Lesson Plan
Beyond The Block
Students will be able to identify the risks associated with gang involvement and explore positive alternatives for belonging and personal growth.
Understanding the dangers of gang involvement is crucial for students' safety, well-being, and future success. This lesson empowers them to make positive choices and seek healthy avenues for belonging.
Audience
7th Grade (Small Group)
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and reflection activities.
Materials
Beyond The Block Slide Deck, Warm-Up Activity: What's Your Crew?, Discussion Prompts: The Path Less Taken, and Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice Exit Ticket
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
Review the Beyond The Block Slide Deck, Warm-Up Activity: What's Your Crew?, Discussion Prompts: The Path Less Taken, and Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice Exit Ticket to familiarize yourself with the content and flow. Ensure all digital materials are accessible.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What's Your Crew?
5 minutes
Begin with the Warm-Up Activity: What's Your Crew? to get students thinking about groups and belonging. Introduce the idea of positive and negative groups.
Step 2
Introduction to 'Beyond The Block'
5 minutes
Use the first few slides of the Beyond The Block Slide Deck to introduce the topic of belonging, community, and the potential pitfalls of negative groups like gangs. Emphasize that this is about making smart choices for their future.
Step 3
Risks and Realities Discussion
10 minutes
Facilitate a discussion using the Discussion Prompts: The Path Less Taken. Guide students to share their understanding of risks associated with gang involvement (e.g., violence, legal trouble, limited future opportunities) and explore healthy ways to find support and identity. Use relevant slides from the Beyond The Block Slide Deck.
Step 4
Positive Paths & Support
5 minutes
Shift the focus to positive alternatives. Discuss school clubs, sports, community service, and other constructive groups. Reiterate that there are trusted adults and resources available to help them make good choices and overcome challenges. Utilize the concluding slides of the Beyond The Block Slide Deck.
Step 5
Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice
5 minutes
Distribute the Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice Exit Ticket for students to reflect on one key takeaway and a positive choice they can make to secure their future. Collect these as an informal assessment.
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Slide Deck
Beyond The Block: Your Choices, Your Future
Understanding groups and making smart decisions for your life journey.
Today, we'll explore:
- Why we want to belong
- The difference between positive and negative groups
- The real risks of gang involvement
- How to build a bright future for yourself
Welcome the small group of students. Emphasize that this lesson is about making good choices for their own future and understanding different paths, and that this is a safe space for open discussion.
Why Do We Want To Belong?
It's human nature to want to connect with others!
We all look for groups where we feel:
- Accepted
- Safe
- Understood
- Like we have a purpose
Think about the different "crews" you're a part of – what makes them special?
Start with the Warm-Up Activity: What's Your Crew? Then, lead into a brief discussion about why humans naturally seek connection and groups. Encourage students to share examples of positive groups they belong to (family, sports, school clubs, friends) and how those groups make them feel.
Positive Connections vs. Negative Influences
Groups can be amazing!
Positive Connections often offer:
- Friendship and support
- Shared interests and goals
- Opportunities to learn and grow
- Encouragement to be your best self
Negative Influences can lead to:
- Pressure to do things you don't want to
- Dangerous or illegal activities
- Loss of individuality and control
- Harm to yourself or others
Discuss the difference between positive and negative groups. Highlight that not all groups are beneficial. Ask students to share characteristics of good groups (support, encouragement) and what might make a group harmful (pressure, illegal activities, bullying). Gently connect this to negative peer influence without explicitly naming 'gangs' yet, allowing for individual sharing and understanding.
The Realities: What Are the Risks?
Joining groups involved in dangerous activities can have serious, lasting consequences.
Potential Risks include:
- Legal Trouble: Arrests, jail time, a criminal record that affects your future.
- Violence: Being a victim or perpetrator of violence.
- Loss of Freedom: Being controlled by others, losing the ability to make your own choices.
- Impact on Family & Friends: Causing worry, pain, and separation.
- Limited Future: Making it harder to get a job, go to college, or achieve your dreams.
- Health Risks: Exposure to drugs, injury, or even death.
This slide directly addresses the core issue in a sensitive manner suitable for a small group. Use the Discussion Prompts: The Path Less Taken to guide this part of the conversation. Encourage students to think critically about the impact of joining groups involved in dangerous activities. Create a safe space for them to express concerns or ask questions.
Your Power: Choosing Your Path
You have the power to choose your own path and build a future you're proud of!
- Identify Your Values: What's truly important to you?
- Seek Positive Mentors: Look for adults who can guide and support you.
- Find Healthy Outlets: Explore clubs, sports, arts, or volunteer opportunities.
- Build Strong, Positive Relationships: Choose friends who lift you up.
- Know Your Resources: Teachers, counselors, family, and community organizations are there to help.
Your future is bright when you are in control!
Shift the conversation towards empowerment and positive choices. Emphasize that students have agency over their future and can seek out healthy ways to find belonging. Prompt them to brainstorm specific examples of positive outlets and trusted adults in their lives.
Build Your Best Future!
Remember, every choice you make shapes your journey.
Choose wisely, choose safely, and choose to be the best version of yourself.
You are capable of amazing things!
Complete the Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice Exit Ticket before you leave today.
Conclude by reiterating the message of hope and support. Distribute the Cool-Down activity and encourage individual reflection. Offer to be a trusted adult they can speak to if needed.
Warm Up
Warm-Up Activity: What's Your Crew?
Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about the different groups you are a part of. These could be family groups, friends, school clubs, sports teams, online communities, or even groups related to your hobbies.
-
List three different "crews" or groups you belong to:
-
What makes each of these groups feel important or special to you? (Think about things like support, shared interests, fun, feeling safe, etc.)
-
What are some of the good things that come from being a part of these groups?
(We will discuss your answers shortly!)
Discussion
Discussion Prompts: The Path Less Taken
Instructions: Let's have an open and honest conversation about making choices and the different paths people take. Your thoughts and feelings are important. Please listen respectfully to others.
-
Based on our discussion and slides, what are some of the real dangers or negative consequences people might face if they get involved with groups that are doing illegal or harmful things? (Think about their personal safety, their future, their family, and their freedom.)
-
Why do you think some young people might be drawn to these kinds of groups? What might they be looking for? (e.g., sense of belonging, protection, excitement, money, identity)
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What are some of the healthy and positive ways that young people can find a sense of belonging, support, and identity without putting themselves at risk? (Brainstorm school activities, community groups, family connections, trusted adults, hobbies, etc.)
-
If you or someone you know felt pressured or knew someone getting involved in a negative group, who are some trusted adults or resources you could talk to?
Cool Down
Cool-Down: My Future, My Choice Exit Ticket
Instructions: Before you leave today, please take a moment to reflect on our lesson and answer the following questions.
-
What is one important thing you learned today about making choices for your future and the groups you associate with?
-
What is one positive choice or action you can commit to taking to help build a safe and successful future for yourself? (This could be joining a club, talking to a trusted adult, focusing on school, avoiding certain situations, etc.)