Squad Goals: Community & Success Script

Week 1: What is 'Community'?

Warm-Up (5 min)

Teacher: "Alright, gentlemen, let's kick things off today. I want you to think about the word 'community.' When you hear it, what's the first word that pops into your head? Just one word. Let's go around the room and share."

Listen to student responses, affirming and briefly acknowledging each one.

Introduction (5 min)

Teacher: "Awesome responses, everyone. Today, and over the next six weeks, we're going to dive deep into something super important: our school community. We're calling this 'Squad Goals' because we'll be exploring how we can all make our school community stronger, and how a strong community helps each of you succeed. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Think about your favorite sports team, a gaming squad, or even a group project where everyone pulled their weight. When everyone is working together, supporting each other, and aiming for the same goal, what happens? That's the power of community, and we're going to explore that right here in our school. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 2)"

Initial Discussion (10 min)

Teacher: "To start, let's grab our Community Power Discussion Cards. For our first prompt: 'What does a strong school community look, sound, and feel like?' I want each of you to share at least one idea. There are no wrong answers here. Let's hear your thoughts."

Facilitate discussion, ensuring everyone has a chance to speak. Encourage elaboration with questions like, "Can you give an example of that?" or "How does that make you feel?" Summarize key points shared.

Teacher: "Great ideas, guys. We've got a lot to work with as we move forward! (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 3)"

Week 2: My Role in the Crew

Review (5 min)

Teacher: "Last week, we talked about what makes a strong school community. Can anyone remind us of a few key characteristics we discussed?"

Prompt students to recall points from the previous session.

Activity - 'My Community Contribution' (15 min)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to think about our role in building that community. I'm handing out the Team Success Activity Sheet. On this sheet, I want you to take a few minutes to brainstorm 2-3 ways you currently contribute positively to our school community. This could be anything from holding a door open for someone, helping a classmate with a problem, participating in class, or being a good teammate. Then, think about 2-3 ways you could contribute even more. What's something small or big you could do to make our community even better?"

Allow students about 7-8 minutes to write. Then, facilitate a brief share-out in small groups (2-3 students).

Teacher: "Alright, let's have a few volunteers share one idea they had, either something they already do or something they plan to do."

Affirm contributions and emphasize that every action, big or small, matters. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Week 3: Power of Connections

Warm-Up (5 min)

Teacher: "Think about a time someone at school helped you out, maybe with homework, finding your way, or just making you laugh when you needed it. What happened? How did it feel?"

Allow a few students to share short anecdotes.

Game - 'Community Builders' (15 min)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to play a game called 'Community Builders.' The goal of this game is to recognize how much we rely on each other and how small acts of kindness and connection build our squad. I'm going to divide you into small groups and give each group a set of Community Builders Game Cards. The instructions are on the cards, but the main idea is to match scenarios with positive community actions. Let's see which group can identify the most ways to build our community!"

Divide students, distribute cards, and monitor game play. After the game, bring the class back together.

Teacher: "What did you learn from that game? How do these actions help strengthen our school community?"

Lead a brief discussion. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Week 4: Challenges & Solutions

Discussion (10 min)

Teacher: "We've talked a lot about what makes a strong community. But let's be real, no community is perfect. Sometimes things happen that make a community weaker. Looking at our Community Power Discussion Cards, let's tackle this prompt: 'What are some things that can make a school community weaker?' Think about what you've observed or experienced."

Facilitate an open and honest discussion, ensuring a respectful environment. Acknowledge challenges without dwelling on negativity.

Brainstorm Solutions (10 min)

Teacher: "Okay, we've identified some challenges. Now, let's shift to problem-solving. In pairs or small groups, I want you to brainstorm some practical solutions to one or two of the challenges we just discussed. What could we do, as students, to address these issues and make our community stronger?"

Give groups 5-7 minutes to brainstorm. Then, have each group share one or two of their best ideas with the class.

Teacher: "Fantastic ideas, everyone! It shows that by working together, we can overcome challenges and build an even better community. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 3)"

Week 5: Success Together

Activity - 'Collective Impact' (15 min)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to look at how individual efforts lead to collective success. I'm handing out the Team Success Activity Sheet again. This time, I want you to work in small groups. Think about some specific successes our school has had recently. It could be a sports team winning, a successful fundraiser, a great school event, or even just a particularly positive atmosphere in the hallways. Then, discuss: How did different individuals or groups contribute to that success? How did teamwork and a strong community play a role?"

Allow groups about 10 minutes for discussion and writing on their sheets.

Share Out (5 min)

Teacher: "Alright, let's hear from each group. Share one example of a school success and how the community helped make it happen."

Reinforce the idea that collective effort amplifies success. (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 5)

Week 6: Our Squad's Future

Reflection (10 min)

Teacher: "We've reached our final 'Squad Goals' session. Over the past few weeks, we've talked about community, our roles, connections, challenges, and collective success. Using our Community Power Discussion Cards one last time, let's reflect on this prompt: 'How has your understanding of our school community changed over the last few weeks? What is one action you will commit to taking to strengthen it?' Take a moment to think about this."

Encourage open sharing and reflection.

Goal Setting & Celebration (10 min)

Teacher: "Now, I want each of you to individually write down one concrete goal for how you will continue to contribute to our school community in the coming weeks and months. It could be something you brainstormed in Week 2, or a new idea that came to you today. This isn't just a lesson that ends today; building a strong community is an ongoing effort, and you are all key players."

Allow time for students to write. Collect the goals if desired, or have a few volunteers share.

