Scope And Sequence: Freshman Launchpad Project Overview

Why?
This project outlines an 18-week, 10-day rotation plan to help 9th graders adjust to high school routines, develop CASEL social-emotional competencies, and complete scaffolded, hands-on projects leading to a final showcase.

Prep (30 mins)

• Review Student Reflection Journal Template
• Review CASEL Competency Overview Slides
• Upload all materials to your LMS or shared drive
• Set up a digital project tracking board (e.g., Kanban)

Time

• One semester (18 weeks)
• 60-minute sessions, 5 sessions per 10-day cycle

Approach
Weekly cycles integrate:

• Community building & high school adjustment
• CASEL competencies (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making)
• Project milestones progressing from planning to showcase

Audience
9th Grade High School Students (attending class 5 times every 10-day span)

Materials

• Student Reflection Journal Template
• CASEL Competency Overview Slides
• Community Circle Guidelines
• Project Planning Worksheet
• Peer Feedback Protocol Sheet
• Semester Assessment Rubric

Objective
By semester’s end, students will:

• Navigate high school routines with confidence
• Demonstrate growth in all CASEL competencies
• Plan, draft, revise, and present a research-based or creative project
• Reflect on personal growth through journaling and self-assessment

Weekly Session Sequence (10-Day Cycle)

Assessment & Reflection (10 mins each cycle)

• Use the Semester Assessment Rubric for project and presentation feedback
• Students complete self-assessments in the Student Reflection Journal Template
• Collect artifacts for digital portfolios and progress tracking

Congratulations! You now have a clear, cycle-based roadmap to guide your 9th graders through a meaningful semester of adjustment, skill-building, and project success.

Project Planning Worksheet

1. Project Title & Overview

Project Title: _________________________________

Brief Overview (What will you create?):

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

2. Brainstorm Project Ideas

List 2–3 project ideas that interest you:

1. ___________________________________________
   
   
   
2. ___________________________________________
   
   
   
3. ___________________________________________
   
   
   

Chosen Idea: _________________________________

Why this idea? (What makes it meaningful?):

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

3. Research Questions

Write three key questions you need to answer to complete your project:

1. ___________________________________________
   
   
   
2. ___________________________________________
   
   
   
3. ___________________________________________
   
   
   

4. Timeline & Milestones

Use the weekly cycle in Scope And Sequence to plan your milestones:

• Milestone 1 (Week __): _______________________
  
  
  
• Milestone 2 (Week __): _______________________
  
  
  
• Milestone 3 (Week __): _______________________
  
  
  
• Final Presentation (Week 15–18): _____________
  
  
  

5. Resources & Materials

Identify at least three resources or materials you will need:

• Resource 1: _________________________________
  
  
  
• Resource 2: _________________________________
  
  
  
• Resource 3: _________________________________
  
  
  

Where will you find or access these resources?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

6. Success Criteria & Reflection

What will success look like? Refer to the Semester Assessment Rubric when writing your criteria:

Success Criteria:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Post-Project Reflection (to complete after your presentation):

• What went well?
  
  ________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
  
  ________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  

__________________________ __________________________

Student Signature Date

Good luck planning your project! Stay on track, ask for feedback, and reflect on your progress throughout the semester.

Community Circle Guidelines

Purpose:
Community Circles are structured discussions that foster trust, inclusion, and belonging. They help students share experiences, practice active listening, and build a positive classroom culture.

Roles & Setup (5 mins)

• Circle Keeper: Facilitator (teacher or rotating student) who guides timing and keeps the group on task.
• Talking Piece: An object passed around; only the person holding it may speak. This ensures respectful turn-taking.
• Arrange chairs in a circle so all participants can see each other.

Circle Norms (Develop with Students)

• Respect: Listen without interrupting.
• Confidentiality: What’s shared in the circle stays in the circle.
• Authenticity: Speak from your own experience using “I” statements.
• Curiosity: Ask questions to understand, not judge.
• Support: Respond with empathy and encouragement.

Facilitator Steps

1. Opening (2 mins): Brief breathing exercise or mindfulness prompt.
2. Introduce Topic (1 min): Connect to current theme (e.g., goal setting, stress check-in, empathy).
3. Pass the Talking Piece (10–12 mins): Each student shares a response to a prompt.
4. Group Reflection (5 mins): Discuss common themes, surprises, or questions.
5. Closing (2 mins): Summarize key takeaways and link to next steps or journal reflections.

Sample Prompts

• Self-Awareness: “What emotion did you notice most this week, and why?”
• Self-Management: “Share one strategy you used to handle a stressful moment.”
• Social Awareness: “Describe a time you noticed someone else’s feelings and how you responded.”
• Relationship Skills: “What makes someone a good listener in a group?”
• Responsible Decision-Making: “Tell us about a choice you made this week that you feel proud of.”

Follow-Up & Reflection

• After the circle, have students record insights in the Student Reflection Journal Template.
• Encourage them to set a personal SEL goal based on today’s discussion.
• Revisit circle norms regularly and adjust based on student feedback.

Tip for Teachers: Rotate circle roles (e.g., timekeeper, notetaker) so students develop leadership and ownership of the process.

Student Reflection Journal Template

Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Session #: ______________

1. Session Focus & CASEL Competency

Today’s Theme/Activity: ___________________________________________________



Which CASEL competency did we practice today? (Circle one)

• Self-Awareness - Self-Management - Social Awareness - Relationship Skills - Responsible Decision-Making
  
  
  Describe how this competency showed up in today’s session:
  
  __________________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Personal Reflection

1. What did I learn about myself today?
   
   __________________________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What strategy or skill did I use to manage my emotions or actions?
   
   __________________________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How did I demonstrate empathy or notice others’ feelings?
   
   __________________________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Describe one decision I made today that reflects responsible decision-making:
   
   __________________________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Project & Goal Tracking

Project Milestone Completed Today: __________________________________________

Next Project Steps (Week __):

• _________________________________________________________________________
  
  
  

4. SEL Goal Setting

Based on today’s reflection, my goal for next week is:

__________________________________________________________________________

How will I hold myself accountable or seek support?

__________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ________________________ Date: ______________

Tip: Review your previous entries before each session to track your growth and adjust your goals.

Semester Assessment Rubric

Use this rubric to evaluate students’ performance across SEL competencies, project quality, presentation skills, and reflection. Each criterion is scored on a 4-point scale (4 = Exemplary, 3 = Proficient, 2 = Developing, 1 = Beginning).

Scoring:

• Total possible points: 16
• 13–16: Exemplary Semester Performance
• 9–12: Proficient Semester Performance
• 5–8: Developing Semester Performance
• 4 or below: Beginning Semester Performance

Use this rubric alongside the Student Reflection Journal Template and Scope And Sequence for holistic assessment and feedback.