Lesson plan: humanistic psychology
Topic: Humanistic psychology
Paper 2: Psychology in context: Approaches 4.2.1
The following is a sample lesson plan to help teachers to structure a one hour lesson on the humanistic approach for A-level Psychology (Scheme of work Year 2, Week 2). It is suggested as a guide only and can be amended to suit teachers and their students’ needs.
Learning objectives
Develop and understanding of the assumptions, key concepts and methods of the humanistic approach.
Learning outcomes
- All students should be able to explain the assumptions and methods of the humanistic approach including reference to individual/subjective experience, free will and the rejection of scientific methods.
- All students should be able to outline Maslow’s theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs.
- More able students should be able to discuss Maslow’s contribution to humanistic psychology.
- All students should be able to describe self-actualisation and the behaviours which lead to it.
Prior knowledge needed
Students will understand that there are a range of approaches in psychology.
In the previous session students will have been directed for homework to research the humanistic approach in psychology and be able to state three facts relating to it.
Lesson preparation
- YouTube: Humanistic theory
- YouTube: Motivation, Maslow & Movies – analysis of the Pixar cartoon Up using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- Hand-out – Maslow’s hierarchy of needs/pyramid for cut and paste activity
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Quiz
- Simply Psychology: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- A Theory of Motivation by Abraham Maslow audiobook
Activity
|
Duration |
Activity |
Group size |
Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2 minutes |
Sharing of aims and objectives of lesson. Overview of the learning methodologies to be employed in the lesson. |
Whole group |
|
|
5 minutes |
Using the online random name picker, each student to state one thing that they have learned from their brief research into the Humanistic Approach (use Random name picker) |
Whole group |
All students will be able to identify three facts about the humanistic approach. |
|
8 minutes |
Tutor led (resource 1) – Students to watch video (resource 1) on the Humanistic Approach in Psychology – students to take notes |
Whole group |
All students will be able to explain the assumptions and methods of the Humanistic approach including reference to individual/subjective experience, free will and the rejection of scientific methods. |
|
5 minutes |
Whiteboard Relay– group split into two teams. The whiteboard pen taking the place of the relay baton. The aim is for each member of the team to write something that they have learned from the video on the whiteboard and then to pass the pen to the next member of their team who will do the same, and so on. The winning team is the one which presents the most detail relating to the humanistic approach. (Use Online stopwatch: Classroom timers during this activity to maintain the pace. |
Whole group |
All students will be able to explain the assumptions and methods of the Humanistic approach including reference to individual/subjective experience, free will and the rejection of scientific methods. |
|
10 minutes |
Students to watch and take notes on the video (resource 2) which introduces Maslow’s theory and analyses the Pixar cartoon 'Up' using Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Resource YouTube: Motivation, Maslow & Movies Students are directed to extracting the main needs identified by Maslow. This is to be followed by a sharing of information extracted from the video. |
Individual learning activity |
All students will be able to outline Maslow’s theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs. |
|
5 minutes |
Sorting activity (resource 3) – students to work in pairs to complete a cut and paste activity. |
All students will be able to correctly order Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. |
|
|
10 minutes |
Student activity – complete quiz ** (resource 4) In addition to answering the question, the students are to identify which level of the hierarchy is being measured by the question. Quick self-test based on the ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. **remove answer key |
Whole class |
All students will be able to recognise Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in a variety of statements. |
|
10 minutes |
Small group work – students split into six groups and provided with a copy of the Simply Psychology resource Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Each group is allocated one of the following topics to research and produce a presentation (5 minutes) for the next lesson:
Students to agree timeline for completion of this activity outside of the classroom in preparation for the next lesson |
Group work |
All students will be able to explain the characteristics of self-actualisers and the behaviours which lead to it. More able students will critically evaluate the concept of self-actualisation. |
|
5 minutes |
Review and plenary. Students to be directed to additional learning materials available on the VLE, eg Prezi presentation on Maslow’s Theory (resource 5) Maslow's Theory of Motivation. Students are also directed to access the gallery of famous Maslow quotes on the internet (search images) and to identify their favourite and print it off. At the next lesson they are to explain why that one particularly appeals to them. |
Whole group |
|
|
2 minutes |
Sharing of aims and objectives of lesson. Overview of the learning methodologies to be employed in the lesson. |
Whole group |
Further work and reading
Extension
The following resource should be placed on the VLE:
Preparation for next lesson
Small group activity preparation:
- Small group work – students split into 6 groups and provided with a copy of the Simply Psychology resource Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- Each group is allocated one of the following topics to research and produce a presentation for the next lesson:
- characteristics of self–actualisers
- behaviours which lead to self-actualisation
- applications of Maslow to education
- how Maslow’s ideas differ from those of the behaviourists
- criticisms of Maslow’s theory
- strengths of Maslow’s theory.
Homework
- Small group work (as above).
- Identifying their favourite quote from Maslow – print off and be able to explain why this particularly appeals.