Teacher: "Fantastic work, gentlemen. You've all shown great thought and commitment. Remember, your actions, big and small, make a huge difference in our school. Keep building our squad! Thanks for being an amazing part of our community here." (Display Squad Goals Slide Deck - Slide 5)

Community Builders Game: The Squad Challenge

Goal: To identify and connect positive actions with scenarios that strengthen our school community.

Players: Small groups of 3-4 students.

Materials: One set of Community Builders Game Cards per group.

Instructions:

1. Shuffle the Cards: Mix up all the Community Builders Game Cards thoroughly.

2. Deal the Cards: Deal an equal number of cards face down to each player until all cards are distributed.

3. Start the Round: The player to the left of the dealer starts by placing one of their cards face up in the center. They read the scenario on the card aloud.

4. Match and Explain: The next player then places a card that they believe represents a positive community-building action that relates to the scenario just read. They must explain how their action card helps resolve or improve the situation described in the scenario card.

   • Example:
     • Scenario Card (from Player 1): "You see a new student eating alone in the cafeteria."
     • Action Card (from Player 2): "Inviting someone to join your group or activity."
     • Explanation (Player 2): "Inviting the new student shows they belong and helps them feel welcome, making our community more inclusive."

5. Group Agreement: The rest of the group listens to the explanation. If they agree the match and explanation are good, the two cards are set aside as a pair.

6. Challenge (Optional): If a player disagrees with the match or explanation, they can politely challenge it. The group then discusses whether the match is valid. If a consensus cannot be reached, the player who made the match takes both cards back into their hand. If the challenge is successful, the player who challenged gets to make the next match if they can.

7. Continue Play: Play continues clockwise with the next player drawing a new scenario card or attempting to match an existing open scenario with an action card from their hand.

8. Winning: The game can be played until all cards are matched, or for a set amount of time. The group with the most successfully matched pairs wins. Alternatively, the group can simply aim to match all cards collaboratively, fostering discussion over competition.

Discussion After the Game:

• What made some matches easy or difficult?
• Which actions do you think have the biggest impact on our community?
• How can we apply the lessons from this game in our daily school lives?

Community Builders Game Cards

Instructions: Cut out each card. There are two types: Scenario Cards (describe a situation) and Action Cards (describe a positive response). Match an Action Card to a Scenario Card and explain why it builds community!

Scenario Cards (Cut These Out!)

Card 1: New Student Alone

You see a new student eating lunch by themselves in the cafeteria.

Card 2: Struggling Classmate

Your classmate is clearly confused during a group project and looks frustrated.

Card 3: Messy Hallway

Someone has left trash on the hallway floor near the lockers.

Card 4: Lost Item

Another student has dropped their books and papers, scattering them everywhere.

Card 5: Unfair Comment

You overhear someone making a negative or dismissive comment about a school club or activity.

Card 6: Group Disagreement

Your project group can't agree on how to approach a task, and tension is rising.

Card 7: Teacher Needs Help

Your teacher is struggling to set up the projector or a piece of technology.

Card 8: Spirit Low

School spirit feels a bit down, and people seem uninterested in upcoming events.

Card 9: Someone is Upset

You notice a peer looking visibly upset or sad in the hallway.

Card 10: Class Cleanup

At the end of class, there are supplies left out and desks are a bit messy.

Action Cards (Cut These Out!)

Card A: Invite to Join

Inviting someone new to join your group or activity.

Card B: Offer Help

Offering to help a classmate or friend who is struggling.

Card C: Clean Up

Picking up trash or helping to keep shared spaces tidy.

Card D: Lend a Hand

Helping someone pick up their dropped belongings.

Card E: Speak Positively

Speaking positively about school events, clubs, or classmates.

Card F: Find Common Ground

Actively listening and finding a compromise to solve a group conflict.

Card G: Offer Assistance

Asking an adult if they need help or offering to assist with a task.

Card H: Show Enthusiasm

Encouraging participation and showing excitement for school activities.

Card I: Check-In

Asking a peer if they are okay and offering a listening ear.

Card J: Organize & Tidy

Helping to put away supplies or tidy up the classroom.

Community Power Discussion Cards

Instructions: These cards provide prompts for guided discussions about school community and success. Use them to spark conversation, encourage reflection, and deepen understanding.

Discussion Prompts (Cut These Out!)

Card 1: Community Traits

What does a strong school community look, sound, and feel like? Give specific examples.

Card 2: Personal Impact

How does being part of a positive school community affect you personally? (e.g., your mood, your learning, your confidence)

Card 3: Weakening Factors

What are some things that can make a school community weaker or less positive? How do these things impact everyone?

Card 4: Student Role

What is the role of students in building and maintaining a strong school community? What responsibility do we have to each other?

Card 5: Helping Hands

Think about a time you helped someone in our school community, or someone helped you. How did that moment strengthen connections?

Card 6: Overcoming Challenges

If you see a problem in our school community, what are some constructive steps you could take to address it?

Card 7: Collective Success

How does individual effort and contribution lead to school-wide success? Can you think of an example?

Card 8: Future Community

Imagine our school community five years from now. What positive changes would you hope to see, and how could they be achieved?

Card 9: Commit to Action

Based on our discussions, what is one concrete action you will commit to taking to strengthen our school community this week?

Team Success Activity Sheet

Week 2: My Community Contribution

Think about our school community and your place in it. How do you currently contribute positively, and how could you contribute even more?

1. Ways I CURRENTLY contribute positively to our school community:

2. Ways I COULD contribute more to our school community:

Week 5: Collective Impact

Work with your group to identify school-wide successes and the community efforts behind them.

1. Identify a recent school success:

2. How did individuals contribute to this success?

• Person/Group 1:
  
  
  
• Person/Group 2:
  
  
  
• Person/Group 3:
  
  
  

3. How did teamwork and community play a role in this success?