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Anna Mathis – There Is a Reason for Your Season


Lesson Plans & Curriculum
High School
45 minutes

This National FFA lesson plan, “There Is a Reason for Your Season,” uses the 2020-21 National FFA Secretary Anna Mathis’s retiring address to help students understand the concept of a “season” or challenge in life. Students watch the video and complete a worksheet, then take a reflective walk and journal about a current season or challenge they are experiencing.

At a glance

Learning objectives
  • Describe the word "season."
  • Journal about a current "season" or challenge they are experiencing.
Time required
45 minutes
Grade level
Grades 9 and 10
Materials
  • A copy of the "There Is a Reason for Your Season" worksheet for each student
  • Internet access to play the video in real time or embed it in a PowerPoint ahead of time
Description of Lesson
Life has many challenging and joyous moments. In many challenging instances, we wish we could fast-forward to the next moment. But what can be learned from these moments? In the retiring address of 2020-21 National FFA Secretary Anna Mathis, we will learn that there is a reason for each season.
Vocabulary
Embrace; Encourage; Season
Resources/References
Video: "Anna Mathis Retiring Address," https://vimeo.com/640329383
Related Resources
Retiring Addresses and Keynote Speeches, FFA.org/ffa-video-center/convention-keynotes-and-retiring-addresses/.
Cross-Curricular Connections
English/Language Arts — Journal about a current "season" or challenge they are experiencing.
Virtual Instruction Ideas
Have students download and watch the video on a device of their choice and complete the worksheet.

Download Video

“A Time for Everything” | Anna Mathis Retiring 2021 Address

Anna Mathis delivers her retiring address as National FFA Secretary, themed around the idea that there is a reason for every season of life. Through personal stories—her bitter first National Convention in the FFA band, her struggles with volleyball, and encouragers she met as a state officer—she encourages members to embrace where they are, encourage others, and enjoy the moment. She closes by reflecting on losing her mother during her year of service and her mom’s lasting reminder to enjoy the moment.

Downloads & Links

Lesson plan

Worksheet

Other

Aligned Standards

AFNR Career Ready Practices

  • CRP.02Apply appropriate academic and technical skills. Career-ready individuals readily access and use the knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education to be more productive.
  • CRP.04Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason. Career-ready individuals communicate thoughts, ideas and action plans with clarity, whether using written, verbal and/or visual methods.
  • CRP.06Demonstrate creativity and innovation.
  • CRP.08Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Career-ready individuals readily recognize problems in the workplace, understand the nature of the problem, and devise effective plans to solve the problem.

Common Core – Writing

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4Produce clear and coherent writing the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

FFA Precept

  • FFA.PG-J.Mental GrowthEmbrace cognitive and intellectual development relative to reasoning, thinking and coping.
  • FFA.PL-A.ActionAssume responsibility and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired results, no matter what the goal or task at hand.
  • FFA.PL-C.VisionVisualize the future and how to get there.
  • FFA.PL-E.AwarenessUnderstand personal vision, mission and goals.

FFA Precepts

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