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Safe Space Mapping

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Lesson Plan

Safe Space Session Outline

Participants will collaboratively map existing supports and stressors within their school, identify climate hotspots, and generate actionable insights to inform trauma-informed strategies.

Visualizing supports and stressors empowers school leadership teams to pinpoint areas of strength and pressure, guiding data-driven decisions that foster a safer, more inclusive school climate.

Audience

School Leadership Team (Adults)

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided individual and group mapping activities using a worksheet and slide deck.

Materials

Mapping Your School Climate, and Safe Space Mapping Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Session Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Objectives

5 minutes

  • Greet participants and introduce purpose of the session
  • Display objectives on the first slide of Mapping Your School Climate
  • Establish ground rules: confidentiality, respect, open dialogue

Step 2

Concept Overview

5 minutes

  • Define “supports” vs. “stressors” on Slide 2–3 of Mapping Your School Climate
  • Highlight why identifying both is crucial for trauma-informed practice

Step 3

Individual Mapping

10 minutes

  • Distribute Safe Space Mapping Worksheet
  • Ask participants to quietly list supports (e.g., resources, practices) and stressors (e.g., crowding, transitions) in their building
  • Encourage specificity (locations, routines, roles)

Step 4

Small Group Synthesis

15 minutes

  • Form groups of 3–4 participants
  • Each person shares their worksheet findings
  • Consolidate onto a shared flip-chart or digital map
  • Identify common themes and emerging climate hotspots

Step 5

Group Share-Out

7 minutes

  • Each group presents top 2 supports and top 2 stressors
  • Facilitator captures highlights on whiteboard or next slide of Mapping Your School Climate
  • Note patterns across groups

Step 6

Next Steps & Closing

3 minutes

  • Discuss how insights will inform trauma-informed action planning
  • Assign responsibilities for follow-up tasks and timeline
  • Thank participants and outline any next meetings or check-ins
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Slide Deck

Mapping Your School Climate

Session Objectives:

  • Map existing supports and stressors in your building
  • Identify climate hotspots
  • Generate actionable insights for trauma-informed strategies

Welcome participants. Introduce purpose of the session. Review objectives. Establish ground rules: confidentiality, respect, open dialogue.

What Are Supports & Stressors?

Supports:

  • Resources, practices, or spaces that promote well-being

Stressors:

  • Factors that create pressure or discomfort (e.g., crowding, transitions)

Define “supports” and “stressors.” Emphasize specifics like locations, routines, or roles.

Why Map Supports & Stressors?

  • Pinpoint areas of strength and pressure
  • Visualize climate hotspots
  • Inform data-driven, trauma-informed decisions

Highlight the importance of this activity for creating an inclusive, safe school climate.

Individual Mapping

  1. Distribute the Safe Space Mapping Worksheet
  2. Quietly list supports in your building
  3. List stressors in your building
  4. Be specific: locations, routines, roles

Guide participants to reflect quietly and encourage detail in their responses.

Small Group Synthesis

  1. Form groups of 3–4
  2. Share individual findings
  3. Consolidate onto a shared flip-chart or digital map
  4. Identify common themes and climate hotspots

Monitor group dynamics, ensure each voice is heard, and note emerging patterns.

Group Share-Out

  • Each group shares top 2 supports and top 2 stressors
  • Facilitator captures highlights on whiteboard or slide
  • Note patterns across groups

Allow 1–2 minutes per group. Summarize key patterns and themes.

Next Steps & Closing

  • Discuss actions based on insights
  • Assign follow-up responsibilities and timeline
  • Thank participants and outline next check-ins

Reiterate the importance of follow-up. Clarify who will do what by when.

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Worksheet

Safe Space Mapping Worksheet

Use this worksheet to identify the existing supports and stressors in your school building. Be as specific as possible—note locations, routines, people, and spaces.

Part 1: Identifying Supports

List at least five resources, practices, or spaces that promote well-being in your building.

  1. ____________________________________________





  2. ____________________________________________





  3. ____________________________________________





  4. ____________________________________________





  5. ____________________________________________





Part 2: Identifying Stressors

List at least five factors that create pressure or discomfort (e.g., crowding, transitions, unclear routines).

  1. ____________________________________________





  2. ____________________________________________





  3. ____________________________________________





  4. ____________________________________________





  5. ____________________________________________





Part 3: Climate Hotspots

Review your lists above. Identify 2–3 areas where stressors cluster or overlap and describe why these are hotspots and their potential impact on students and staff.
______________________________________________________________________________










Part 4: Reflection & Next Steps

Based on your mapping, propose 3 actionable steps to enhance supports or mitigate stressors. For each, indicate who will lead the effort and a proposed timeline.

  1. Action Step: _______________________________________






    Responsible: _________________________________________



    Timeline: ____________________________________________


  2. Action Step: _______________________________________






    Responsible: _________________________________________



    Timeline: ____________________________________________


  3. Action Step: _______________________________________






    Responsible: _________________________________________



    Timeline: ____________________________________________


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