The Change You Want to See

Before the lesson: This lesson involves students choosing from a list of online resources, which they will use to explore and analyze the lesson topic. Use the Resource Notes on the Teacher Version of the student handout to review the resources beforehand. You may want to suggest particular resources over others for particular students, or you may want to watch a resource together as a class. You will also need to confirm that all resources are accessible and not blocked by your school or district's filter.

Ask: You may be familiar with the term digital footprint, which is all the information about a person either posted by that person or others, intentionally or unintentionally. (Slide 4) What are some examples of things that might be in your footprint?

Invite students to respond. Students may say social media posts and photos, information about your activities at school or as part of a club, or public information.

Explain that your digital footprint largely consists of things you have said and done. In that way, it is kind of like a recording of your past. However, because it is permanent and will likely be looked at by many people in the future, including colleges and jobs you apply to, it is also an opportunity for the future. It is an opportunity to showcase your best self.

Ask: What do you think the phrase "best self" means? What kinds of things would be part of your "best self"?

Invite students to respond. Students may say uplifting posts or messages, photos of family or of being happy, or showing accomplishments.

Explain that your "best self" also means the part of you that wants to make a positive impact. It includes the things you care about most in the world, your true passion.

Show the video "The Purpose Challenge" from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Ask students to consider the discussion questions as they watch. (Slide 5)

Note: As an extension to this lesson, you can have students go through "The Purpose Challenge Toolkit" over the course of a week. You'll need to create an account on the Purpose Challenge website to access the toolkit.

Invite students to respond to the discussion questions. Highlight the main ideas in the video: (Slide 6)

• Your purpose is not what you do, but why you do it.
• Finding your purpose can help you get a job you enjoy or get into college.
• Knowing your purpose can lead to being healthier and happier later in life.

Distribute the Turning Purpose into Impact Student Handout and read the directions aloud. (Slide 7) Allow students 15 minutes to explore three of the resources and capture notes.

Invite groups to share out their notes and capture new ideas. Use the Teacher Version to help guide discussion. (Slide 8) Highlight any specific takeaways that you want students to capture and allow them a couple of minutes to add to their notes.

Point students to Part 2 of the Turning Purpose into Impact Student Handout and read the directions aloud. (Slide 9) Note that students don't necessarily need to write about big, societal problems. They can also choose to write about something they see in their neighborhood or community. Allow them 10 minutes to write their responses.

Have students share their responses with a partner.

Explain that these responses are just the beginning for them to start thinking about how they can showcase their best self and purpose through their digital footprint, and make a positive impact on the world. Possible next steps they can take include: (Slide 10)

• Sharpen Your Focus. Continue brainstorming and thinking about a problem you're interested in solving and how solving it might align with your own passions and skills.
• Connect with Others. Use social media or another platform to join with others who are also interested in your purpose or in solving the problem.
• Start a Campaign. Use an app or a website or email to start a petition and campaign around solving the problem you have identified. See your teacher for a list of tools.

For the third bullet, here is a list of tools that Common Sense has reviewed that you can use to help students engage (or start) a campaign around a particular problem.

• The Wonderment
• The Harry Potter Alliance
• SDGs in Action

Additional tools that Common Sense has not reviewed:

• Change.org
• Dosomething.org
• We the People

Have students complete the Lesson Quiz. Send home the Family Activity and Family Tips.