Lesson Plan: Lessons in Life

Subject: English Literature
Class: ,8th Grade
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Poetry - "Lessons in Life" by Bridgette Bryant and Daniel Ho (Unit 6)

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the teacher aims to help students:

Understand the core values of friendship, kindness, and mutual respect
Analyze the use of metaphor and imagery in poetry
Recognize the importance of gratitude and appreciation
Develop awareness about respecting all living creatures
Learn about self-worth and the value of every individual
Build vocabulary related to emotions, relationships, and life values
Identify the poem's structure including refrain and repetition
Appreciate how simple life lessons can be expressed through poetry

2. Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

Show kindness to friends and cultivate meaningful relationships
Express gratitude by saying "thank you" for even small gestures
Respect all living things including the smallest creatures in nature
Value themselves and recognize their own importance and worth
Stand up against bullying and refuse to let others shame them
Practice mutual respect in all their interactions with others
Be aware of their environment and make space for others
Remember that nothing is free and appreciate efforts made by others

3. Introduction (5 minutes)

Engaging Questions:

"What makes a good friend? How do you show your friends that you care about them?"
"Have you ever received a small gift or kind gesture that made you feel special? How did you respond?"
"Do you think tiny creatures like ants or butterflies are important? Why should we make room for them?"
"Has anyone ever made you feel unimportant or forgotten? How did that feel?"
"What does the phrase 'I respect you and you respect me' mean to you in your daily life?"

4. Reading and Understanding (8 minutes)

New Vocabulary with Meanings:

Word	Meaning	Example Usage
Planting	Putting seeds or plants in the ground; starting something	Having a friend is like planting a flower
Bloom	To produce flowers; to flourish and grow	Show love and it will one day bloom
Aware	Being conscious and mindful of something	Let's be aware as we walk on this planet
Creature	A living being, especially an animal	Even the tiniest creature needs room
Simple	Easy to understand; not complicated	Lessons in life aren't always so simple
Deserve	To be worthy of or entitled to something	Even small gifts deserve "thank you"
Matter	To be important or significant	Know that you matter and make a difference
Shame	To make someone feel embarrassed or worthless	Let no one shame you or make you feel bad
Mutual	Shared or reciprocal between two people	Mutual respect means both people respect each other

5. Mind Map

              LESSONS IN LIFE
                    |
    ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
    |               |               |
FRIENDSHIP    RESPECT & GRATITUDE  SELF-WORTH
    |               |               |
┌───┴───┐      ┌────┴────┐      ┌────┴────┐
|       |      |         |      |         |
Like    Show   Nothing   Even    Everyone Remember
planting love   comes   smallest is      you
flower  &      free    gifts    important matter
|       kindness |      deserve   |         |
Will    |      |      "thank you" When    Make a
bloom   Care   Respect |         forgotten difference
one day for    each    I respect feels    |
        friend  other   you      sad      Let no one
        |      |      You       |      shame you
        |      I think respect   Know    |
        |      of you  me       you     Stand
        |      You     |         matter  against
        |      think   Mutual    |      bullying
        |      of me   respect   Value   |
        |      |                yourself Accept
        |      Reciprocal              yourself
        |      care
        |
    NATURE & ENVIRONMENT
        |
    ┌───┴───┐
    |       |
  Be      Even
  aware   tiniest
  |       creature
  Walk    needs
  on      room
  planet  |
  |       Space
  Mindful for all
  of      living
  surroundings things
        |
      Environmental
      consciousness

        POETIC STRUCTURE
        ┌──────────────┐
        | • Metaphor   |
        | • Refrain    |
        | • Repetition |
        | • Imagery    |
        └──────────────┘

6. Consolidation and Presentation (8 minutes)

Summary of the Lesson:

"Lessons in Life" by Bridgette Bryant and Daniel Ho is a deeply meaningful poem that teaches fundamental life values through simple yet powerful imagery and repetition. The poem is structured with verses offering specific lessons, connected by a recurring refrain that emphasizes reciprocal respect and gratitude.

First Stanza - Friendship and Environmental Awareness: The poem opens with a beautiful metaphor: "Having a friend is like planting a flower." This comparison suggests that friendships require initial effort (planting), nurturing care (showing love and kindness), and patience (waiting for it to bloom). Just as a gardener must water and tend to a plant, friends must invest time and care into their relationships to see them flourish.

