Sec Values - Aspiration & Gratitude 2: Eshmaeil

Teacher notes

**Teach lesson 1 from this unit first 'Aspiration and Gratitude 1: Shahnaz'.** Like ALL Lyfta storyworlds, these characters are unique. We don't share stories as being 'typical' or as 'single stories' of people or places. This is the second lesson in the Aspiration and Gratitude unit in the Secondary Year of Values programme. The next lesson focuses on Eshmaeil, Shahnaz's teacher, and his experience of teaching children in the winter village. This lesson explores aspiration as advocacy and service, rather than personal success. **About the Aspiration and Gratitude unit** This unit explores the values of aspiration and gratitude through a sequenced set of human stories from different global contexts. Students are encouraged to reflect on how aspirations are shaped by context, opportunity, relationships and resilience, and how gratitude can strengthen motivation, purpose and identity. Across the six lessons, students encounter aspiration as curiosity, perseverance, creativity, service and long-term commitment. Gratitude is explored t as recognition of support, opportunity and responsibility to others. The sequence moves from lived experience and access to education, through personal ambition and creativity, and concludes with aspiration despite many obstacles. By the end of the unit, students are encouraged to think critically about how their own aspirations are shaped, and who and what they are grateful for along the way. **Curriculum Links:** Citizenship (KS3) The role of education in preparing pupils for participation in society. Citizenship (KS4) The importance of education, training and skills in enabling people to participate fully in society. PSHE (KS3) L4: The importance of compassion towards others and shared responsibilities for caring for people. L7: To value the contributions of others within communities. PSHE (KS4) L29: To recognise the shared responsibility to contribute positively to society. H5: To develop empathy and understanding of others’ experiences. English / Oracy Participating in structured discussions; listening and responding thoughtfully to others.