Lesson Plan
Voice Empowerment Guide
Facilitate a 40-minute small-group session empowering 9th graders to voice concerns and collaboratively debate and propose solutions to improve their school climate.
This lesson builds critical speaking, listening, and problem-solving skills, encourages student agency, and fosters a more inclusive, positive school environment.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Structured debates, group discussions, and actionable commitments.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Voice Empowerment Guide to familiarize yourself with objectives and flow.
- Ensure technology is set up and tested for the Debate & Discuss Slides.
- Print or prepare sets of Issue Pitch Circles and Solution Brainstorm Cards.
- Make copies of the Action Commitment Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet students and outline session objectives from the Voice Empowerment Guide.
- Display Debate & Discuss Slides (slides 1–3) to introduce norms and goals.
- Establish ground rules: respectful listening, constructive feedback, equal participation.
Step 2
Issue Pitch Round
10 minutes
- Divide students into groups of 3–4.
- Distribute Issue Pitch Circles to each student.
- Students write or sketch one school climate concern per circle.
- In turn, each student shares their pitch (1 minute each) within their group.
Step 3
Debate & Discussion
15 minutes
- Switch to Debate & Discuss Slides (slides 4–7).
- In each group, select the top 2–3 issues from the pitch round.
- Facilitate a structured debate: assign pro/con positions, cite evidence, and practice respectful rebuttals.
- Teacher circulates to prompt quieter students and ensure balanced participation.
Step 4
Solution Brainstorm
7 minutes
- Hand out Solution Brainstorm Cards.
- Groups brainstorm one actionable solution per card for their selected issue(s).
- Encourage creative, realistic proposals and consider potential impact.
Step 5
Action Commitment & Cool-Down
3 minutes
- Distribute Action Commitment Worksheet to each student.
- Students choose one solution and write a personal commitment to act.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their commitments; close with positive reinforcement.
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Slide Deck
Voice Matters: Debate & Discuss
Small-group session to debate key school climate issues and practice respectful dialogue.
Welcome everyone! Today we’re using our Debate & Discuss Slides to guide a structured conversation about improving our school climate. Remind students to focus on ideas, stay respectful, and have fun exploring different viewpoints.
Session Objectives
• Identify top 2–3 school climate concerns
• Practice structured debate format
• Develop evidence-based arguments
• Foster respectful discussion throughout
Read through each objective aloud. Emphasize that debates help us understand multiple perspectives and sharpen our communication skills. Encourage questions before moving on.
Ground Rules
• Listen actively without interrupting
• Use respectful, inclusive language
• Focus critiques on ideas, not people
• Keep contributions concise to share the floor
Introduce each ground rule. Ask students to come up with a quick example of how they might follow the rule in a debate. This builds buy-in.
Selecting Top Issues
- Review pitches from Issue Pitch Circles
- Reach group consensus on 2–3 key concerns
- Prepare to debate each issue from both sides
Ask groups to revisit their Issue Pitch Circles outputs. Circulate to ensure they agree on 2–3 issues that resonate most. Clarify any confusion.
Debate Roles & Structure
• Assign Pro & Con positions
• 2-minute opening argument per side
• 1-minute rebuttal per side
• Rotate roles so everyone practices both
Explain roles and timing: assign half the group Pro, half Con, then swap. Use a timer on your phone or watch. Model a 30-second pro and rebuttal example.
Evidence & Rebuttal
• Support arguments with facts or examples
• Ask clarifying questions
• Acknowledge valid points
• Offer counterpoints respectfully
Highlight the importance of evidence: facts, examples from school, or peer observations. Model asking a clarifying question before rebutting to show respect.
Transition to Solution Brainstorm
Grab your Solution Brainstorm Cards and get ready to propose actionable ideas.
Congratulate students on completing the debate segment. Explain that next, they’ll brainstorm solutions using the cards. Distribute Solution Brainstorm Cards.
Discussion
Issue Pitch Circles
Individual Work (6 minutes)
Draw or write one school climate concern per circle below. If you’re on paper, sketch circles; if digital, just use the lines provided.
Circle 1: _______________________________
Circle 2: _______________________________
Circle 3: _______________________________
Circle 4: _______________________________
Circle 5: _______________________________
Circle 6: _______________________________
Group Sharing (10 minutes)
In your group of 3–4, take turns sharing each of your six pitches (about 1 minute each). Listen actively and note which concerns resonate across members.
Group Consensus (2 minutes)
Discuss and agree on the top 2–3 issues your group cares about most. Write them below:
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
Activity
Solution Brainstorm Cards
Use each card below to develop one actionable solution for a selected school climate issue. Print multiple copies so each group can work on several ideas.
Issue:
Proposed Solution:
Why this helps:
Steps to implement:
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
Resources needed:
Potential challenges & how to address them:
Expected impact on our school climate:
(Repeat this card template for each solution your group generates.)
Cool Down
Action Commitment Worksheet
Use this worksheet to turn one of your brainstormed solutions into a personal commitment. Take a moment to reflect, plan, and prepare to act!
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
1. Chosen Issue & Solution
Issue you’re addressing:
__________________________
Solution you selected:
__________________________
2. My Personal Commitment
What I will do:
__________________________
Why this matters to me and our school climate:
__________________________
3. Action Plan & Timeline
List the steps you will take and when you’ll complete them.
- _________________________________ by ____________
- _________________________________ by ____________
- _________________________________ by ____________
4. Support & Accountability
Who can help me? (Peers, teacher, club, etc.)
__________________________
How I will track my progress:
__________________________
5. Reflection
After taking your first action, revisit this space to reflect:
- What went well?
- What challenges did I face?
- Next steps?
__________________________
Thank you for committing to positive change!
You may revisit this worksheet or share it with your group for support.