The stanza then shifts to environmental consciousness: "Let's be aware as we walk on this planet / Even the tiniest creature needs room." This teaches us to be mindful of our impact on the environment and to respect all living beings, regardless of their size. It promotes coexistence and consideration for nature's smallest inhabitants.

The Refrain - Reciprocity and Gratitude: The recurring refrain emphasizes several interconnected values:

"Lessons in life aren't always so simple" acknowledges that understanding these values takes time and experience
"Nothing you're given will ever come free" teaches that everything has value and someone's effort behind it
"Even the smallest of gifts deserves 'thank you'" promotes gratitude and appreciation
"I respect you and you respect me / I think of you and you think of me" establishes the principle of mutual respect and reciprocal consideration

Second Stanza - Self-Worth and Anti-Bullying: This powerful stanza addresses self-esteem and standing against negativity:

"Remember everyone here is important" affirms the inherent worth of every person
"When you're forgotten it makes you feel sad" validates the pain of feeling excluded or overlooked
"Know that you matter and you make a difference" is a crucial affirmation of individual significance
"Let no one shame you or make you feel bad" is a strong anti-bullying message, empowering readers to reject attempts to diminish their worth

The Garden Analogy: The poem's overall message is captured in the analogy: "Building a life of respect and friendship is like tending a communal garden; it requires the constant 'planting' of kindness and the 'room' for every living thing to grow, ensuring that every person feels they 'matter' in the overall landscape."

This means that creating a respectful, kind community requires continuous effort from everyone, space for all to flourish, and recognition that each person contributes to the whole.

7. Reinforcement (5 minutes)

Additional Information:

Metaphor Analysis: The flower metaphor is extended—planting represents beginning a friendship, showing love/kindness is watering, and blooming is the friendship's maturation
Reciprocity Principle: The poem emphasizes that respect and consideration must flow both ways; relationships are not one-sided
Nothing is Free: This line teaches that gifts, kindness, and opportunities come from someone's effort, time, or sacrifice—we should appreciate them
Environmental Ethics: Including concern for "tiniest creatures" reflects growing awareness of biodiversity and ecological balance
Mental Health Message: The stanza about mattering addresses self-esteem, a crucial issue for young people facing peer pressure
Anti-Bullying Stance: "Let no one shame you" is a clear message against bullying and emotional abuse
Poetic Devices: Repetition of the refrain creates rhythm and emphasizes key messages; simple language makes profound truths accessible
Universal Values: These lessons transcend cultures—friendship, respect, gratitude, and self-worth are universal human needs

8. Evaluation

a) Lower Order Thinking Question (Knowledge/Comprehension)

Question: "According to the poem, what is friendship compared to, and what are three important life lessons mentioned in the refrain?"

Expected Answer: Friendship is compared to planting a flower—you show love and kindness, and it will one day bloom. Three important lessons in the refrain are: 1) Lessons in life aren't always simple, 2) Nothing you're given comes free, and 3) Even the smallest gifts deserve "thank you." The refrain also teaches mutual respect: "I respect you and you respect me."

b) Middle Order Thinking Question (Application/Analysis)

Question: "Analyze the line 'Even the tiniest creature needs room.' How can we apply this principle in our school and home environments? Give specific examples of how we can make 'room' for others."

Expected Answer: This line teaches us to be aware of and respectful toward all living things, no matter how small. In practical terms, "making room" means: In school—not excluding anyone from games or activities, sharing space in classrooms and playgrounds, not destroying spider webs or ant colonies unnecessarily, including shy or quiet students in conversations. At home—giving siblings their own space and time, not crowding out younger children, protecting insects and small animals rather than harming them, respecting family members' need for quiet or privacy. "Making room" means recognizing that everyone and everything deserves space to exist and thrive.

c) Higher Order Thinking Question (Synthesis/Evaluation)

Question: "Evaluate the statement 'Nothing you're given will ever come free' in the context of the poem's message. How does this relate to showing gratitude? Create a personal action plan for practicing the values taught in this poem in your daily life."

Expected Answer: This statement means that everything we receive—gifts, kindness, opportunities, education, food—comes from someone's effort, sacrifice, or resources. Even "free" things cost someone something (time, money, energy, thought). This makes gratitude essential because we acknowledge and honor others' contributions to our lives. When we say "thank you," we recognize this investment and show respect for the giver.

