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Community Connectors

Lesson Plan

Community Connectors

Students will recognize their role in creating a positive school community and beyond, fostering a sense of belonging, encouraging civic engagement, and highlighting how individual actions strengthen the entire community.

This lesson is important because it empowers students to understand their impact on the community, encouraging them to actively participate and contribute to a positive environment. It helps students develop a sense of responsibility and connection to their surroundings.

Audience

Grades 9-12

Time

60-75 minutes

Approach

Through discussions, brainstorming, and project planning, students will connect with their community.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is a Community Connector?

10 minutes

  • Begin with a warm-up question: "What does 'community' mean to you?" (5 minutes)
    - Introduce the concept of a 'Community Connector' using the Community Connectors Slide Deck (Slide 1-2). (5 minutes)

Step 2

Shared Values Discussion

20 minutes

Step 3

Identifying Community Needs & Brainstorming Solutions

15 minutes

  • In small groups, have students brainstorm challenges or needs within the school or local community. (5 minutes)
    - Guide them to think about how they could contribute to addressing these needs. Use Community Connectors Slide Deck (Slide 5). (10 minutes)

Step 4

Introducing the Community Contribution Project

20 minutes

Step 5

Wrap-up & Reflection

5-10 minutes

  • Ask students to share one idea they are excited about for their community project. (5 minutes)
    - Conclude by reinforcing the idea that every individual has the power to be a Community Connector. (3 minutes)
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Slide Deck

Community Connectors

Building Bridges, Fostering Belonging, & Making a Difference Together!

Ask students: "What does 'community' mean to you?" Allow for a few varied responses to activate prior knowledge.

What is a Community Connector?

Someone who:

  • Actively participates
  • Contributes positively
  • Strengthens connections
  • Fosters belonging

Explain that a 'Community Connector' is someone who actively participates in and contributes to their community, making it stronger and more inclusive.

Our Shared Values

What makes a community strong and supportive?

  • Respect
  • Empathy
  • Collaboration
  • [Your Ideas Here!]

Initiate a discussion using the Shared Values Discussion Guide. Ask: "What values are important for our school community to thrive?" Provide examples like respect, kindness, teamwork, honesty.

Values in Action

How do these values show up in our daily lives at school?
How can we encourage them more?

Continue the discussion, prompting students to think about how these values are lived out daily or how they could be further integrated.

Spotting the Gaps: Community Needs

Where can we make a difference?

  • What challenges do we face as a school community?
  • What needs do you see in our local neighborhood?
  • How can we contribute to solutions?

Transition to identifying needs. Ask: "What are some challenges or areas for improvement you see in our school or local community?" Encourage open and honest sharing, emphasizing solutions-oriented thinking.

Becoming a Contributor: Project Time!

Even small actions can create big ripples.
Get ready to:

  • Brainstorm a project idea
  • Plan your contribution
  • Make a real impact!

Introduce the idea of a small-scale project. Explain that even small actions can have a big impact. Refer to the Community Contribution Project Guide.

Your Project, Your Impact

What problem will you solve?
Who will you help?
How will your project foster belonging and contribution?

Encourage students to think creatively about how their skills and interests can be used to address a community need.

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Discussion

Shared Values Discussion Guide

Introduction

Welcome, Community Connectors! Today, we're going to talk about something really important: the values that make our community strong. Values are like the guiding principles that help us decide how to act and interact with each other. When we share values, our community becomes a more supportive and positive place.

Discussion Questions

  1. What does the word "community" mean to you?

    • Think about groups you belong to – your family, your friends, our school, a sports team, a club. What do these groups have in common?






  2. What are some values that you think are important for our school community to have?

    • Consider things like respect, kindness, honesty, teamwork, empathy, responsibility, or inclusion. Why is each of these important?






  3. How do you see these values in action at our school? Can you think of specific examples?

    • *For example, if you mentioned
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Project Guide

Community Contribution Project Guide

Project Goal

To become a "Community Connector" by identifying a need within our school or local community and designing a small-scale project to address it. Your project should aim to foster a sense of belonging, encourage positive interactions, or contribute to the well-being of others.

Project Objectives

By the end of this project, you will be able to:

  • Identify a specific need or challenge within your community.
  • Brainstorm and develop a creative solution to address that need.
  • Plan the steps necessary to implement your project.
  • Reflect on the potential impact of your contribution.

Project Steps

Step 1: Identify a Community Need (Individual & Group Brainstorming)

  • Individual Reflection: Think about our school or local community. What are some things you wish were different? What problems do you notice? What groups of people could use some support? (5 minutes)


  • Group Discussion: Share your ideas with your group. As a group, choose ONE specific community need or challenge that you are passionate about addressing. Make sure it's something manageable for a small, short-term project.
    • Examples: Helping younger students with reading, organizing a small school cleanup, creating welcome notes for new students, gathering donations for a local shelter, designing posters to promote kindness.

Step 2: Brainstorm Solutions & Project Idea

  • Once you have identified your community need, brainstorm several ways your group could help. Be creative!
  • Select the best idea for a small-scale project that your group can realistically plan and potentially implement (if time allows).

Step 3: Project Plan Outline

Work with your group to outline your project plan. Consider the following:

  1. Project Title: Give your project a catchy and descriptive name.



  2. Community Need Addressed: Clearly state the problem or need you are trying to solve.



  3. Your Project Idea: Describe what your project is and what you will do.






  4. Target Audience/Beneficiaries: Who will benefit from your project?



  5. Materials Needed: What supplies or resources would your group need?



  6. Steps to Implement: List the main actions your group would take to make this project happen. (e.g., "Research local shelters," "Design posters," "Collect items").






  7. Expected Impact: How do you hope your project will make a difference in the community? How will it foster belonging or contribution?






Presentation (Optional)

Prepare to briefly share your project idea with the class. Explain your community need, your project, and its potential impact.

Reflection Questions

  • What was the most challenging part of designing your project?






  • What was the most rewarding part?






  • How does planning this project make you feel about your role in the community?






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