I Will Fly High/Senior Secondary

(Secondary School)

Life Event: I Will Fly High

Key Concepts

Psychologist Erik Erikson (1902) pointed out that adolescence is a stage of identity vs confusion. Teenagers, in the growing process, want to be independent. As they look for their true self, they may face responsibilities they cannot bear. It is easy for them to become passive, rebellious and they want to escape from reality. Young people seek recognition from their friends and peer influence does make an impact on them. They may tend to create their self-image by following the current trend or others’ advice. This may lead them to commit deviant behaviours. This teaching plan is to help students learn about their strengths and to help them acquire a positive outlook on life. They will also learn to be responsible, committed and to reflect upon their experience.

Targets

Senior secondary students

Learning Objectives

  1. To create a positive self-image;
  2. To foster a positive attitude and perseverance;
  3. To be responsible and committed.

Values/Attitudes

Sense of responsibility, commitment and perseverance

Delivery Mode

Life Education Lesson/Moral and Civic Education Lesson/Class Teacher Period/Others

Materials

  1. “School-based Experience Sharing Project” (SESP) - Life Education teaching material. (A copy was sent to schools at the end of 2008.) Teachers may browse the teaching material(Chinese version only) at the website of the Moral, Civic and National Education Section of the Education Bureau at
  2. Paper (one sheet per student)
  3. Coloured pencils (please ask students to prepare them in advance)
  4. “Making Progress”reading material (Appendix 1.1) (Appendix 1.2) (Appendix 1.3)
  5. “Progress Pyramid” activity sheet (Appendix 1.4)
  6. “Everyone Has His Calling” activity sheet (Appendix 2)

Duration

40 minutes

Teaching Procedures

Steps (Time) / Key Learning Points
Activity 1: I Will Fly High (10 mins)
  1. Distribute a piece of paper to each student. Ask them to draw a picture on “I will fly high”.
  2. Invite some of them to talk about their picture. Guide them to explore their self, thoughts and inner world with the following points:
Main image/ main colour/ structure/ concept/ theme and so on of the picture
Students’understanding and interpretation of “flying high”
The intonation, language, facial and body language and so on of students when talking about their picture
  1. Summary: Senior secondary students should have expectations and plans for their future. As they pursue their dreams, they should understand themselves and talk more with their family so that they can learn the views of one another.
/ 
This activity is a warm-up exercise. Drawing pictures could help students think about what dreams or expectations they have for themselves. They will understand themselves better in these aspects:
Interests
Abilities
Talents
Weaknesses
Relationship with family
Personal dream vs expectations of family
Activity 2: Making Progress (20 mins)
  1. Divide students into groups of four and distribute one of the following materials to each group. SESP:
p. 162-163 – Going with the Flow or Breaking Through‧Kan Tai-keung (Appendix 1.1)
p. 166-167 – This is the Time‧Joseph Jao-yiu Sung (Appendix 1.2)
p. 168-169 – Defeat into Victory‧Ho Ka-lai (Appendix 1.3)
  1. Ask them to read it and discuss the part on “Think about the following” and share their personal reflection.
  2. Invite three groups (with different reading materials) to share their thoughts.
  3. Comment on the feedback of students and state the key points of the celebrities:
Kan Tai-keung – Young people should “Plant their own garden”. They must learn more and examine themselves. They must not just go with the flow but seek opportunities to absorb more “sunlight”.
Joseph Jao-yiu Sung – We prepare ourselves through learning. Young people should make good use of their time and equip themselves so that they can face any challenges, use what they have learnt and fulfil their duties.
Ho Ka-lai – Don’t lose heart even when you are losing in a competition. Be persistent and do not repeat the same mistake. Stay focused on your goal.
(Activity 2 continues)
5. Distribute the “Progress Pyramid” activity sheet (SESP P.285/ Appendix 1.4) to students and ask them to fill in their own pyramid. Ask a few to share their completed work with fellow students. / The reading materials will encourage students to face the future:
  1. Be serious about learning
  2. Lay a solid foundation
  3. Uphold their principles
  4. Widen their horizons and seek breakthroughs
  5. Receive training and prepare themselves
  6. Be willing to commit
  7. Do not give up nor repeat the same mistake
  8. Focus on their goals
  9. Be persistent
“Progress Pyramid” activity is to help students think what requirements they need to meet if they are to achieve their dreams and to encourage them to set goals to realise their dreams step by step.
Activity 3: Fulfilling Commitment (7 mins)
  1. Ask students to complete the “Everyone Has His Calling”activity sheet (SESP P.287 / Appendix 2). Discuss with them the responsibilities borne by different social roles.
  2. Students will think about their dreams and roles and reflect on how they can take up theirresponsibilities in daily lives. They will think about the mission they have to accomplish if they want to achieve their dreams.
/ This will help students to be practical about their “dream”. They will not dream away their dream but be willing to take up their responsibilities.
They will learn about the balance between their personal goals and others’ expectation. It is important to maintain communication with family members and to respect one another.