Personal Action Plan:

Daily Gratitude: Say "thank you" to parents for meals, teachers for lessons, friends for help—even for small things
Friendship Investment: Spend quality time with friends, listen when they talk, help without being asked—"plant and water" my friendships
Environmental Awareness: Avoid stepping on insects unnecessarily, don't litter, be mindful of nature when playing outside
Self-Worth Practice: Remind myself I matter when feeling down; don't let negative comments affect my self-esteem
Mutual Respect: Before judging others, think "I respect you and you respect me"—treat others as I want to be treated
Anti-Bullying: Stand up for classmates being teased; never participate in making others feel bad
Appreciation: Acknowledge even small gestures from others—a smile, holding a door, sharing notes

This plan turns the poem's abstract lessons into concrete daily actions.

9. Remedial Teaching

Strategy for Slow Learners:

Flower Growing Activity: Bring a real potted plant to class, discuss how friendship is like caring for it—what happens if we forget to water it?
Line-by-Line Discussion: Read one line, explain in simple words, ask "What does this mean in our lives?"
Visual Aids: Use pictures of flowers blooming, small creatures, people helping each other
Role-Playing: Act out scenarios—saying thank you, making room for someone, standing up to bullying
Simple Language Translation: "Even the tiniest creature needs room" = "Small animals need space too, don't hurt them"
Personal Examples: Ask students to share times when they said thank you, felt important, or helped a friend
Repetition Focus: Since the refrain repeats, use it as a mantra—have students recite it together
Drawing Activity: Draw pictures representing each stanza—flowers for friendship, small animals for awareness, happy faces for self-worth

10. Writing Activity (8 minutes)

Writing Task: "Write a personal reflection (150-180 words) titled 'How I Will Apply These Lessons in My Life.' Include:

One specific way you will show kindness to cultivate friendships
A situation where you will practice saying 'thank you' more often
How you will show respect for small creatures or the environment
A commitment to yourself about remembering you matter
How you will practice mutual respect with family and friends"

Guidelines:

Write in first person using "I will..."
Be specific with examples from your daily life
Show understanding of all the poem's key messages
Include at least 3 vocabulary words from the lesson
Make your commitments realistic and achievable

11. Follow-up Activities

Homework Assignment:

Gratitude Journal: For one week, write down three things each day that you're thankful for and why. Share your reflections in class.

Additional Activities:

Friendship Flower Project: Create a paper flower where each petal represents a quality of good friendship (kindness, respect, listening, etc.)
"Thank You" Challenge: Make it a goal to sincerely thank five different people tomorrow—family members, teachers, classmates, helpers—and write about how it made you feel.
Nature Observation: Spend 15 minutes observing small creatures (ants, butterflies, birds) and write 5 sentences about why they need "room" and how we can protect them.

Extended Learning:

Anti-Bullying Campaign: Design a poster with the message "Everyone Matters" or "Let No One Shame You" to display in school.
Poem Illustration: Create an illustrated version of the poem with drawings or collages representing each stanza's message.
Values Interview: Interview three people (family, friends, teachers) asking "What life lessons are most important to you?" Compare their answers with the poem's lessons.
Kindness Diary: Keep a week-long diary documenting acts of kindness you performed and received, noting how they made you and others feel.

Assessment Criteria:

Understanding of poem's themes and messages (25%)
Recognition of poetic devices and structure (20%)
Vocabulary comprehension and usage (20%)
Personal application and commitment to values (20%)
Reflection and emotional intelligence (15%)

Resources Needed:

Potted plant or flower for demonstration
Pictures of small creatures (insects, small animals)
Chart paper for creating values posters
Colored paper for flower project
Gratitude journal templates
Audio recording of poem for pronunciation and rhythm

Cross-Curricular Connections:

Science/Environmental Studies: Biodiversity, importance of small creatures in ecosystems
Social Studies: Community values, cultural practices of gratitude and respect
Values Education: Friendship, gratitude, self-esteem, anti-bullying, mutual respect
Art: Creating visual representations of abstract concepts like friendship and respect
Life Skills: Emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, self-worth, appreciation
Biology: Understanding ecosystems and why every creature matters

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Lesson plan: class 8 - Unit 6- poem - Lessons in life