Lesson Plan
Connect & Chat Crew
Students will engage in structured discussions and a fun activity to connect with peers, share experiences, and build a stronger sense of community within the lunch group.
Building connections helps students feel supported, reduces feelings of isolation, and improves overall social-emotional well-being by fostering a sense of belonging.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Structured discussion, sharing, and an engaging activity.
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Connect & Chat Crew Slide Deck, Lunch Group Discussion Guide, and Would You Rather: Lunch Edition Activity to familiarize yourself with the prompts and flow.
- Ensure a comfortable and private space is available for the small group.
- Have a method for displaying the slide deck (e.g., laptop, tablet).
Step 1
Welcome & Icebreaker
3 minutes
- Greet students warmly as they arrive.
- Use the first slide of the Connect & Chat Crew Slide Deck to introduce the group's purpose: building connections and chatting.
- Lead a quick icebreaker question from the Lunch Group Discussion Guide to get everyone comfortable (e.g., "What's one thing you're looking forward to this week?").
Step 2
Fun Activity: Would You Rather?
5 minutes
- Introduce the Would You Rather: Lunch Edition Activity as a fun way to learn more about each other.
- Go through 2-3 prompts, encouraging students to choose and briefly explain their reasoning.
- Facilitate lighthearted discussion and highlight interesting commonalities or differences.
Step 3
Share & Connect
5 minutes
- Transition to the main discussion using prompts from the Lunch Group Discussion Guide and subsequent slides in the Connect & Chat Crew Slide Deck.
- Focus on one or two key discussion points, like "Highs & Lows."
- Encourage all students to share, but emphasize that participation is voluntary.
- Facilitate active listening and positive peer interaction.
- Guide the conversation to ensure everyone has a chance to speak and that discussions remain supportive and constructive.
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
2 minutes
- Summarize key themes or positive moments from the discussion.
- Thank students for their participation and sharing.
- Briefly mention the next meeting time or encourage them to continue connecting outside the group.
- End on a positive note, perhaps with a closing thought or a quick, fun question.
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Slide Deck
Connect & Chat Crew
Welcome to our Lunch Group!
Today, we're here to connect, share, and build our crew. Get ready to chat and make some new friends!
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of the 'Connect & Chat Crew' - a safe space to connect and share during lunch.
Quick Connect!
To start, let's go around and share:
"What's one cool thing you did or learned recently?"
Ask students to share their answers. Emphasize that participation is voluntary and to listen respectfully.
Highs & Lows
Let's talk about our week so far:
What's been a 'high' (something positive) and a 'low' (a challenge) for you?
Remember to listen with respect and offer support.
Introduce the idea of sharing a 'high' (something good) and a 'low' (a challenge or something less good). Encourage honesty and empathy.
Beyond the Bell
Thinking about things you enjoy:
What's one thing you're really passionate about or a hobby you love outside of school?
Transition to a more forward-looking or reflective question. This helps students think about their interests and passions.
Crew Connection Complete!
Thanks for connecting today!
Remember, we're a crew, and it's great to have this time together. See you next time!
Conclude the session, thank students for sharing, and remind them of the positive connections made.
Discussion
Lunch Group Discussion Guide: Connect & Chat Crew
Welcome & Ground Rules (Teacher Script)
"Welcome, everyone! I'm so glad you're here for our Connect & Chat Crew lunch. This is a space for us to get to know each other better, share what's on our minds, and just connect. Remember to be respectful of everyone's thoughts and feelings, and let's make sure everyone gets a chance to speak if they want to. No pressure to share if you're not comfortable, but we encourage you to participate as you feel ready."
Icebreaker: Quick Connect!
To get us started, let's go around the table. Feel free to share as much or as little as you like.
Prompt: "What's one cool thing you did or learned recently, or something you're looking forward to this week?"
Main Discussion: Highs & Lows / Beyond the Bell
Now that we've warmed up, let's dive a little deeper.
Prompt 1: Highs & Lows
"Thinking about our week so far, what's been a 'high' – something positive or something you're proud of? And what's been a 'low' – maybe a challenge you faced or something that felt a little tough?"
Encourage students to elaborate and ask follow-up questions like, "How did that make you feel?" or "What did you learn from that experience?"
Prompt 2: Beyond the Bell
"Let's shift gears a bit. What's one thing you're really passionate about or a hobby you love to do outside of school?"
This helps students share personal interests and find commonalities. Encourage questions like, "How did you get into that hobby?" or "What do you like most about it?"
Wrap-Up (Teacher Script)
"Thank you all so much for sharing and connecting today. It's really valuable to hear from each of you and build this community. I hope you feel a little more connected to your peers. Let's look forward to our next session!"
Activity
Would You Rather: Lunch Edition
Purpose: To encourage lighthearted discussion and discover commonalities and differences among group members.
Instructions (Teacher Script):
"Alright, Crew! Let's play a quick game of 'Would You Rather: Lunch Edition'. I'll give you two fun options, and you just choose which one you'd prefer and briefly explain why. There are no wrong answers, just interesting ones!"
Prompts:
-
Would you rather eat pizza with your best friend every day for a year, or have a surprise visit from your favorite celebrity at your school assembly?
-
Would you rather have an endless supply of your favorite snack, or always have the perfect playlist for any mood?
-
Would you rather be able to talk to animals, or be able to instantly learn any new skill?
-
Would you rather have an extra hour of sleep every night, or an extra hour of free time during the day?
Wrap-Up (Teacher Script):
"That was a fun way to learn more about each other! It's cool to see what makes each of us tick. Thanks for playing along, Crew!"