Life Skills Arcade Middle school Family and Consumer Sciences, grades 6 to 8

Handout 2.2

Handout 2.2: Strengths Inventory and Notice Cards

Unit
Unit 2: Me, My Goals, My Money
Handout
2.2

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Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________ Table: ______

Directions: Today you find out what you do well, from two sources: you, and the three people at your table. Part 1 is your own inventory. Part 2 is what other people noticed. Be honest in both. "Not yet" is not an insult; it is a to-do list.

The three words

WordWhat it meansExample
TraitHow you usually arequiet, outgoing, patient, stubborn
StrengthSomething you do wellcalms down a crying kid, fixes bikes, remembers everyone's birthday
InterestSomething you want to do more ofdrawing, basketball, cooking, taking things apart

A trait can turn into a strength. "Patient" is a trait. "Sits with my little cousin until she gets the math" is a strength.

Word bank in other languages

EnglishTurkishPortugueseSpanish
traitkişilik özelliğitraço (característica)rasgo
strengthgüçlü yönponto fortefortaleza (punto fuerte)
interestilgi alanıinteresseinterés
careerkariyer (meslek)carreiracarrera (profesión)
evidencekanıtevidência (prova)evidencia (prueba)

Part 1: My strengths inventory

For each strength, check one box. Then go back and star your top three.

Thinking

StrengthYes, oftenSometimesNot yet
I figure out how things work
I remember details other people forget
I learn new things fast
I solve problems without being told how
I can focus on one thing for a long time
I check my work and catch my own mistakes

Doing

StrengthYes, oftenSometimesNot yet
I build or fix things with my hands
I am good at a sport or a physical skill
I keep my things organized
I can cook or bake something without help
I make things: art, music, videos, crafts
I follow directions exactly when it counts

People

StrengthYes, oftenSometimesNot yet
I make people laugh
I listen without interrupting
I include people who are left out
I can explain something so another person gets it
I stay calm when other people panic
I can get a group to agree and get moving

Character

StrengthYes, oftenSometimesNot yet
I tell the truth even when it costs me
I keep going when something is hard
I do what I said I would do
I try the scary thing
I wait my turn and do not rush people
I finish what I start

My top three, with evidence

Evidence is a time it happened, not a feeling. "I fixed the chain on my brother's bike without a video" is evidence. "I am good at fixing things" is not.

My strengthEvidence: one time it happened
1.
2.
3.

Part 2: What other people noticed

You will get three notice cards from the people at your table. Read them. Then answer.

The card that surprised me most said I am good at: ______________________________________________________

Was this strength already in my top three? Circle: Yes / No

If no, do I agree with them? Circle: Yes / No / Not sure. One sentence why: ______________________________________________________

Exit line

A strength I put in my top three: _______________________

A strength someone else saw in me: _______________________

Are they the same? Circle: Yes / No

Grade 8 stretch: write a fourth notice card for someone at another table you have worked with in a lab, and deliver it.

Keep this sheet and your three notice cards in your FACS folder. You need them on day 39 for the All About Me one-pager.


Notice cards (cut into strips; three per student)

The rule: a notice card names something the person did, not something they are. "You are nice" does not count. "I noticed you are good at explaining because you re-explained the recipe to me on lab day" counts. Sign your name so the person can ask you about it.

Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________
Notice card. To: _______________ I noticed you are good at _________________________ because I saw you _________________________________________________. From: _______________