Making Your Mark: Positive Contributions

Making Your Mark: Positive Contributions

30-minute lesson Understanding how we can make a difference

Overview & Curriculum Links

PSHE Education Programme of Study (Key Stage 4) Health and Wellbeing: Making positive contributions to school and community Living in the Wider World: Collaborative skills and social responsibility Personal Development: Building confidence in taking social responsibility

Learning Objectives

Define what it means to make a positive contribution Identify concrete examples of positive contributions in school, community, and global contexts Reflect on and commit to one personal action to make a difference Develop empathy and social responsibility skills

Starter Activity: Ripple Effect

Watch: Pebble dropping into water creating ripples Discussion question: 'What does this image make you think of in terms of our actions and their effects?' Connect small acts to significant changes Think about cause and effect in social behaviour

Main Activity: Contribution Challenge

Step 1: Brainstorm ways to make positive differences in three areas: • School Life (peer mentoring, environmental clubs) • Local Community (litter picks, volunteering) • Wider World (campaigning, fair trade support) Step 2: Share and categorise ideas Step 3: Scenario card challenge

Scenario Challenge Examples

Reflection & Personal Pledge

Write one practical action you can take this week Choose from any area: school, community, or wider world Make it realistic and achievable Create a 'Contribution Wall' or anonymous collection Focus on accountability and self-awareness

Plenary: One Word Check-Out

Share one word describing how you feel about making a difference Examples: hopeful, motivated, inspired, determined, excited Teacher records words on the board Celebrate collective positive attitude

Resources & Extension

Resources needed: Whiteboard, scenario cards, ripple effect video/image, sticky notes Homework: Research a young person (25 or under) who made a positive contribution Prepare 3-5 bullet points covering: Who they are, What they did, Impact of actions Examples: Environmental campaigners, social activists, community volunteers

Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment: Formative assessment during discussions, review of personal pledges, scenario solution notes Differentiation: Sentence starters for support, varying scenario complexity, alternative expression methods Inclusion: Sensitivity to diverse backgrounds, multiple ways to participate Success indicators: Understanding of positive contribution, realistic personal commitments