Lesson Plan
Culture Crew Lesson Plan
Students will define school culture and collaboratively design an orientation kit to welcome kindergarteners, practicing leadership, empathy, and community-building.
This lesson empowers 7th graders to reflect on and share positive aspects of their school culture, develop peer-mentoring skills, and foster an inclusive environment for younger students.
Audience
7th Grade Middle School Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided brainstorming and hands-on group design.
Materials
School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet, Orientation Kit Planning Template, Construction Paper, Markers and Colored Pencils, Index Cards, and Sticky Notes
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print copies of School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet and Orientation Kit Planning Template.
- Gather art supplies: construction paper, markers, colored pencils, index cards, and sticky notes.
- Arrange students into groups of 3–4 for collaborative work.
Step 1
Introduction to School Culture
5 minutes
- Define school culture: shared values, traditions, behaviors, and symbols.
- Provide examples: morning assemblies, school mascot, peer-support programs.
- Pose the question on the board: “What makes our school special?” and record student responses.
Step 2
Brainstorm Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet.
- Individually, students complete a 3-2-1 prompt:
- 3 things they love about our school culture.
- 2 traditions or values they’d add for new students.
- 1 tip they wish they’d known as a kinder.
- Students share highlights with their group.
Step 3
Design Orientation Kit
10 minutes
- Hand out Orientation Kit Planning Template.
- In groups, decide on kit components (e.g., welcome letter, school map, top tips, class schedule overview).
- Sketch or draft each item on construction paper, index cards, or sticky notes.
- Label each element with its purpose for kinder students.
Step 4
Present & Reflect
5 minutes
- Each group gives a 1-minute overview of their kit’s highlights.
- Class discusses how the selected items reflect our school culture.
- Reflect verbally: “How can we model leadership and empathy as 7th graders?”
Step 5
Assessment & Differentiation
Ongoing
- Assessment:
- Use a simple rubric to evaluate each group on: clarity of school culture elements, creativity of kit items, and teamwork.
- Observe participation during brainstorming and presentation.
- Differentiation:
- Provide sentence starters or pictorial supports for ELLs or students with writing challenges.
- Allow creative alternatives (e.g., digital slides instead of paper).
- Pair students strategically so stronger readers support peers.
Slide Deck
Culture Crew: Kinder Welcome
A 30-minute lesson where 7th graders explore our school culture and design an orientation kit to welcome kindergarteners.
Welcome the class and introduce today's objectives. Explain that "school culture" includes shared values, traditions, symbols, and behaviors. Outline the plan: brainstorm our culture, design an orientation kit, present, and reflect—all in 30 minutes.
What is School Culture?
- Shared values & beliefs
- Traditions & rituals
- Symbols & behaviors
Examples: morning assemblies, school mascot, peer-support programs.
Define each bullet and invite student examples. Write student contributions on the board under each category.
Brainstorm Activity
- Grab a copy of the School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet.
- Individually complete:
• 3 things you love about our school culture
• 2 traditions or values you’d add for new students
• 1 tip you wish you’d known as a kinder - Share highlights with your group (10 minutes).
Distribute the School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet. Monitor the 3-2-1 prompt activity, prompt deeper thinking if groups stall, and remind students to share highlights with their group.
Design Orientation Kit
- Take the Orientation Kit Planning Template.
- In your group, choose 4–5 kit components (e.g., welcome letter, school map, tip cards).
- Sketch or draft each item on paper, index cards, or sticky notes.
- Label each element with its purpose for kindergarteners (10 minutes).
Hand out the Orientation Kit Planning Template. Circulate to support groups: suggest kit items and help label each item’s purpose for kinder students.
Present & Reflect
- Each group presents your kit highlights (1 minute).
- Class discusses how these items showcase our school culture.
- Reflect: “How can we model leadership and empathy as 7th graders?” (5 minutes).
Time each group’s 1-minute presentation. Guide the class discussion on how each kit element reflects our values. Highlight leadership and empathy examples.
Assessment & Support
- Clarity of school culture elements
- Creativity & usefulness of kit items
- Teamwork & participation
Offer supports: sentence starters, pictorial aids, or digital tools as needed.
Use a simple rubric to assess groups on clarity of culture elements, creativity of kit items, and teamwork. Differentiate by offering sentence starters to ELLs or allowing digital alternatives.
Thank You & Next Steps
Great work today! Keep using your leadership and empathy skills to help our newest learners feel at home.
Thank students for their effort. Explain where kits will be used (orientation day) and collect materials. Preview any follow-up activities.
Worksheet
School Culture Brainstorm Worksheet
3-2-1 Prompt
Instructions:
Individually complete each part of the 3-2-1 prompt below. Write your ideas in the spaces provided. Be ready to share one or two of your responses with your group.
- Three things I love about our school culture:
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
- Two traditions or values I’d add for new students:
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
- _______________________________________________
- One tip I wish I had known as a kinder:
_________________________________________________
Be prepared to share at least one of your ideas with your group.
Worksheet
Orientation Kit Planning Template
Instructions:
In your group, plan 4–5 components for your kindergarten orientation kit. For each component, fill in the details below and sketch your idea. Be prepared to present your highlights to the class.
Component 1: _________________________
Description: What is this item and how will a kinder use it?
Purpose: Why is this helpful for a new kinder?
Materials Needed: List art supplies or printed materials.
Sketch or Draft: Draw a rough sketch of your component.
Component 2: _________________________
Description: What is this item and how will a kinder use it?
Purpose: Why is this helpful for a new kinder?
Materials Needed: List art supplies or printed materials.
Sketch or Draft: Draw a rough sketch of your component.
Component 3: _________________________
Description: What is this item and how will a kinder use it?
Purpose: Why is this helpful for a new kinder?
Materials Needed: List art supplies or printed materials.
Sketch or Draft: Draw a rough sketch of your component.
Component 4: _________________________
Description: What is this item and how will a kinder use it?
Purpose: Why is this helpful for a new kinder?
Materials Needed: List art supplies or printed materials.
Sketch or Draft: Draw a rough sketch of your component.
Optional: If you have time, add a Component 5 following the same format above.
Cool Down
Reflection Exit Ticket
Name: ________________________ Date: ______________
- One thing I learned today about our school culture:
- One way I can show leadership or empathy to a kinder student is:
- If I were a kindergarten student on my first day, I would feel:
- One idea to improve our orientation kit for next time:
Thank you for your feedback! We’ll use your ideas to make our orientation even better.