Introducing+the+Habits

=__Introducing the Habits__ =

Activity #1: Who am I?
Pass out a copy of 7 Habits to each student. Have each student turn to the front of the book to the poem “Who Am I?”. Read this poem as a class. Have students brainstorm possible answers to this riddle.

Once they have brainstormed, tell them to turn the page to find the answer. Ask if they are surprised at the answer. Discuss what a habit is and how it applies to each part of the poem.

Pass out the habit chart  to each student. Give students time to brainstorm as many habits as they can think of that fit into each category. (It does not have to be a habit that they personally have!) As a class, discuss ways that bad habits can keep people from succeeding in school and in life, and how good habits can help individuals achieve success.

Next, have students choose one of their own bad habits. Have them set a goal to change this habit, and mark that goal on their calendar in their agenda book.

Finally, discuss what a daily planning habit would look like. As a class, discuss why it would be beneficial to plan daily. Explain that it is a requirement that they write in their agenda book, so by the end of this year it should be a good habit that is engrained in their daily life.

Activity #2: The Habits
Read pages 3-5. Discuss each habit individually. Have students come up with one word to help them remember each habit. Read page 6-7. Discuss each defective habit and why it is a habit to break. Read page 8-9. Have students each brainstorm things they hope to get out of reading the 7 Habits. They could do this individually, and then discuss, or they could do it as a class.

Activity #3: Paradigms and Principles
Read pages 11 and 12. Discuss these statements and why they are all “stupid” statements. Also discuss why the people who made them might have done so. Read page 13. Discuss what paradigms people have of themselves and of others. Read “Paradigms of Self” on pages 13-16. On one lens of the glasses handout, have the students write one paradigm, or perception, that they have about themselves. Read “Paradigms of Others” on page 16-18. On the other lens of the glasses, have the students write one paradigm, or perception, that they have of others. Remind them that these will be displayed, and their paradigms should be appropriate and not offensive. If you have time, have the students color the glasses. This might be a good project to hang around your room when it comes time for open house!

Activity #4: Paradigms and Principles
Read Paradigms of Life on pages 18-27 with the Paradigms of Life PowerPoint. 