lenny

Peer Power Ups

Lesson Plan

Community Reinforcement Builder

Students will learn to identify and practice peer-to-peer positive reinforcement strategies to cultivate a supportive classroom environment and enhance their classmates' positive behaviors and academic efforts.

Fostering positive peer interactions is crucial for creating a safe and engaging learning space. This lesson empowers students to actively build a supportive community, improving overall classroom morale and individual student well-being.

Audience

7th Grade Group

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions and practical activities.

Materials

Your Friends, Your Cheerleaders (slide-deck), Positive Post-It Partners (activity), and Building a Positive Peer Culture (discussion)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What's a Power-Up?

5 minutes

  • Begin with a warm-up question: "What's something a friend or classmate did or said recently that made you feel good or helped you?" (2 minutes)
  • Introduce the concept of "Peer Power-Ups" using the Your Friends, Your Cheerleaders Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
  • Explain the lesson's objective: learning to give and receive positive reinforcement from peers.

Step 2

Exploring Positive Reinforcement

10 minutes

  • Use Your Friends, Your Cheerleaders Slide Deck (Slide 3-5) to define positive reinforcement and its benefits in a classroom setting.
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "Why is it sometimes hard to give compliments or positive feedback? What makes it easier?" (5 minutes)

Step 3

Positive Post-It Partners Activity

15 minutes

  • Introduce the Positive Post-It Partners Activity (1 minute).
  • Divide students into pairs or small groups (if not already arranged).
  • Instruct students to write positive notes to their partners, focusing on specific actions or qualities (10 minutes).
  • Have students share one or two notes they received or wrote, emphasizing the impact (4 minutes).
  • Refer to Your Friends, Your Cheerleaders Slide Deck (Slide 6) to guide the activity.

Step 4

Building a Positive Peer Culture Discussion

8 minutes

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Our Peer Power Promise

2 minutes

  • Ask students to commit to giving at least one peer power-up before the next class.
  • End with a positive affirmation about the strength of their classroom community (e.g., "Our classroom is powered by us!").
  • Conclude by reinforcing the importance of sustained positive peer interactions.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Peer Power Ups

Your Friends, Your Cheerleaders!

How can we lift each other up?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of 'Peer Power Ups.' Explain that this lesson is about how they can make their classroom a more positive place for everyone.

What's a Power-Up?

It's when your classmates help you shine!

  • A kind word
  • A helpful gesture
  • Recognizing someone's effort
  • Celebrating a success

Ask students to think about a time someone said something nice or helpful to them. Emphasize that these 'power-ups' make us feel good and perform better.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

It's giving a positive reaction when someone does something good!

  • Goal: To encourage more of that good behavior!
  • Examples: Compliments, encouragement, acknowledging effort.

Define positive reinforcement in simple terms. Explain how it encourages good behavior and effort.

Why Does it Matter?

A classroom full of power-ups leads to...

  • Happier learning
  • Stronger friendships
  • More teamwork
  • A sense of belonging for everyone!

Discuss the benefits of a classroom where positive reinforcement is common. Connect it to their own experiences.

Giving Good Power-Ups!

Make your praise specific and genuine!

  • Instead of: "Good job!"

  • Try: "I really liked how you explained that math problem step-by-step; it helped me understand it better!"

  • Instead of: "Nice drawing!"

  • Try: "Your use of vibrant colors in that landscape really brings it to life!"

Provide examples of effective and ineffective positive reinforcement. Emphasize being specific and genuine.

Activity: Positive Post-It Partners

Time to give some power-ups!

  1. You'll be paired with a partner.
  2. Write 2-3 positive notes for your partner on sticky notes.
  3. Focus on specific strengths, efforts, or kind actions you've noticed.
  4. Be ready to share one note you received or wrote!

Introduce the Post-It Partners activity. Explain the instructions clearly and encourage thoughtful notes.

Building Our Positive Peer Culture

How can we keep the power-ups going?

  • What challenges might there be?
  • How can we encourage everyone to participate?
  • What would our classroom feel like with more peer power-ups?

Lead into the discussion. Encourage students to think about how they can make this a consistent part of their classroom.

lenny

Activity

Positive Post-It Partners

Objective: To practice giving specific and genuine positive reinforcement to classmates.

Instructions:

  1. Find Your Partner: You will be paired up with a classmate.
  2. Grab Your Post-Its: Each pair will receive a stack of sticky notes.
  3. Think Positive: For the next 10 minutes, think about your partner. What are some positive qualities, efforts, or actions you have noticed about them in class? Be specific!
    • Examples to get you thinking:
      • "I really appreciate how you always share your ideas during group work."


      • "You did a great job explaining that concept yesterday; it helped me understand it."


      • "I noticed you helped organize the materials after class, thank you!"


  4. Write Your Notes: On 2-3 separate sticky notes, write a specific positive comment for your partner. Make sure your notes are kind and encouraging.
  5. Exchange and Read: When instructed, exchange your Post-It notes with your partner. Read them quietly.
  6. Share (Optional): Be prepared to share one of the notes you received, or one you wrote, with the class and explain why it was meaningful.
lenny
lenny

Discussion

Building a Positive Peer Culture

Objective: To reflect on the importance of positive peer reinforcement and strategize how to integrate it into daily classroom interactions.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. Reflecting on the Activity:

    • How did it feel to give positive notes to your partner?


    • How did it feel to receive positive notes from your partner?


    • Was it easy or challenging to think of specific positive comments? Why?


  2. Impact of Peer Power-Ups:

    • In what ways can regularly giving and receiving "Peer Power-Ups" change the atmosphere of our classroom?





    • How might it affect individual students? Think about confidence, participation, and willingness to take risks.





  3. Challenges and Solutions:

    • What are some reasons why students might hesitate to give positive reinforcement to their peers?


    • What are some ways we can encourage everyone in our class to participate in giving "Peer Power-Ups" more often?





  4. Making it a Habit:

    • Beyond structured activities, what are some simple, everyday ways we can offer "Peer Power-Ups" to our classmates?





    • How can we remind ourselves and each other to keep this positive habit going?


  5. Vision for Our Classroom:

    • Imagine our classroom truly embraced "Peer Power-Ups" every day. What would it feel like to be a student in that environment?





lenny
lenny
Peer Power Ups • Lenny Learning