Lesson Plan
Be Your Own Advocate
Students will define self-advocacy, identify personal strengths and needs, learn and apply simple sentence starters, and practice using them in role-play scenarios to ask for support.
Self-advocacy empowers students to express their needs, build confidence, and foster independence—critical skills for academic success and personal growth, especially for students with ASD who benefit from clear supports.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction to Self-Advocacy
5 minutes
Step 2
Identify Personal Strengths and Needs
7 minutes
Step 3
Learn Self-Advocacy Sentences
5 minutes
Step 4
Role-Play Scenarios
10 minutes
Step 5
Reflection and Next Steps
3 minutes
Lesson Plan
Self-Advocacy Lesson Plan
By the end of this 30-minute lesson, 5th grade students transitioning to middle school will define self-advocacy, identify personal strengths and needs, choose two sentence starters, and practice asking for support—building confidence for their upcoming middle school experience.
As rising middle schoolers, students need self-advocacy skills to navigate new settings, communicate needs, and seek help—fostering independence and readiness.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Context
5 minutes
Step 2
Identify Strengths & Needs
7 minutes
Step 3
Learn & Practice Starters
5 minutes
Step 4
Role-Play Scenarios
10 minutes
Step 5
Reflection & Next Steps
3 minutes
Slide Deck
Speak Up! Self-Advocacy for Rising Middle Schoolers
What Is Self-Advocacy?
Strengths & Needs Chart (Middle School Example)
Self-Advocacy Sentence Starters
Role-Play Instructions
Worksheet
Worksheet
Activity
Cool Down
