Student Activities for Self Esteem
!["I Am..." Self Esteem Poster Activity](http://cdn2.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-cells/10803320/cell-row-0-col-0-w400.png ""I Am..." Self Esteem Poster")
Essential Questions for Self Esteem and Self Worth
- What is self esteem?
- What is the difference between self esteem and self concept?
- How does self esteem tie into decision making?
Self Esteem and Self Worth
We want our students to make decisions that will improve both themselves and the community. While we can’t make decisions for them, as teachers we can certainly make an influence. If a student feels good about themselves and has high self esteem, they will put themselves first when faced with important choices. On the other hand, when a student has low self worth, they may occasionally or consistently make destructive decisions. Developmentally speaking, young people do not think consequence first, but they have developed a reward system. If students don’t value themselves and they are faced with a destructive decision, they may ask themselves: why not? If they have low self worth, they may feel like there is nothing to lose.
Self esteem and decision making activities in this guide allow students to create storyboards and posters that will help them foster positive self esteem and self worth. They will be challenging their self worth in several different ways. Mental health is an underappreciated aspect of health that is often not thought about until it’s negatively affecting our lives. It is not something that can be seen and it is hard to measure, making mental health an afterthought, especially for students. Let’s help our students help themselves by equipping them with the tools they need!
Additional Self Esteem Lesson Plan Ideas
- Practicing Positive Self Talk - Students create stressful situations in a storyboard and practice self talk to get through them.
- Coat of Arms / Family Crest - Students create their own coat of arms in a single cell storyboard.
- Thankful For - Students depict something they are happy about currently in their lives.
How Tos about Self Esteem for Students
Make self esteem visible with a classroom bulletin board students help create
Showcase student strengths by designing a bulletin board focused on self esteem. Invite students to contribute drawings, affirmations, or achievements that represent their unique qualities. This visual display helps reinforce positive self concepts and celebrates everyone’s individuality.
Invite students to brainstorm self esteem themes for the board
Engage the class by asking students to suggest words, phrases, and images that make them feel proud. Collaborative brainstorming encourages participation and ownership of the self esteem message.
Provide materials and simple instructions for contributions
Distribute supplies such as colored paper, markers, and sticky notes. Encourage students to create short notes, drawings, or mini posters about what makes them feel confident and valued. Keep instructions friendly and open-ended for creativity.
Display student work and highlight new contributions weekly
Rotate and update the board to feature new student submissions regularly. Acknowledge contributors aloud and celebrate positive messages to keep the self esteem focus fresh and ongoing.
Facilitate classroom discussions inspired by the board
Use the bulletin board as a starting point for short group conversations about personal strengths, kindness, and overcoming challenges. Connect student stories to lessons on self esteem and decision making for deeper reflection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Self Esteem for Students
What is self esteem and why is it important for students?
Self esteem is how someone values and feels about themselves. For students, healthy self esteem helps them make positive choices, build confidence, and handle challenges in and out of the classroom.
How can teachers help students build self esteem in the classroom?
Teachers can foster self esteem by creating supportive environments, encouraging positive self talk, giving meaningful feedback, and providing activities like storyboards, discussions, and goal setting.
What are effective classroom activities to teach self esteem and self worth?
Some effective activities include practicing positive self talk, creating personal storyboards (like family crests), expressing gratitude, and role-playing decision-making scenarios. These encourage self reflection and positive identity building.
What is the difference between self esteem and self concept?
Self esteem is about how much you value yourself, while self concept is your understanding of who you are—your beliefs, roles, and identity. Both shape student confidence and decision making.
How does self esteem affect student decision making and peer pressure?
Students with high self esteem are more likely to make healthy decisions and resist peer pressure. Low self esteem can lead to risky choices or avoiding new opportunities, impacting well-being and growth.
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