Celebrating Role Models

Lesson Overview

This 45-minute lesson invites Year 3 pupils to explore the concept of role models and heroes by creating personal posters celebrating someone they admire for positive qualities. The lesson fosters reflection on values, encourages goal-setting, and enhances social and emotional understanding through sharing and storytelling.

Aligned with the Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland), this session supports children’s health and wellbeing, specifically focusing on identity, values, and developing positive relationships.

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Understand what a role model or hero is and why they are important.
Identify positive qualities in people we admire.
Create a personal poster celebrating someone who inspires us.
Share stories and listen to others to develop social and emotional understanding.

Success Criteria

By the end of the lesson, children can:

Explain what makes someone a positive role model or hero.
Describe specific positive qualities in the person they have chosen.
Design and complete a colourful, creative poster about their role model.
Present their poster to the class, demonstrating good listening when others share.

Curriculum for Excellence Connections

Health and Wellbeing (HWB 1-03a / HWB 1-05a / HWB 1-09a)

Understanding self and others: recognising and naming emotions and qualities in self and others.
Developing positive relationships through listening and sharing stories.
Reflecting on values and setting goals for positive behaviour.

Literacy and English (LIT 1-09a / ENG 1-14a)

Listening and talking skills developed through story sharing and presentations.
Writing skills enhanced through poster creation and descriptive labelling.

Resources Needed

A3 paper or card for posters
Colouring materials (markers, coloured pencils, crayons)
Pre-prepared template to guide poster layout (dyslexia-friendly with clear font and visual cues)
Word bank of positive qualities (e.g., kind, brave, honest) with symbols/pictograms
Example posters of famous role models/ local heroes (diverse range)
Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Start with a circle time discussion: "What is a role model or hero?"
- List pupils’ ideas on the board; highlight qualities like kindness, courage, honesty.
Show 2-3 example posters of role models (famous or community members), modelling how to highlight qualities.
Introduce the task: create a poster about someone YOU admire.

Differentiation:

Use visual supports and simple language for pupils who need additional language support.
Use real photos or storybooks about relatable role models for pupils who need concrete examples.

2. Guided Poster Creation (20 minutes)

Distribute materials and templates.
Pupils choose their role model—this could be a family member, friend, teacher, or famous person.
Encourage them to write the name and 3-4 positive qualities using the word bank and to illustrate their hero.
Teachers and assistants circulate to support writing and ideas.

Differentiation:

Provide sentence starters or word cards for pupils who find writing challenging.
Offer digital tools (tablet apps) for pupils who prefer typing or using voice-to-text.
Pair pupils who might benefit from peer support.

Extension:

Advanced learners can write a short paragraph explaining how their role model inspires them and what goals they have because of this.
Invite learners to include a quote from their hero on the poster.

3. Sharing and Reflecting (10 minutes)

Pupils present their posters in small groups or to the whole class, sharing why they chose their person and what qualities inspire them.
Encourage listening and respectful questions.
Teacher highlights common values and encourages pupils to think about how role models help us set our own goals.

4. Plenary and Goal Setting (5 minutes)

Recap key learning points: what is a hero, qualities we admire, and how sharing stories helps understanding.
Invite pupils to set a simple goal related to a positive quality they admire (e.g., "I will try to be kind like my hero").
Document one goal per pupil in a class "Role Model Goals" chart for ongoing reference.

Assessment and Recording

Informal observation during discussions and poster creation.
Use a simple checklist for success criteria (verbal explanation, use of positive qualities, sharing).
Collect posters for display and further reflection.

Dyslexia-Friendly Strategies

Use clear, sans-serif fonts on all printed materials (e.g., Arial, Comic Sans).
Provide word banks with pictorial cues.
Use colour-coded sections on the poster template to guide organisation.
Allow oral presentation options instead of written.
Break tasks into short, manageable steps.

Reflection for Teachers

Note pupil engagement with empathy and role model concepts.
Reflect on diversity in chosen role models and explore cultural relevance in future lessons.
Consider follow-up activities focusing on goal setting and emotional regulation inspired by today’s theme.

This approach nurtures pupils' holistic development in line with Curriculum for Excellence values - building confident individuals who are responsible citizens with a strong sense of self and community.