By high school, students are forming strong opinions—about the world, their peers, and themselves. But often, the loudest internal voices are critical ones. Teens may struggle to see what makes them unique or valuable.

The I Love Who I Am spinner activity helps students slow down and reflect on the things they appreciate—about themselves, their families, and their communities. It’s simple, interactive, and designed to open up space for identity-building in a safe and supportive way.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Why teaching self-awareness is essential in high school
• How the spinner activity works
• Step-by-step instructions for using it in class
• A free link to launch the activity instantly

Why Teach Self-Awareness and Positive Identity?

Self-awareness isn’t just about knowing your strengths—it’s about being able to name them. That’s hard for many teens, especially those who:

• Feel different from their peers
• Are used to masking or downplaying who they are
• Have internalized negative messages about their identity or background

If students don’t practice recognizing what makes them proud of who they are, they often default to silence or self-criticism. That can show up as withdrawal, perfectionism, or shutting down in moments of challenge.

Teaching students to identify what they love about themselves:

• Builds protective factors against anxiety and low self-worth
• Supports stronger peer connections and empathy
• Reinforces the message that everyone contributes something valuable
• Lays the foundation for stronger self-advocacy and self-confidence later on

This activity gives students a low-pressure opportunity to explore identity without fear of “getting it wrong.”

What’s Inside the “I Love Who I Am” Spinner Activity?

The I Love Who I Am spinner includes three open-ended reflection prompts:

• What do you love about yourself?
• What do you love about your family?
• What do you love about your community?

Each spin of the wheel gives students a different question to think about or discuss. They can answer aloud, write privately, or share with a partner—there’s no single way to use it.

Before spinning, students read a short affirmation:

“We celebrate all of our different strengths and weaknesses because they make us who we are. If we all thought or acted the same way, it would be impossible to be unique.”

This short message reinforces the goal: reflecting without comparison.

How to Use the Spinner in Your Classroom

Here’s a three-step structure you can follow for a 20–30 minute lesson:

1. Introduce the concept of self-celebration (5–10 minutes)

Start with a class discussion:

• Why is it sometimes hard to say what we love about ourselves?

• Do you think it’s important to know your strengths? Why or why not?

• What’s the difference between bragging and being proud?

Let students know the goal is not perfection—it’s reflection. Everyone’s answer will look different.

2. Use the spinner for structured reflection (10–15 minutes)

Let students spin the wheel and respond to the prompt they land on.

Implementation options:

• Whole class: go around in a circle with quick verbal answers
• Small groups or pairs: students share with a peer
• Silent reflection: students write their response privately in a journal

You can keep it short or allow for deeper sharing, depending on your group.

3. Extend or personalize the activity (Optional: 5–10 minutes)

If time allows, invite students to write a personal statement starting with:

• “I’m proud of myself because…”
• “One thing I bring to my community is…”
• “If I could teach others one thing about my identity, it would be…”

You can also use sticky notes to create a classroom wall of affirmations—or come back to the spinner each week as a quick check-in.

Why We Recommend This Resource

This activity supports high school students by:

• Encouraging them to reflect on their values, culture, and strengths
• Creating space for positive identity formation
• Providing a safe, structured tool for social-emotional expression
• Helping students connect with themselves and others more meaningfully

Whether you’re supporting students with anxiety, working in small groups, or just looking for a quick activity that builds connection, this tool fits seamlessly into any classroom routine.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like self-esteem. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching self-esteem from our curriculum: