SEL Lesson Plans for The Only Me & Stella’s Brave Voice: Identity, Self-Concept & Confidence

If you’re an educator, counselor, or caregiver looking for meaningful ways to help kids explore who they are, build confidence, and find their voice, these lesson plans are for you. Get them here.

I’ve created SEL-aligned lesson plans for The Only Me and Stella’s Brave Voice that make it easy to bring big, important conversations about identity, self-concept, and self-confidence into your classroom, counseling office, or small group. These resources are designed to pair with my picture books, The Only Me and Stella’s Brave Voice, and give you ready-to-use, developmentally appropriate tools that kids will actually enjoy.

What’s Included in These SEL Lesson Plans?

These SEL lesson plans for The Only Me and Stella’s Brave Voice are structured, easy to follow, and flexible enough to adapt to your group’s needs. Each lesson includes clear objectives, definitions of key concepts, discussion questions, and hands-on activities.

Lesson 1: Identity & Self-Concept (Using The Only Me)

Focus: Identity and self-concept
In Lesson 1, students dive into the ideas of self-image and self-concept using the characters from The Only Me as a springboard.

Through guided discussion and a related activity, kids will:

• Reflect on what makes them unique

• Think about how they see themselves versus how others may see them

• Celebrate their strengths, differences, and individuality

This lesson encourages children to recognize that they are “the only me”—and that is something to be proud of.

Lesson 2: Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem (Using Stella’s Brave Voice)

Focus: Self-confidence and self-esteem
Lesson 2 builds on identity work by focusing on self-confidence and self-esteem, inspired by Stella’s Brave Voice.

In this expanded activity and discussion, students will:

• Explore what it means to feel confident in who they are

• Talk about times they’ve felt nervous or unsure — and what helped

• Practice using their “brave voice” in safe, supportive ways

This lesson helps kids understand that confidence grows over time and that their voice matters.

Additional Activities Included

In addition to the core lessons, you’ll also receive several bonus activities that deepen learning and support social-emotional growth:

• Writing Response Activity for Stella’s Brave Voice
  A reflective writing prompt that invites students to connect Stella’s experiences to their own lives and think about times they’ve spoken up—or wanted to.

• Venn Diagram Activity: Comparing The Only Me & Stella’s Brave Voice
  Students compare and contrast the themes, characters, and experiences in both books. This activity helps kids make connections between identity, self-concept, and using their voice.

• Fill-in-the-Blank Activity for Petunia the Perfectionist
  A fun, thoughtful activity using Petunia the Perfectionist to gently introduce ideas about perfectionism, making mistakes, and embracing a growth mindset.

What You’ll Get With Your Download

All materials are designed to be easy to use and classroom-ready, whether you’re teaching in person, online, or in small groups.

You’ll receive:

• Detailed lesson plans for each activity

• Clear definitions for each major SEL concept (identity, self-concept, self-confidence, self-esteem, and more)

• Printable templates for student responses and activities

• Coloring pages and activity sheets based on The Only Me, Stella’s Brave Voice, and Petunia the Perfectionist

These resources are ideal for:

• Classroom teachers

• School counselors

• Social workers & mental health professionals

• Homeschooling families

• Small groups, book clubs, or library programs

How to Use These Lesson Plans

You can use these SEL lesson plans for The Only Me and Stella’s Brave Voice as:

• A mini SEL unit on identity, self-concept, and confidence

• A companion to your classroom read-alouds

• Part of your social-emotional learning curriculum

• Support for small group counseling or individual sessions

They’re flexible enough to use in one-off lessons or over several class periods.

Interested in Author Visits or Bulk Book Orders?

If you’d like to:

• Bring these stories and SEL themes to life through an author visit

• Order books in bulk for your school, district, library, counseling center, or organization

📩 Contact Marissa to inquire about school visits, virtual presentations, and bulk book ordering options.

Together, we can help kids build a strong sense of self, confidence in their voices, and compassion for themselves and others—one story and one lesson at a time.