Conclusion (3 mins)

Reference: George Washington, former President of the United States, once said, “Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”As a person grows, he/she will have more responsibilities. As you pursue your dreams, you need to look at your interest and ability; you also need to see what your dreams meant to you and what responsibilities and missions they will bringabout to stop us from daydreaming. We need to talk more with our family, teachers and friends and to gather more information on how we can achieve our dreams. Besides, we need to prepare ourselves so that we can do our best in our dream role, flying high and meet the expectation of and contribute to the senior and the society.

Extended Activity

  1. Ask students to share on the worksheet what they think about the idea of “I will fly high” and the reflection they have from the lesson (Appendix 2).
  2. Ask them to gather information on their dream occupation and make feasible plans so that they can take the first step towards their dream.

Activity 2: Making Progress

Appendix 1.1

School-based Experience Sharing Project

About work –Making progress

Going with the flow or breaking through Professor Kan Tai-keung

A painter needs more than improving his skills. He also needs to know his tradition and be creative. Only then can he create his personal style with his unique skills and make an impact on others. In the 1960s, my works were much westernised. All of them reflected one modern design concept after another. They were like waves, one after another. They were beautiful but I did not know where they were going. They just went with the flow. I was very confused. I thought my works were as good as those of master painters but they never won any overseas competition. I only knew later that I was only going with the flow. I only followed others’ footsteps.

Reflection is an essential part of design work. This gives me insight and helps me see what is good and what is bad. With the return to my Chinese culture, I have found the folk art and philosophy there provide me with ideas and help me make breakthroughs.

Young people should work like gardeners, dig your garden so that your plants can grow roots deep into the soil. The deeper their roots go into the soil, the sweeter their fruit will become. We also need to absorb sunlight, making most of it. If we can do that, our works will be firmly grounded on our land and ready to enter the international arena.

Student’s feedback:

We cannot live without dreams, without goals. We must experience and think more about what happens around us if we want to know what we like and what we want. When we know what we want, we must try to set goals. We must not be afraid if we fail. From now on, I will look for what I like and I will find my dreams. Even if there is frustration or all my effort is in vain, I will not be afraid. Trying is already an achievement.

Koo Shuet-ying (translation)【Kowloon True Light Middle School】

Think about the following:

Those who go with the flow do not know where they are going. Those who break the waves will ride on them and make somethingout of themselves. Are you going with the flow or breaking the waves?

We must seize opportunities and use our talents. We must also take our study serious and lay a solid foundation. We need to start from the very beginning and step by step, we will see results.

Activity 2: Making Progress

Appendix 1.2

School-based Experience Sharing Project

About work –Making progress

This is the TimeDoctor Joseph Jao-yiu Sung

At the outbreak of atypical pneumonia, somehow I felt something was going to happen and that was something I had never seen. I still remember that on 10 March 2003, I examined more than 50 colleagues in the hospital and found that all of them had the same symptoms: body temperature as high as 40 degree or above, shortness of breath and flushed face. Within a week, those who had been young and healthy became so weak that they even could not go to the toilet themselves. They had to repeat a few times what they said before they could be heard. Eventually, they could not eat themselves. These patients were all my colleagues. I felt as if some family members were gravely ill.

