Experiential Curriculum
Redefining Readiness, One Student’s SHINE at a Time
House of Shine changes lives by writing and delivering curriculum that builds on strengths and contributions. In a world focused on covering up imperfections, our curriculum focuses on exposing participants to their unique combination of talents and gifts. This simple shift in philosophy makes all the difference, because when people understand their strengths they are more confident, more likely to engage with the world around them, and better able to make personal and professional decisions that lead to more fulfilling lives. In the same way a student develops content knowledge slowly and over time, these K-12 modules allow a student to develop self-knowledge slowly and over time. Each module is intended to create a slow drip of increased self-awareness, that over thirteen years of K-12 education will lead to a more engaged student. We believe a student’s confidence will also increase as they learn ways to shine in their corner of the world.
FIELD TRIPS
Experience SHINE in Action
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind, experiential field trip for your students, House of Shine offers customized sessions that help ages 5–18 discover their SHINE through interactive learning, creative activities, and group reflections. Students leave more confident, self-aware, and ready to contribute meaningfully in the classroom and beyond.
Schedule a Field TripK-12 Curriculum
GRADE K: SHINE SCAVENGER HUNT (1 Class Period)
This module is an introduction to the Shine message. Students will explore what each letter of SHINE stands for and imagine life as a scavenger hunt where following clues leads to hidden treasures, their unique talents and gifts.
GRADE 1: CHARACTERS THAT SHINE (1 Class Period)
For a month, the class will read a different book by author Andrea Beatty, featuring Iggy Peck, Architect, Rosie Revere, Engineer, and Ada Twist, Scientist. In the first three weeks, students will reflect on how they like to spend their time, relative to the book characters. In the fourth week, students will create a costume representing their hobbies and interests like the characters.
GRADE 2: SHOE SHINE (2 Class Periods)
Students will explore how the choices they make with their free time provide insight into their talents and gifts. In the first class period, students will read Rocks in His Head by Carol Otis Hurst to learn how hobbies can shape someone’s future. In the second class period, students will bring a shoe box filled with objects representing the ways they spend their free time.
GRADE 3: GIFT OF SELF (1 Class Period)
In anticipation of an upcoming holiday, students will create a gift coupon for someone they love. These gifts will be based on the students’ unique talents and gifts – their shine. Each student will leave class with a packaged gift they can give to someone.
GRADE 4: SHINE CAPSULES (3 Class Periods)
This module provides students with the opportunity to seal their own “Shine Capsule”. Inside the hand-decorated capsules are snapshots of a student’s likes, dislikes, dreams, attributes, and successes. Capsules are sealed during a ceremony and are not opened again until their senior year.
GRADE 5: S IS FOR STRENGTHS (5 Class Periods)
This module offers a deep exploration of students’ strengths. Students will complete the StrengthsExplorer survey and use weekly classroom activities to identify patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Additionally, students are challenged to see shades of shine in their peers, based on the intensity of a person’s strengths and shadow strengths.
GRADE 6: BRAND YOU (2 Class Periods)
Students will be introduced to the concept of Brand You – the idea that each of us is our brand manager and that all the big and little decisions we make are what builds our brand. In the first period, students will explore and discuss popular brands and the public’s opinions about them. In the second period, students will imagine their brand and begin goal-setting around how to turn big dreams into small, manageable parts.
GRADE 7: HOW ARE YOU INTELLIGENT? (2 Class Periods)
Students will be assigned the task of completing Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences survey to learn about their individual profile of intelligences. Students will then discover ways in which their profile of intelligences can be used to carry out different tasks when used in combination.
GRADE 8: MR. HOLLAND’S PARTY (2 Class Periods)
Students will be introduced to Holland’s six personality types, RIASEC, by having them complete Holland’s Code and then spend time in class explaining each of the six types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional, and then apply this to their behaviors and beliefs.
GRADE 9: WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK (2 Class Periods)
Using the Myers-Briggs instrument, students will explore how their SHINE (Strengths, Hobbies, Interests/Irritants, Needs, and Experiences) can provide insight into suitable careers or college majors, and develop a resume that reflects their strengths, preferences, and personality.
GRADE 10: POINTS OF INTERSECTION (4 Class Periods)
Students will learn more about which problems they are most drawn to in the world and how they’re uniquely wired to make contributions toward those problems. The four class periods include: 1) an overview of SHINE, 2) guided journaling sessions, 3) the Golden Circle and the importance of knowing their “why”, and 4) the Points of Intersection where we bring together students’ talents, interests, and needs. Students will end this module by selecting a project topic based on their Point of Intersection.
GRADE 11: VALUES AUCTION (1 Class Period)
Modeled after a live auction, students will bid on a series of values, forcing them to make decisions about which values they consider most important. Students will be challenged to think about their future college and/or job application processes and the choices they might have to make.
GRADE 12: LIFE MAPS (1 Class Period)
As a capstone experience, students will be asked to synthesize what they have learned about their SHINE through the creation of their Life Maps. They will review Peaks and Valleys, revisit Islands of Competence, and dream about paths and life choices that lie ahead.
Developmental Levels 1, 2, 3
These levels are designed for groups seeking curriculum that extends learning over time, offering greater depth and focus. Each one is experiential in nature and made up of 15 sessions that build understanding and encourage meaningful application. Designed to be flexible, the curriculum can be adapted for groups ranging from middle school students to career professionals who want to strengthen their leadership skills and self-awareness.
Level 1
Exposes students to the basic tenants of our Shine philosophy; a belief that engaged students and citizens must BE, DO, and SHARE. Using self-reflection and action, students participating in this curriculum will discover their SHINE (their unique combination of strengths, hobbies, interests and irritants, needs, and experiences) and put into practice the act of sharing it with their corner of the world.
Level 2
Builds on the base foundation of the SHINE principles, involving students in events that mimic a 10-event decathlon as they explore each of the ten principles. Students will also explore ways to broaden their perspective and collectively influence the world using their SHINE.
Level 3
Allows students to enter the specialty phase, in which they’ll think about what they specifically need to do in order to reach peak performance by establishing new habits. They will set specific goals and work to achieve them, throughout this curriculum. These 50-minute lessons will accomplish four things: 1) provide an introduction to establishing habits, 2) share tools to aid in success, 3) address excuses that can get in the way, and 4) provide future applications of what they learn.
TEACHER TRAININGS
Lead with Shine
House of Shine partners with educators and leaders to bring self-discovery into classrooms, workplaces, and communities. Whether through SHINE Certified Teacher training or our in-depth Shineologist Certification, you’ll gain tools to apply the Shine Methodology, foster confidence and self-awareness, and create cultures where people thrive.
Explore Certification Offerings