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David Lopez – You Are Needed


Lesson Plans & Curriculum
High School
45 minutes

“You Are Needed” is a 45-minute FFA lesson plan built around the 2020-21 National FFA Western Region Vice President David Lopez’s retiring address from the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo. Students watch the video and complete a worksheet exploring the concept of vulnerability, then plan kind gestures and circumstances in which those gestures could help others. The lesson emphasizes the importance of paying attention to people in order to help with their needs.

At a glance

Learning objectives
  • Define vulnerability.
  • Plan gestures that would ease a person when vulnerabilities may be present.
Time required
45 minutes
Grade level
Grades 9 and 10
Materials
  • A copy of the "You Are Needed" 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
In this retiring address, 2020-21 National FFA Western Region Vice President David Lopez discusses how it is important to pay attention to people if we want to help others.
Vocabulary
1. Annually 2. Vulnerabilities
Resources/References
Video: "David Lopez Retiring Address," https://vimeo.com/640569950
Related Resources
Retiring Addresses and Keynotes, FFA.org/ffa-video-center/convention-keynotes-and-retiring-addresses/
Cross-Curricular Connections
English/Language Arts: Map out gestures that could be used to help a person when feeling vulnerable.
Virtual Instruction Ideas
Have students download and watch the video on a device of their choice and complete the worksheet.

Download Video

“Powerless to Purposeful” | David Lopez 2021 Retiring Address

David Lopez delivers his retiring address as National FFA Western Region Vice President, centered on the theme of being someone for somebody through paying attention and offering simple kindness. He shares personal stories of three people who saw him and made him feel valued: Aiden, a young attendee at the Wisconsin state convention; Ceci, a kind yard duty monitor from his childhood; and Emmanuel Lucero, a mentor who introduced him to FFA before passing away from cancer in 2013. The address, framed around the symbolism of the FFA jacket, includes tribute messages from his sister Melanie and his teammates.

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.CS-NDecision Making: Analyze a situation and execute an appropriate course of action.
  • FFA.PG-JMental Growth: Embrace cognitive and intellectual development relative to reasoning, thinking and coping.
  • FFA.PL-AAction: Assume responsibility and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired results, no matter what the goal or task at hand.
  • FFA.PL-CVision: Visualize the future and how to get there.
  • FFA.PL-EAwareness: Understand personal vision, mission and goals.

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