At that time, I felt this is the time. For the first time in my medical practice for more than 20 years, I felt that all I have learnt or prepared was for this moment. It was like running a marathon. Athletes underwent tough training for a prolonged period of time so that they could join the race. We certainly did not want any disaster. But if it did happen, we would be prepared. It was like the firemen in the 911 terrorist attack. They were well trained and they could handle disasters and save lives. During the outbreak of atypical pneumonia, our medical staff were willing to commit themselves to their work. No second thought at all.

Student’s feedback:

Professor Sung said, “Young people often think that what they have learnt from books has nothing to do with everyday life. It is just because we don’t have a chance to use them yet.” Professor Sung realised that it was time to put into practice all he has learnt at the outbreak of SARS. We must better equip ourselves and prepare ourselves for any sudden change in life.”

Au Sin-ting (translation)【True Light Girls’ College】

Think about the following:

Swords must be sharp and bows must be strong if we want to win a battle. We must build a solid foundation for our knowledge and move with the times if we want to know how to handle crisis.

The outbreak of atypical pneumonia revealed the outstanding qualities of our medical staff – being well versed in professional knowledge and able to handle crisis, upholding the code of practice and saving lives. We must respect and learn from this sacrificial attitude in serving others.

We do hope that disasters will not come again. But we must also equip ourselves so that we can fulfil our duties even when something bad happens. Our day-to-day training and preparation will help us deal with crisis.

Activity 2: Making Progress

Appendix 1.3

School-based Experience Sharing Project

About work –Making progress

Defeat into victory Miss Ho Ka-lai

The more an athlete wants to win a competition, the more nervous he/she will become and the more likely he/she will fail. In the Busan Asian Games, I participated in two events, one individual and one group. In the individual event, I played against a representative from Kazakhstan. I was under tremendous pressure. I had worked very hard and made it to the competition and I really wanted to win. But I did not do well and I lost. My mind kept playing the images of the race. Iasked myself, “If I met her again, what should I do?” I would not repeat the same mistake!

In the group competition, it so happened that I had to play against the same player from Kazakhstan. My coach wanted to replace me with a substitute but my teammates trusted me and said to the coach, “Let Ka-lai do it. We are confident in her.” And I played in that critical race. I told myself, “I must not repeat the same mistake. I won’t let her win again!” She held me in contempt and this made me want to beat her even more. During the competition, I dared not to look at the time. I was afraid that if I did, I would relax. When the bell rang, we won! All my teammates came round and hugged one another. I can still see and feel that moment.

Student’s feedback:

Having heard Miss Ho’s experience, I have realised that it is not necessarily bad if we fail. We don’t need to be sad. If we stand up and strike back,the sense of achievement is even greater and we will value this success even more!

Wu Yiu-mei (translation)【Buddhist Tai Hung College】

Think about the following:

Young people must learn from failures. We must learn what our weaknesses are and try to make improvement. Then we can grow and be successful.

Miss Ho Ka-lai was very focused in the group competition. She did not take note of the time or the noise around. She forgot what was behind and faced the player who had beaten her before and won a critical race. Her experience, overcoming frustration and making an achievement, is very valuable. She made it with her skills and overcame her psychological barrier.

Activity 2: Making Progress

Appendix 1.4

School-based Experience Sharing Project

Progress Pyramid

We often say, “Skyscrapers are built from the ground up.” If we want to build a tall building, we must lay a solid foundation. Similar experience is seen in the stories of Mr.Kan Tai-keung (Going with the Flow or Breaking Through), Mr. Joseph Jao-yiu Sung (This is the Time) and Miss Ho Ka-lai (Defeat into Victory). Take a look at the “progress pyramid” of Mr.Kan Tai-keung. Set your own goals, lay a solid foundation and fulfil your dream step by step.

Examples:

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I Will Fly High/Senior Secondary

Activity 3: Fulfilling Commitment

Appendix 2

School-based Experience Sharing Project

Everyone Has His Calling

  1. Please think about the roles and duties of the people in the following.
  2. What roles should young people play in their family, school and society? What duties should they have?

Role / Duties
/ Judge / Be objective; free from bias or selfish motives and make fair judgement on court cases.
/ Cleaner
/ Policeman
/ Bus driver
/ Student
/ Son/daughter

Personal sharing

Please describe how you are inspired by “I will fly high”and the class. (Write, draw or express yourself in any way you like.)

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