Yessing Yula helps children discover how stepping outside their comfort zones can lead to learning, confidence, and personal growth. Kids explore how to recognize safe opportunities, try new experiences, and make thoughtful choices even when something feels unfamiliar.
POSITIVE SELF-TALK
“I say YES to adventure.”
How to Use This Lesson
1. Meet Yessing Yula
Introduce Yessing Yula and the life skill of courage.
Talk about how trying something new can sometimes feel scary. Children may worry about making mistakes, being laughed at, or not being good at something.
Yula reminds us that we can feel nervous and still choose to try.
Explain that courage means taking positive steps outside our comfort zones while making safe choices.
2. Practice Positive Self-Talk
Say Yula's positive self-talk phrase together:
“I say YES to adventure.”
First, say it out loud. Then practice saying it silently in your mind.
Encourage children to remember these words when they have an opportunity to try something new or face a challenge.
3. Share the Skill Sign
Print and display Yessing Yula's Looks Fear in the Eye sign.
Explore the nine examples of courage from her sign:
Raise your hand in class, even if you're worried others might laugh.
Try a new sport, even if you think you're slow.
Play a musical instrument, even if you don't know how to read music.
Give a speech, even if you're afraid of public speaking.
Share your ideas in a group, even if others might disagree.
Introduce yourself to someone new, even if you're worried they won't like you.
Try something challenging, even if you doubt your abilities.
Play kickball, even if you're afraid of making a mistake.
Try skating, even if you're worried about falling.
Invite children to choose one small, safe challenge they would like to try.
Remind them that everyone learns at their own pace and that mistakes are part of learning.
4. Breathe and Stretch
Take a few minutes to breathe and move together.
Use the stretches from the Breathe and Stretch book or follow Yula's movement video.
Encourage children to notice how their bodies feel before and after moving.
Talk about how a calming breath can help us feel more prepared when we're nervous about trying something new.
5. Read the Story
Bring Yessing Yula to life! Read her story from the Powerful You book with expression and enthusiasm.
Invite children to notice when Yula demonstrates courage and how she responds to challenges.
nvite children to notice when Yula demonstrates courage and how she responds to challenges.
Talk about how her experiences connect to times when they've felt nervous about trying something new.
6. Reflect and Connect
Use Yula's Reflect & Shine questions from the Powerful You book to encourage meaningful conversations.
Invite children to think about a time when they were brave, even though they felt afraid.
Discuss how trying new experiences can help us discover strengths and interests we didn't know we had.
7. Explore Optional Activities
Choose an activity from the Powerful You book to reinforce Yula's lesson.
You can also try a My Courage Challenge activity.
Invite children to choose one small, safe thing they would like to try.
Help them complete these statements:
I want to try: Something new or challenging.
I feel: The emotions that come up when I think about trying.
I can: One small step I can take.
I learned: What I discovered from the experience.
Celebrate their willingness to try, regardless of the outcome.
8. Lights, Camera, Action! — Role-Play
Bring the lesson to life with role-playing!
Use the Powerful You laminated scenario cards or create your own everyday situations.
Invite children to practice what they might say or do when:
They want to raise their hand but feel nervous.
They are invited to try a new sport.
They want to make a new friend.
They have an idea but are afraid to share it.
They make a mistake while learning something new.
Practice taking a breath, using positive self-talk, asking for support, and taking one small step forward.
Keep it playful, encouraging, and fun!
Remember: “I say YES to adventure.”
