"If Molly Lou Can, I Can, too!" (Targeted Grade 3)
Lesson Plan
Adapted from/Counselor Name: Beth Giachetti
Title of Lesson: “If Molly Lou Can, I Can, too!”
Quarter: 1st
Audience: Classroom Small Group
Level: Primary (K-2) Intermediate (3-5)
Target Grade: 3rd

COUNSELING STANDARDS
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
*Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.
.
COUNSELING COMPETENCY(IES)
Describe positive characteristics about self as seen by self and others
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MATERIALS/RESOURCES:
The book Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon by Patty Lovell.
A large coffee can with a removable lid. (Use a can decorated with construction paper to look like Molly Lou. You might include yarn for her hair.
Be sure to include her Buck Teeth!)
A jar of pennies.

ACTIVITY:
Introduce the book. Ask students if they remember reading a book called The Little Engine That Could. Have a small discussion about this book.
What was it that the little engine kept repeating so he could go on and on? Tell students to keep thinking the phase, “I can”, while you are
reading the book. Read the first page. What is grandma’s advice on the first page? Write the response on the board. Continue on this way until
grandma is finished giving advice. When you are finished reading the book, ask students how Molly Lou was able to handle/cope with the first
day of school. As you read the book again, students are going to pantomime each piece of advice given by the grandma. (You may have to
define pantomime. When you get to believe in yourself, ask them to tell you the words you told them to remember at the beginning of the class.
Now play the “I Can Game”. Students will say something positive that he/she can do. For example, academic likes, athletics, artistic, social,
chores, etc. As each child comes to the front of the class to make his or her “I Can” statement, he/she will choose a penny and drop it in the “I
Can.” If a student can’t think of something, help them out. (You might need to explain the difference between bragging and saying something
good about yourself.)

EVALUATION:
Pretest/Postest:
How did the student change as a result of this lesson? Students will demonstrate that it is okay to say something nice about yourself.
Information/Comments/Follow-up: Be aware that in some cultures and families it may not be okay to say nice things about yourself because
others may see it as bragging. You may find a few students who would get a lot out of a self-esteem support group.