Sharing Personal Stories

Unit: Embracing Change Together

Lesson 3 of 14

Duration: 60 minutes

Class size: 8 students

Subject: PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)

Age group: Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5-6, ages 9-11)

---

Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify and articulate personal experiences of change in a supportive setting.
• Develop active listening skills and empathy by engaging respectfully with peers’ stories.
• Understand the value of sharing and reflecting on personal stories for emotional well-being.
• Build trust and connections within the classroom community.

Curriculum Links

• PSHE Association Programme of Study (Upper KS2):
  • Health and Wellbeing: Recognising and managing feelings and emotions; developing empathy towards others.
  • Living in the Wider World: Developing mutual respect and understanding diversity.
• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) statutory guidance (UK, 2019):
  • Understanding that everyone’s experience is unique and valuable; learning respectful communication.
• Personal Development and Emotional Literacy strands within the National Curriculum.

---

Resources Needed

• A comfortable classroom space arranged in a circle
• 'Talking Piece' object (e.g., a soft ball, a decorated stone) to indicate whose turn it is to speak
• Story prompt cards (optional) – simple questions to guide sharing if needed
• Flipchart and markers
• Worksheets: My Change Story (simple guided prompts to jot down key points before sharing)
• Timekeeping device

---

Lesson Breakdown

Starter (10 minutes)

Warm-up: "Emotion Statues"

• Ask students to think about a time when they experienced a change (big or small).
• Call out different emotions linked to change (excited, nervous, confused, happy).
• Students use their bodies to create a 'statue' representing that emotion.
• Briefly discuss how change can make us feel different things—there’s no right or wrong feeling.

Teacher notes: Establish a safe and respectful atmosphere. Reinforce ground rules for confidentiality and kindness.

---

Main Activity (40 minutes)

1. Introduction to Sharing Circle (5 minutes)

• Explain what a sharing circle is: a special time where the class will share personal stories related to change.
• Emphasise listening skills, respect, and the idea that no one must share if they do not want to.
• Introduce the 'talking piece' which will be passed around to give each person a chance to speak without interruptions.

2. Guided Reflection and Writing (10 minutes)

• Students use the 'My Change Story' worksheet to think about a personal experience with change—this might be moving school, making a new friend, starting a hobby, etc.
• Provide prompts such as: What changed? How did you feel? What helped you? What did you learn?
• Give gentle support for students who find it hard to identify a story.

3. Sharing Circle (20 minutes)

• Arrange students in a circle, sitting comfortably.
• Pass the talking piece, inviting students to share their story in their own time.
• Encourage active listening by other students without interruptions or questions during sharing.
• If time allows, after each story, allow a brief moment for empathic responses such as “Thank you for sharing” or “I can imagine that felt…”

4. Reflection and Group Discussion (5 minutes)

• After all shares or when time is up, ask students:
  • How did it feel to share your story?
  • What did you learn about others today?
  • How can sharing stories help us work through change together?

---

Plenary (10 minutes)

Creative Reflection: “Our Change Quilt”

• Provide each student a small square of paper on which they write or draw a word/image that represents what they learned about change today.
• Collect these squares and combine them into a collaborative ‘Change Quilt’ poster displayed in the classroom.
• Recap the ground rules and thank students for their bravery and kindness.

---

Assessment for Learning

• Teacher observes listening behaviours and respectful communication during the sharing circle.
• Review students’ written reflections to assess understanding of emotional responses to change.
• Use plenary creative task as evidence of learning and personal insight.

---

Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide sentence starters or visual prompts for students who need support expressing themselves.
• Allow students who prefer not to share verbally to submit their story in writing or drawing.
• Monitor group dynamics to ensure quieter students have space and feel safe.
• Use diverse examples of change stories to reflect different cultures and experiences.

---

Links to Further Learning

• Next lesson will explore coping strategies for managing change.
• Students can develop empathy further through role-play activities designed for peer support.
• Extend learning by including family stories of change as homework or class display.

---

Teacher Reflection Notes

• How effectively did students engage in respectful listening and sharing?
• Were students able to connect their feelings about change with those of their peers?
• Did the activity help build classroom trust and inclusivity?
• Consider more creative ways to personalise the 'talking piece' and storytelling format for future lessons.

---

By centring the lesson around a respectful sharing circle and creative reflection, this lesson plan aligns with UK PSHE and RSE guidance promoting emotional literacy, empathy, and community-building — all crucial skills for embracing change together.