Warm Up
One Word for Our School
Think about our school's climate right now. If you had to describe it in one word, what would it be?
Why did you choose that word? What makes you feel that way?
Lesson Plan
Auditing Our School Climate
Students will be able to identify key components of a positive school climate and analyze the current climate of their own school, proposing solutions for improvement.
A positive school climate fosters a sense of belonging, safety, and respect, which are essential for student well-being and academic success. This lesson empowers students to actively contribute to creating such an environment.
Audience
9th Grade Class
Time
55 minutes
Approach
Discussion, observation, and project-based learning.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, One Word for Our School, Building a Culture of Belonging, School Climate Walk-Through, and Our Ideal School Blueprint
Prep
Review Materials and Prepare Technology
15 minutes
- Review the Auditing Our School Climate Lesson Plan, Building a Culture of Belonging Slide Deck, One Word for Our School Warm Up, School Climate Walk-Through Activity, and Our Ideal School Blueprint Project.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready.
- Print or prepare digital copies of the warm-up, activity, and project guides for distribution.
Step 1
Warm-Up: One Word for Our School
10 minutes
- Distribute or display the One Word for Our School Warm Up.
- Ask students to silently reflect and write down one word that describes the current school climate and explain why.
- Facilitate a brief class share-out, inviting volunteers to share their words and reasoning. Encourage respectful listening.
Step 2
Introduction: Building a Culture of Belonging
15 minutes
- Present the Building a Culture of Belonging Slide Deck.
- Use the slides to define school climate, discuss its importance, and introduce the concept of restorative practices.
- Facilitate a brief discussion after the presentation, asking students what aspects of school climate resonate most with them.
Step 3
Activity: School Climate Walk-Through
20 minutes
- Introduce the School Climate Walk-Through Activity.
- Explain the purpose: to observe and record aspects of school climate in different areas of the school.
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students).
- Assign each group a specific area of the school to observe (e.g., hallways, cafeteria, library, classrooms, common areas).
- Provide clear instructions on what to look for (e.g., signs of respect/disrespect, cleanliness, inclusivity, student interactions).
- Circulate among groups to provide support and answer questions. (Note: This activity can be done in a single classroom if a physical walk-through isn't feasible, by having students observe elements within the classroom itself or recall observations from other areas).
Step 4
Project Introduction: Our Ideal School Blueprint
10 minutes
- Bring students back together.
- Introduce the Our Ideal School Blueprint Project.
- Explain that based on their observations and the discussions, they will design a blueprint for an ideal school climate.
- Briefly go over the project expectations and provide time for questions. Explain that the project will be completed outside of class or in a follow-up session.
Slide Deck
Building a Culture of Belonging: Is Our School a Safe Space for Everyone?
What Makes Our School, Our School?
Welcome students and introduce the topic: school climate and why it matters to them. You can ask them what they think 'school climate' means before showing the definition.
What is School Climate?
- The shared feelings and perceptions of students, teachers, and staff about the school environment.
- It's how we experience school every day.
- It influences our safety, well-being, and learning.
Explain that school climate isn't just about the weather outside, but the 'feeling' of our school. Emphasize that it affects everyone.
Key Components of a Positive School Climate
- Safety: Physical and emotional safety for all.
- Relationships: Respectful and supportive interactions.
- Teaching & Learning: Engagement, challenge, and support.
- Fairness: Clear and equitable rules and consequences.
- Environment: Welcoming and well-maintained physical spaces.
Discuss these key components. Ask students for examples of each within their own experiences.
Restorative Practices: Building Community
- Focus on repairing harm and strengthening relationships.
- Instead of just asking "What rule was broken?", we ask:
- What happened?
- Who was affected?
- How can we make things right?
- Helps create a culture of empathy and responsibility.
Introduce Restorative Practices as a way to actively build a positive climate. Briefly explain how it differs from traditional discipline.
Become a Climate Detective!
Activity: School Climate Walk-Through
- You will observe different areas of our school.
