Strengths Handwriting Challenge

You Have ValueIdeaGroup 11-15 mins
  • EN

Who

Primary 5-8, Secondary

Purpose

To demonstrate that some things come easily and naturally (strengths and talents) and some things require more work to achieve.

We walk away knowing

I have some things I am naturally good at and I find easy, and some things that I have to work harder at.

Show us your handwriting!

What's Needed

  • Pen and paper each person

Instructions

  • This is an exercise in individual talents. You need to try and be fast and also tidy. You will need paper and a pen.
  • When you have completed the first challenge, put your hands on your head.
  • You can start the challenge once I have given the instructions and said go.
  • The first challenge is to write your first and last name 5 times on your piece of paper. Go.
  • Who was first? Who is neatest?
  • How was that? Easy peasy? Ready for the next challenge?
  • As before, when you have completed the second challenge please put your hands on your head. You can start the challenge once I have given the instructions and said go.
  • Challenge 2 is to write your first and last name 5 times on your piece of paper using your other hand (your non-dominant writing hand!). Go.

Korero

  • What was the difference between using your dominant and non-dominant hand?
  • How much longer did it take to write your name with your non-dominant hand?
  • How much tidier was it with your dominant hand?
  • What did you notice about the quality of your handwriting in each challenge?
  • Did it take more concentration to complete the second challenge?
  • Just like the way it's easier and more natural to write with our dominant hand, there are strengths and talents that come easily to some of us and not to others. Have a think about some of the things that you find easy but that other people find more difficult. Have a think about some of the things that seem to come naturally to others but that you find difficult.
  • Just like our handwriting, we often function better when we are working in our strengths and doing what comes naturally to us. It's good to lean into our strengths and try and use them as much as we can.
  • It's also good to acknowledge that things may be more difficult when we're working outside of our strengths. We all have things that don't come naturally to us, so we need to be gentle on ourselves. This doesn't mean that we can't achieve the goal we have set, it just means that it might take longer, or we might need to ask for some help.
  • How does this relate to the E Tū Tāngata strands of You Have Value and We Succeed Together?

(Activity adapted from Strengths Network South Pacific)