Circle Discussion Prompts

Below are discussion prompts designed to help you facilitate a safe and engaging circle discussion on inclusion and exclusion. Feel free to adapt these prompts based on the flow of conversation in your classroom.

Initial Ice-Breaker Questions

• What does being included mean to you?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Can you think of a time when someone went out of their way to include you? What did that look like?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Personal Reflection Prompts

• Describe an experience when you felt left out or excluded. How did it make you feel?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What are some things others can do to make you feel more included?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Group Reflection Questions

• What are some common factors or obstacles that can lead to feelings of exclusion in schools or communities?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• In what ways can we support one another to overcome these obstacles?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Deep Dive Discussion

• How do our personal differences contribute to a richer, more inclusive community?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What concrete actions can each of us take to ensure that everyone feels valued and included?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Follow-Up and Reflection

• After today's discussion, what is one idea or strategy that stood out to you that you might try to implement in your everyday life?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can we as a group continue to create a supportive environment where everyone is heard and respected?
  
  
  
  
  
  

These prompts are meant to stimulate thoughtful conversation and help each student articulate their personal experiences and solutions related to inclusivity. Encourage respectful listening and allow sufficient time for each student to reflect before responding.

Inclusion Brainstorm Activity

In this activity, you will work together with your classmates to brainstorm creative ideas for making your school or community more inclusive. The objective is to generate as many ideas as possible – remember, every idea counts!

Guidelines:

• Be Respectful: Listen carefully to each other’s ideas without interrupting.
• Be Open-Minded: Allow all suggestions, even if they seem different or unusual at first.
• Collaborate: Build on each other’s ideas, and feel free to ask questions for clarity.

Steps:

1. Divide into Small Groups: Each group should consist of 3-4 students.

2. Brainstorm Session (10 Minutes):

   • Use sticky notes, a whiteboard, or paper to write down your ideas.
   • Think about everyday actions, changes in policies, or new activities that could promote inclusivity at school or in the community.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Share Your Ideas (5 Minutes):

   • After brainstorming, each group will share their top 3 ideas with the class.
   • As a class, discuss these ideas and think about how they could be put into action.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Reflect:

   • Write down one idea from the session that you believe could make the biggest positive impact on your school or community.
   • Share with a partner why you think this idea stands out.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Follow-Up Questions:

• What made certain ideas more appealing than others?
• How do you think implementing these ideas might change the way people feel at school or in your community?
• What steps could you take if you were to try and implement one of these ideas?

Remember, the goal is to think creatively and work together. There are no wrong answers – every suggestion is a step toward building a more inclusive environment!

Happy brainstorming!

Role-Playing Exercise

In this exercise, you will practice dealing with exclusionary behavior and learn how to respond in a way that promotes inclusivity and respect. This activity will help you build empathy, effective communication skills, and confidence in standing against exclusion.

Guidelines:

• Listen Actively: Pay close attention to your partner's portrayal and responses.
• Respect: Maintain a respectful tone even while role-playing challenging situations.
• Reflect: After each scenario, think about what responses worked best and why.

Steps:

1. Form Pairs:

   • Pair up with a classmate. If needed, the teacher can assign partners.

2. Review Scenarios:

   • Each pair will be given a scenario that reflects an instance of exclusionary behavior.
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Role-Play (10 Minutes):

   • One student will act out the scenario as it is presented, while the other practices a respectful and inclusive response.
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • After playing out the scenario, switch roles and repeat with a different scenario if time allows.

4. Debrief (5 Minutes):

   • As a class, share experiences about what responses helped to ease the situation and which strategies seemed most effective.
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Discuss alternative responses and how these can be applied in real-life situations.

Role-Playing Scenarios:

Scenario 1:

• A new student is being ignored by a group when they join a game. How can you include them?

Scenario 2:

• During group work, one student is making fun of another’s ideas. How can you help change the conversation to be respectful?

Scenario 3:

• A student is consistently left out of lunchtime conversations. What actions can you take to welcome them?

Reflective Questions:

• What did you feel during the role-play?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What responses helped to make the scenario more inclusive?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can you apply these strategies in your day-to-day school life?

Remember, the goal of this exercise is not only to practice responding to exclusionary behavior but also to understand the feelings of all individuals involved and to work together toward a more inclusive and respectful community.

Happy role-playing!

Empathy Reflection Activity

In this activity, you will work in pairs to share personal stories and create empathy maps. The goal is to understand and connect with the feelings and experiences of others, which is a key step towards creating an inclusive environment.

Guidelines:

• Open Up: Be honest and respectful when sharing your story.
• Actively Listen: Give your partner your full attention, without interrupting.
• Be Supportive: Offer kind and understanding responses when it’s your turn to listen.

Steps:

1. Pair Up:
   • Find a partner in the classroom. If needed, the teacher can help form pairs.

2. Share Experiences (5 Minutes):
   • Each partner takes turns sharing a personal story about a time they felt supported, understood, or truly included.
   • Focus on the emotions experienced during that time and what made the situation feel positive.

3. Create an Empathy Map (3 Minutes):
   • Together, draw an empathy map on a piece of chart paper or use a digital tool if available. The map should have sections for:
     • Feelings: What emotions were felt?
     • Thoughts: What thoughts went through your mind?
     • Actions: What actions were taken by others that helped you feel included?
     • Needs: What could have been done differently to improve the situation?

4. Group Discussion (2 Minutes):
   • Share key insights from your empathy maps with the class. Discuss common themes and what you learned about supporting one another better.
   • Reflect on how understanding others’ experiences can help build a more inclusive community.

Reflective Questions:

• How did sharing your personal experience make you feel?
• What did you learn from your partner's story that you hadn't considered before?
• How can these insights help you respond to exclusion in your everyday life?

Remember, empathy is about connecting with others and understanding their feelings. Use this activity to build a stronger, more inclusive environment in your classroom and beyond.

Happy reflecting!

Inclusivity Reflection Cool Down

Now that we've explored ways to foster inclusivity and practiced building empathy through discussion, brainstorming, and role-playing, it’s time to reflect on what we've learned and how we can apply these lessons in our daily lives.

Instructions:

1. Individual Reflection (5 minutes):
   • Think about today's activities. What new ideas or strategies did you learn about creating an inclusive environment?
   • Write down your thoughts in a journal. Consider these questions:
     • What actions can I take to make sure everyone feels included?
     • How did today's lesson change the way I think about inclusivity?

2. One-Sentence Takeaway:
   • At the end of your reflection, write one sentence that sums up your biggest takeaway from today's lesson. Use this as a reminder of your commitment to fostering inclusion.

3. Sharing (Optional):
   • If you feel comfortable, share your one-sentence takeaway with the class. This helps us all learn from each other's experiences and reinforces our collective commitment to inclusivity.

Remember, inclusivity begins with you. Thank you for your thoughtful participation today!