Group Activity Instructions

Objective: Share personal experiences and discuss strategies for building supportive relationships.

Instructions:

1. Form Small Groups:

   • Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students. Ensure that each group is balanced and supportive.

2. Sharing Experiences:

   • Within your group, each student will have 2 minutes to share a personal story where they experienced or witnessed supportive behavior.
   • Remind students to listen actively, showing empathy and respect during each person's sharing time.

3. Discuss Communication Strategies:

   • After everyone has shared, discuss together:
     • What made those experiences supportive?
     • How did clear communication affect the outcome?
     • What did you learn about offering or receiving support?

4. Activity Wrap-Up:

   • Conclude by having one volunteer or group spokesperson summarize the group’s discussion points.
   • Encourage students to write down one communication strategy they feel is most important for building strong relationships.

Tips for Inclusion:

• For students with ADD, ADHD, or Autism, ensure clear, step-by-step instructions are provided. Visual aids or written steps can be distributed to support their understanding.
• Encourage a respectful and supportive atmosphere where every student’s experience is valued.

Supportive Relationships Game

Objective:

• To reinforce the concepts of empathy, communication, and trust through a fun and interactive team game while emphasizing the importance of clear and effective communication and active listening.

Setup:

• Arrange students into small teams of 3-4 members, ensuring that each group sits together to facilitate conversation and teamwork.

Materials Needed:

• A set of prompt cards with questions or scenarios focused on supportive relationships and effective communication. Examples include:
  • "Describe a time when you explained your feelings clearly and it helped resolve a conflict."
  • "Discuss a situation where you needed to listen more than speak. What did you learn?"
  • "Share a method you use to ensure your message is understood by others."
• A timer or stopwatch.
• Paper and markers for the blind drawing activity.

How to Play:

1. Prompt Round:

   • Each team takes turns drawing a prompt card. One member reads the prompt aloud while the rest of the team discusses their responses. Encourage each member to articulate their thoughts clearly while actively listening to others.

2. Team Communication Challenge:

   • After discussing the prompt, introduce the Blind Drawing activity:
     • One team member is given a simple image or shape (you can prepare these ahead of time) and must describe it verbally to their teammates without revealing what the image is.
     • The rest of the team listens and tries to replicate the image solely based on the description.
     • Once completed, compare the drawing with the original image to see how effective the communication was.
     • Rotate roles so each member has a chance to both describe and draw.

3. Team Story Building:

   • Following the blind drawing activity, the team designs a short story or skit (spoken or acted) that incorporates their discussion on effective communication. They should highlight moments where clarity and active listening played key roles. Give them 3 minutes to prepare.

4. Sharing and Voting:

   • Each team presents their story or skit to the entire class. After all presentations, students can vote on which presentation best illustrated effective communication, empathy, and trust. Emphasize that the purpose is learning rather than competition.

5. Debriefing:

   • Facilitate a debrief with reflective questions such as:
     • "What communication strategies worked well in your blind drawing activity?"
     • "How did active listening contribute to the success of your drawing and story?
     • "What can you take away from this activity to improve your communication in everyday situations?"

Inclusive Strategies:

• Display clear and concise instructions for each stage of the game using visual aids, especially helpful for students with ADD, ADHD, or Autism.
• Use a blend of verbal and written directions, and be sure to repeat key points as needed.
• Offer additional time or prompts to ensure every student can participate fully in both the discussion and blind drawing exercises.

Teacher's Note:

• Remind students that the game is designed to build supportive relationships through better communication and active listening. Every attempt to share ideas and listen is a valuable step toward fostering understanding.