- Look for signs of safety, respect, fairness, and belonging.
- Record your observations – both positive and areas for improvement.
Transition to the activity. Explain that they will be detectives observing the school through the lens of school climate.
Designing Our Ideal School
Project: Our Ideal School Blueprint
- Based on your walk-through and our discussions...
- Design a "blueprint" for an ideal school climate.
- Include specific ideas and restorative practices to make our school an even better place for everyone.
Introduce the final project. Explain that they will use their observations and learning to propose concrete improvements.
Your Voice Matters!
Let's work together to make our school a truly safe and inclusive space for everyone.
Conclude by reiterating the importance of their input and the collective effort needed to create a positive school climate.
Activity
School Climate Walk-Through: Your School, Your Observations
Instructions: In your assigned group, you will conduct a "walk-through" of a designated area of the school. Your goal is to observe and record aspects of our school's climate related to safety, respect, fairness, and belonging.
Area to Observe: ____________________________________________________
Group Members:
What to Look For:
1. Physical Safety & Environment:
- Are hallways clear and free of hazards?
- Is the area clean and well-maintained?
- Do you see signs of vandalism or damage?
- Do students seem to feel comfortable moving through this space?
2. Respect & Relationships:
- How do students interact with each other? (Are interactions positive, negative, or neutral?)
- How do students interact with staff (if observed)?
- Do you see signs of bullying or exclusion?
- Are there examples of diverse groups interacting positively?
3. Fairness & Inclusivity:
- Are school rules visibly posted or communicated?
- Do you observe any groups that seem excluded or marginalized?
- Are there resources or signs that promote inclusivity (e.g., diverse representation in posters, accessible facilities)?
4. Sense of Belonging:
- Do you see student artwork, projects, or achievements displayed?
- Are there common spaces that encourage positive social interaction?
- Do students appear engaged or disengaged in their surroundings?
Record Your Observations:
Use the space below to write down specific things you see, hear, or feel in your assigned area. Be as detailed as possible.
Positive Observations:
Areas for Improvement / Concerns:
Questions or Further Thoughts:
Project Guide
Our Ideal School Blueprint: Designing a Culture of Belonging
Instructions: Based on your observations from the School Climate Walk-Through Activity and our discussions about positive school climate and restorative practices, your group will now design a "blueprint" for an ideal school environment.
Your blueprint should illustrate and explain how your ideal school would foster a strong sense of safety, respect, fairness, and belonging for everyone.
Project Components:
1. School Name & Motto:
- Give your ideal school a unique name and a motto that reflects its climate and values.
2. Visual Blueprint/Design (Sketch or Description):
- Create a visual representation (a detailed sketch, diagram, or a descriptive paragraph if sketching isn't feasible) of a key area or the overall layout of your ideal school.
- This could be a classroom, a common area, a playground, or even the whole school.
- Highlight specific design elements that contribute to a positive climate.
3. Climate Features (Detailed Explanation):
- Safety: How would your school ensure both physical and emotional safety for all students? (e.g., specific rules, support systems, emergency procedures).
- Respect & Relationships: What practices or programs would promote positive interactions among students, teachers, and staff? (e.g., peer mediation, community circles, mentorship programs).
- Fairness & Justice (Restorative Practices): How would your school address conflicts and rule-breaking in a way that focuses on repairing harm and teaching responsibility? Give specific examples of restorative practices in action.
- Belonging & Inclusivity: What would your school do to ensure every student feels valued, included, and connected? (e.g., diverse clubs, cultural celebrations, student voice initiatives).
4. Implementation Plan (Brief):
- Briefly describe 1-2 concrete steps your school could take to start implementing one of your proposed climate features.
Presentation (Optional/If time allows):
Prepare to share your blueprint with the class, explaining your design choices and the rationale behind them.
Guiding Questions for Your Design:
- How does your ideal school prevent problems before they start?
- How does it help students when problems do occur?
- How does it celebrate diversity and ensure everyone's voice is heard?
- What specific changes would make the biggest positive impact?