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Our Safe Space Agreements

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Alex Bryant

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Community Norms Protocol

Students will co-create and justify five shared norms that promote physical and emotional safety in Titan Time, practicing psychological safety, norm-setting, and shared responsibility.

By collaboratively defining safety norms, students develop ownership and trust, laying the foundation for a supportive classroom culture where everyone feels physically and emotionally secure.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions and group drafting to co-create norms

Materials

  • Building Safety Together Slides, - Think-Pair-Share Prompts, - Norms Draft and Rationale Sheet, and - Exit Ticket Agreement Reflection

Prep

Teacher Prep

10 minutes

  • Print one Norms Draft and Rationale Sheet per group
  • Review Building Safety Together Slides and note slide transitions
  • Familiarize with Think-Pair-Share Prompts
  • Prepare digital or printed copies of Exit Ticket Agreement Reflection
  • Arrange students into groups of 3–4 ahead of time

Step 1

Warm-up: Quick Scenario Sort

5 minutes

  • Project scenarios on Building Safety Together Slides
  • Students individually sort each as “Safe” or “Unsafe”
  • Use Think-Pair-Share Prompts to compare and discuss with a partner

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Defining Safety

5 minutes

  • Present what safety looks, sounds, and feels like using slides
  • Highlight psychological safety, norm-setting, and shared responsibility
  • Solicit real-life examples from students

Step 3

Small Group Norm Drafting

10 minutes

  • In groups, complete the Norms Draft and Rationale Sheet
  • Propose 3–4 norms and write justifications for each
  • Guide discussion with Think-Pair-Share Prompts

Step 4

Whole-Class Synthesis

7 minutes

  • Groups post their drafted norms for all to see
  • Review and discuss overlaps, clarifying any questions
  • Facilitate a vote or consensus to finalize the top five norms

Step 5

Cool-Down: Signing and Reflection

3 minutes

  • Display finalized norms and have students sign or virtually commit
  • Distribute Exit Ticket Agreement Reflection
  • Students reflect on one norm and describe their personal commitment
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Slide Deck

Building Safety Together

In this session, we will:

  • Sort scenarios as safe or unsafe
  • Define what safety looks, sounds, and feels like
  • Draft and justify group norms
  • Synthesize and finalize our top five agreements
  • Commit by signing and reflecting

Welcome students to today’s Titan Time session. Explain that we’re building a set of shared agreements to keep our classroom physically and emotionally safe. Briefly preview activity flow: scenario sort, defining safety, drafting norms, synthesizing, and signing.

Warm-up: Quick Scenario Sort

Sort each scenario as SAFE or UNSAFE:

  1. Whispering an insult about a classmate behind their back
  2. Clapping and cheering when someone shares an idea
  3. Ignoring a peer who’s upset during discussion
  4. Asking a peer, “Are you OK?” after they seem frustrated
  5. Laughing at every comment without listening

Project this slide and give students 2 minutes to individually sort each scenario as “Safe” or “Unsafe.” Then prompt students to use the Think-Pair-Share protocol (#think-pair-share-prompts) to compare their answers.

What Does Safety Look, Sound, & Feel Like?

Safety looks like:

  • Open body language and smiles
  • Headphones off during group time

Safety sounds like:

  • Respectful listening and calm voices
  • Encouraging words (“Go ahead…”)

Safety feels like:

  • Confidence to speak up
  • Comfort in making mistakes

Lead a mini-lesson defining safety. Invite real-life examples for each category. Emphasize psychological safety (everyone feels respected), norm-setting (agreed guidelines), and shared responsibility.

Small Group Norm Drafting

In groups of 3–4:

  1. Brainstorm 3–4 possible norms
  2. For each norm, write a brief rationale:
    • Why is this important for physical/emotional safety?
  3. Reference Think-Pair-Share prompts (#think-pair-share-prompts) to guide discussion
  4. Be ready to post your norms for review

Explain group work: each group uses the Norms Draft and Rationale Sheet (#norms-draft-and-rationale-sheet) to propose 3–4 norms. Encourage attention to psychological safety, norm-setting, and shared responsibility. Circulate to support rationales.

Whole-Class Synthesis & Finalize

  1. Each group posts its drafted norms
  2. Discuss common themes and clarify meanings
  3. Vote or reach consensus on the top five
  4. Refine wording so everyone understands and agrees

Facilitate whole-class synthesis: have groups post norms, then guide discussion to highlight overlaps. Use voting or consensus to select the top five norms. Record final phrasing where all can see.

Signing & Reflection

  1. Review our final five safety agreements
  2. Sign or digitally commit to these norms
  3. Complete the Exit Ticket Agreement Reflection:
    • Choose one norm
    • Describe your personal commitment

Reveal the finalized norms and invite students to sign physically or virtually. Distribute the Exit Ticket Agreement Reflection (#exit-ticket-agreement-reflection). Prompt students to reflect on one norm and describe how they will uphold it.

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Discussion

Think-Pair-Share Prompts

Use these questions to guide both the scenario sort and the norm-drafting discussions. Pair up, share your thoughts, then discuss as a group.

  1. Scenario Sort Reflection:
    • Which scenario(s) did you and your partner disagree on? What made one of you call it “safe” and the other “unsafe”?
    • When you label a situation as physically safe vs. emotionally safe, what clues do you look for?
    • How might that scenario affect someone’s willingness to speak up or participate?
  2. Defining Safety:
    • What does psychological safety mean to you in this classroom?
    • Can you share a time when you felt truly listened to? What made you feel safe?
    • What behaviors (looks, sounds, feelings) help you know this is a place you can take risks?
  3. Drafting Norms & Rationales:
    • What specific action does this norm encourage? How will it keep us physically or emotionally safe?
    • Who benefits from this agreement, and why is it important for everyone?
    • What could happen if we don’t follow this norm? How might someone get hurt (physically or emotionally)?
    • What challenges might we face in upholding this norm, and how can we support each other?
  4. Shared Responsibility & Commitment:
    • How can each member of our class help hold these norms up every day?
    • What reminders or signals could we use if someone forgets a norm?
    • Why is it important that we all have a voice in creating these agreements?
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lenny

Worksheet

Norms Draft and Rationale Sheet

Group Information
Group Name/Number: ____________________________


Team Members: _________________________________


Directions:
In your group, brainstorm 3–4 norms that will keep our Titan Time physically and emotionally safe. For each norm:

  1. Write a clear statement of the norm.
  2. Provide a rationale explaining why it’s important, who benefits, and how we’ll uphold it.
    Use the Think-Pair-Share Prompts to guide your discussion.

Norm 1

Statement: ________________________________________________



Rationale:

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Norm 2

Statement: ________________________________________________



Rationale:

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Norm 3

Statement: ________________________________________________



Rationale:

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(Optional) Norm 4

Statement: ________________________________________________



Rationale:

______________________________________________________________

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Top 3 Norms for Whole-Class Synthesis

Review your group’s norms and select the three you believe are most essential.

  1. ____________________________________________


  2. ____________________________________________


  3. ____________________________________________


Be ready to post these top 3 norms for our whole-class discussion!

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Cool Down

Exit Ticket: Agreement Reflection

Name: ________________________________ Date: ________________


  1. Which of our five norms will you focus on today?
    __________________________________________________________


  2. Why is this norm important to you and our classroom community?
    __________________________________________________________





  3. Describe one concrete way you will demonstrate your commitment to this norm in our next Titan Time.
    __________________________________________________________





  4. Suggest a simple reminder or signal our class can use to help everyone remember this norm.
    __________________________________________________________





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