Emoji Identity Warmup Unit: Self-Reflection & Trust
Name: Date:
Emoji Identity Warmup
Quick-start activity: Who are you beneath the surface?
1 My Emoji Signature
Write your first name in the box. Then, select exactly three emojis from your mind or the list below that represent who you are when nobody is watching. Write them in the circles!
My First Name
2 The Vibe Match
Match each emoji group to the hidden "identity dimension" it represents. Draw a clear line to connect them!
🏃♂️🏋️♀️⚽ [A]
🎨🎹🎭 [B]
🤝❤️🏡 [C]
📚🧠🔬 [D]
The Thinker / Explorer
The Active / Challenger
The Connector / Supporter
The Creator / Catalyst
3 My Identity Word Poll
Read the lists below. These are words people use to describe themselves. Check exactly TWO that you feel most proud of.
Loyal Friend Deep Thinker Creative Force
Hard Worker Peace Maker Problem Solver
Risk Taker Quiet Observer Team Leader
Wait for your teacher's signal to discuss!
Warm-Up: 5 mins
Mirror Check Slides Self-Reflection & Integrity 7th & 8th Grade
Mirror Check
How self-perception shapes our everyday choices and builds school trustworthiness.
Trust begins within.
30-Min Lesson
Today's Roadmap
01 / 05
01
Warm-Up
Emoji signatures & identity words.
5 mins
02
Mini-Lesson
Self-concept and identity cues.
7 mins
03
Snapshot
Personal reflection on paper.
8 mins
04
Pair-Share
Connecting choices to values.
5 mins
05
Debrief
Honesty & trustworthy habits.
5 mins
Get ready for a deep dive into who you really are. Let's do this!
What is Self-Concept?
02 / 05
"The mental picture you have of yourself."
Your self-concept is built of all the labels, roles, and values you associate with who you are. It dictates how you talk to yourself and how you interact with the school community.
💡 Critical Question:
Is your mental picture of yourself based on what you believe, or just what others say?
👥
External Cues (Outer Mirror)
Grades, peer pressure, social media counts, clothing brands, and external validation. They change quickly and can warp your vision.
✨
Internal Cues (Inner Mirror)
Personal values, unique strengths, creative instincts, and core integrity. These are steady and form your actual identity.
See your "Seeing the Real You" handout for details.
Your Identity Snapshot
03 / 05
Now it's time to capture your reflection on paper.
✦ Identify at least two core facets of your personal identity (e.g., Creator, Helper, Builder).
✦ Reflect on a recent choice you made at school this week.
✦ Explain how your self-perception directly influenced that choice.
Quiet Writing Time
You have 8 minutes to work independently on your Identity Snapshot Sheet.
Be honest, be raw, and be thorough. No one will grade your handwriting or self-concept.
Respect your classmates' privacy by remaining quiet during this writing block.
Pair-Share Challenge
04 / 05
Find a partner and share your responses:
Partner A Shares
Choose one aspect of your identity from your snapshot and describe how it shapes your everyday choices.
Partner B Shares
Provide positive reinforcement. Describe how that same choice helps build safety and trust within our classroom.
Keep conversation supportive. You each have 2 minutes to present. Timer: 5 Mins Total
Debrief: Inner Trust
05 / 05
Why being honest about yourself builds school trustworthiness.
If you are constantly wearing a mask or letting external mirrors dictate who you are, it becomes hard for others to trust you. When you align your choices with your true self, you act with high integrity.
Key Mirror Takeaway
"Trustworthiness isn't about being perfect. It's about being consistent between who you are on the inside and how you behave on the outside."
"Be the author of your own self-concept. Keep your mirror clean."
Real You Handout Unit: Self-Reflection & Trust Reference Handout
Seeing the Real You
Understanding self-concept, mirrors, and identity facets
Key Concept Spotlight
Self-Concept
The personal, internal mental picture you paint of who you are. It includes your beliefs about your own personality, capabilities, and moral compass. This inner picture directly guides how you act at school, especially when nobody is watching.
The External Mirror
This mirror is made of what others think or want you to be. It shifts and cracks based on:
•Social media metrics / likes
•Peer groups & trend matching
•Grades or teacher ratings
•Outer brand labels or clothing
⚠️ Warning: Relying purely on external mirrors makes your self-concept unsteady and highly fragile.
