Relationship Skills
Family Resources on Introvert and Extrovert
Lesson Topic
Students analyze and create a model for a school based on learning needs of introverts and extroverts.
Essential Question
How do introverts and extroverts learn best?
Introvert and Extrovert – Berhane
If this lesson was used in the classroom: Students learned about personalities. In class students discussed differences and similarities between introverts and extroverts. In groups students designed school experiences that could support learning for introverted or extroverted people.
Getting Ready for the Conversation
The video for this module features a youth named Berhane who had difficulty making friends when he first attended high school. With the help of a teacher, Berhane developed friendships with other students and became active in his school’s robotics team. He and one of his friends discuss how their friendship has grown as they got to know each other better.
Conversation notes:
Being introverted or extroverted is not absolute and all people have some qualities of both, but some people have the misconception that being introverted is not healthy. Students should understand that social isolation can be a problem and it can happen to people whether they tend to be introverted or extroverted.
For more on this see this article at Generation Next:
https://www.generationnext.com.au/2017/06/15-things-never-introverted-child/
But while social interaction is usually a good thing, there can be downfalls for extroverts:
https://www.generationnext.com.au/2020/11/social-activity-can-be-good-for-mental-health-but-whether-you-benefit-depends-on-how-many-friends-you-have/
Constructive Conversation Starters
The first item is for follow-up after viewing the lesson video and participating in class activities.
What school activities did your group discuss? What did you learn about students who might be different from you? Why was this helpful?
Would you describe yourself as more of an introvert or more of an extrovert? Why?
What social activities do you look forward to that other people you know find uninteresting? Why do you think this happens?
What are some characteristics you look for in a friend? Are you missing out on potential friends who might seem different from you (or who have different interests from you)? Explain.
School to Home Resources on Introvert and Extrovert
Lesson Plan
Interactive Reflections and Lesson Plans often cover broader themes than the competency named. All CWK stories are multi-faceted and are meant to prompt deep conversation.
Interactive Reflection Open/Download Complete PDF Lesson
Learning How to Get Along
Berhane’s friend Jesse mentioned that when they first began to get to know each other, “we would always be hesitant of asking something, because we don’t know if we might offend him…I think I asked something that [offended him]”. Why could someone who is different than you be offended by asking a question? If you were to offend someone accidentally, what strategies could you use to repair and improve the relationship with this person?
Obstacles to Overcome
Mr. Channel says, “there are lots of opportunities for kids to just stop, they run into this obstacle that prevents them from achieving”. What obstacle did Berhane “run into”? Briefly describe an obstacle that you think is common among students in your school. What advice would you give to a student to overcome the obstacle you described?
Personality Types
Understanding our own personality can help us understand how to best get along with each other. Read this article from the Myers & Briggs Foundation. What do you think is most likely your personality type? Why do you believe this? How would a better understanding of someone’s personality help you get to know that person better?
A Different Perspective
Berhane says, “at school I felt like no one really cared about where I came from, I wanted my teachers to say ‘you came from Ethiopia, what different perspective do you have?’”. Why do you think Berhane expected this to be the case? Do you think your school would be welcoming to a student like Berhane? Why or why not?
Additional Reflection Questions Open/Download PDF
