyourfamousperson.

1.Tapeonecardtothebackofeachpersoninthegroup.Youngpeopleshouldnotbeabletoseetheirowncards.(Besuretocoverupanyreflectivewindowsormirrorsintheroomtopreventcheating!)Makesurelonghairismovedtothesidesothecardcanbeseenbytheothermembersofthegroup.

2.Haveeveryonemingleandaskquestionsofeachothertotrytoidentifythefamouspeopleontheircards.Thepeoplebeingquestionedshouldbeshownthecardssotheycanansweraccurately.

3.Allquestionsshouldbephrasedsothattheanswercanbegivenasa“yes”or“no.”Forexample:Youcouldask“AmIafemale?”butyoucouldnotask“HowoldamI?”

4.Participantsaskonlyonequestiontoeachpersonuntiltheyhavecirculatedthroughthewholegroup.Iftheystillhavenotdiscoveredwhotheirfamouscharacteris,havethemcontinueuntiltheyfigureitout.

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1 - page 4

Discussion questions:

•Wereyousuccessfulinfiguringoutyourfamousperson?

•Abouthowmanyquestionsdidyouhavetoaskbeforeyousolvedthemystery?

•Whatwerethemostunusualquestionsasked?

•Doyouknowofanyleadershiptraitsthatyourfamouspersonorcharacterpossesses?

Activity: Who Am I? (Version 2)

InsteadofusingtheWhoAmI?cards,alloweachchildtowritethenameofafamouspersononanindexcard.Itshouldbesomeonetheyadmirefortheirleadershipskills.Remindthemtotrytothinkofpeoplemostmembersofthegroupwillrecognize.Takeuptheirindexcardsandshufflethem.Thenfollowtheinstructionsonthepreviouspage.

Extended activity: Famous Faces Research

Ifcomputeraccessisavailable,havetheparticipantsresearchafamousleaderanddiscovertheanswerstothefollowingquestions.(Youmayprovidealistofleaderstochoosefromorallowparticipantstochoosetheirown.)

• theleader’sfamilyandbackground•howthepersonbecamealeader•asignificantcontributionforwhichtheleaderwasresponsible•obstaclestheleaderhadtoovercometobecomesuccessful•awell-knownquotefromtheperson

HerearefewgreatWebsitestoassistwiththisactivity:

• http://www.biography.com/

• http://www.famouspeople.com/

• http://www.who2.com/

• http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/

• http://www.50states.com/bio/(identifyafamouspersonfromyour statetoresearch)

• http://www.famousbirthdays.com/(identifyafamouspersonwhowasbornonyourbirthdaytoresearch)

• http://www.quoteland.com/

• http://www.brainyquote.com/

• http://www.wisdomquotes.com/

Aftertheparticipantshavefinishedtheirresearch,askeachofthemto giveareporttothegrouptopracticetheirpublicspeakingskills.

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1 - page 5

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by T exas 4-H, a program of T exas Cooperative Extension, The T exas A&M University System

Qualities of a Leader

Building LeadershipIn the blocks below, list characteristics or traits of leadership that you possess. If you come up with more than 10, add more blocks!

“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.”John C. Maxwell

Unit 1, Lesson 1

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System

Who Am I? – page 1

George W. Bush

(U.S. President)

Magic Johnson

(retired pro basketball player)

ThePope

(religious leader)

Martin Luther King

(human rights activist)

Betsy Ross

(seamstress of the U.S. flag)

Mother Teresa

(missionary to the poor)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by T exas 4-H, a program of T exas Cooperative Extension, The T exas A&M University System

Who Am I? – page 2

BenjaminFranklin

(discoverer of electricity)

George Washington

(first U.S. President)

Michael Jordan

(retired pro basketball player)

OprahWinfrey

(talk show host)

PeytonManning

(NFL quarterback)

Julia Roberts

(actress)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System

BeyonceKnowles(professional singer)

Tony Hawk

(professional skateboarder)

Abraham Lincoln

(former U.S. President)

Larry the Cable Guy

(comedian)

ChrisRock

(comedian/actor)

JimCarrey

(actor)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

Who Am I? – page 3

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by T exas 4-H, a program of T exas Cooperative Extension, The T exas A&M University System

Thomas Jefferson

(writer of U.S. Constitution; former president)

Christopher Columbus

(discovered America)

BillGates

(founder of Microsoft Corporation)

Elmo®

(Sesame® Street character)

MickeyMouse®

(Walt Disney® character)

Carrie Underwood

(American Idol® winner; country music singer)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

Who Am I? – page 4

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University System This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System

Usher(professional singer)

Albert Einstein

(inventor; mathematical genius)

PabloPicasso

(artist)

Regis Philbin

(talk show host)

Bob Barker(game show host)

VannaWhite

(Wheel of Fortune® hostess; turns letters)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

Who Am I? – page 5

This program is sponsored by Texas 4-H, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System

Ty Pennington

(host of Extreme Makeover– Home Edition®)

Eva Longoria

(actress)

Superman(fictional character)

HelenKeller

(teacher who was deaf and blind)

TyraBanks

(model; talk show host)

Tiger Woods

(professional golfer)

Qualities of a LeaderUnit 1, Lesson 1

Who Am I? – page 6