The Internal Mirror
This mirror is made of your inner truth. It is resilient, steady, and stands strong against pressure because of:
•Core values & moral principles
•Unique creative and athletic strengths
•Compassion & loyalty to friends
•Honesty with yourself about your flaws
✨ Benefit: Developing an internal mirror lets you make choices with confidence and build lasting trust.
Identity Facets Vocabulary Menu
Need help naming your inner self-concept? Use these positive "facets" to describe who you are at your core.
🤝
The Anchor Reliable, grounding, loyal, and supportive of peers.
🎨
The Catalyst Creative, inspiring, initiating new ideas or projects.
🧭
The Guide Compassionate, level-headed, helps friends find solutions.
🧱
The Builder Determined, hard-working, solves difficult problems.
Trustworthiness begins with honesty about who you are.
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Identity Snapshot Worksheet Unit: Self-Reflection & Trust
Name: Date:
Identity Snapshot Sheet
Draw, identify, and trace your internal self-concept to everyday school actions
1 My Two Core Identity Facets
Based on the "Seeing the Real You" list or your own reflections, identify two specific facets of your identity. Give each a title and write down a brief description of what this facet means to you.
Facet #1 Title
What this says about me
Facet #2 Title
What this says about me
2 Tracing Self-Perception to Action
Recall a choice you made at school this week (e.g., helping a peer, completing an assignment, staying calm, admitting a mistake). Detail the choice below and write how your internal self-concept drove that action.
A choice or action I took at school this week was:
How did one of my core identity facets directly influence this specific decision?
3 Partner Reflection & Trust Connection
During your Pair-Share, listen to your partner's choice. Write down one key insight you discovered about how being honest about who we are builds trustworthy vibes in class.
Consistency inside and out creates absolute trustworthiness.
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Identity Icebreaker Teacher Guide Unit: Self-Reflection & Trust Teacher Guide
Identity Icebreaker Script
Pacing guide and talking scripts for leading the Mirror Check lesson
Pacing & Sequence Overview
Phase & Time Materials Used Key Instructor Focus 1. Hook & Warm-Up (5m) Emoji Warmup Spark engagement; have students match emojis to identity tags. 2. Mini-Lesson (7m) Roadmap Slides, Handout Explain self-concept, and external vs. internal identity cues. 3. Reflection (8m) Snapshot Sheet Quiet writing block; guide students to map 2 inner facets to choices. 4. Pair-Share (5m) Roadmap Slides Build empathy & peer support; trace choices to integrity. 5. Debrief (5m) Roadmap Slides Tie alignment of self-perception and action to trustworthiness.
Delivery Scripts & Prompts
Phase 1: Spark the Vibe 0 - 5 Minutes
"Welcome to Mirror Check. Today isn't about looking in a glass mirror to fix our hair. It's about looking at our internal mirror. Start by filling out your Emoji Identity Warmup. You have 3 minutes to match emojis and select your key words!"
Phase 2: Self-Concept Mini-Lesson 5 - 12 Minutes
"Take out your 'Seeing the Real You' handout. Notice the two mirrors. The External Mirror is cracked and dirty—it changes based on grades, popularity, and social media. The Internal Mirror is solid and made of your values. Which mirror are you using to direct your actions?"
Phase 3 & 4: Reflection & Pair-Share 12 - 25 Minutes
"Now, complete your Identity Snapshot Sheet. Give me two aspects of your identity—like the 'Builder' or the 'Anchor'—and connect them to an actual choice you made at school this week. In your pair-share, listen to how your partner's core choices build trust in this room."
Facilitator Best Practices
Avoid Judgmental Prompts: Don't tell students which identity words are "good" or "bad." A student who checks "Quiet Observer" has exactly as much moral strength as a "Team Leader." Embrace diverse styles.
Build Classroom Trust: Encourage students to focus on safe sharing. If a student reveals a difficult choice or mistake, frame it as high integrity—it shows they are looking in their mirror with total honesty.
Middle School Trustworthiness Starts with Self-Compassion.
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