Squad Mapping Activity Sheet

Instructions:

1. Draw a circle in the center of this page and write Me inside it.
2. From that central circle, draw 5–7 branches leading to new circles for each person in your support network.
3. In each outer circle, write the name of a friend, family member, or mentor.
4. Beside each circle, note one strength or quality that person brings to your summer squad (e.g., motivator, listener, organizer).

Your Squad Map
(Use the space below to draw your map)

Reflection Prompts

1. Which types of strengths appeared most often in your squad map?

1. Was there anyone whose strength surprised you or that you hadn’t noticed before?

1. Is there someone you’d like to add to your summer squad who isn’t on your map? How might you reach out to them?

Group Dynamics Talk Guide

Purpose: Facilitate a whole-class discussion to help students recognize patterns in their support networks, explore how diverse strengths work together, and deepen awareness of group roles.
Audience: 10th Grade
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Squad Mapping Activity Sheet, whiteboard or chart paper, markers

Setup & Guidelines

• Arrange students in a circle or around tables where everyone can see each other.
• Establish discussion norms:

• Listen actively without interrupting
• Speak from your own experience (use “I” statements)
• Encourage and build on others’ ideas
• Keep comments concise to allow many voices

Discussion Prompts

1. Patterns in Your Squad Maps

• Opening question: “What patterns did you notice in your squad maps?”
• Possible follow-ups:

• Which strengths appeared most often?
• Were there clusters of similar qualities (e.g., lots of ‘listeners’ or ‘organizers’)?
• Did you see any unexpected connections?

2. Complementary Strengths

• Ask: “How might two different strengths work together to support you?”
• Encourage examples:

• A ‘motivator’ boosting confidence alongside a ‘planner’ organizing activities
• A ‘listener’ offering emotional support while a ‘creative thinker’ sparks new ideas

3. Surprises & Gaps

• Ask: “Was there anyone whose strength surprised you or that you hadn’t noticed before?”
• Ask: “Is there someone you’d like to add to your summer squad who isn’t on your map? How might you reach out to them?”

4. Personal Reflection

• Ask: “Which role do you most naturally fill in a group? Which role would you like to develop?”
• Transition to next step: Refer students to the Team Roles Chart Worksheet to capture their chosen role and action step.

Facilitation Tips

• Think-Pair-Share: For each prompt, give 30 seconds to jot down thoughts, then have students discuss with a partner before sharing with the whole class.
• Use the Board: Record key themes and strengths on chart paper or the board to visualize commonalities.
• Call on Variety: Aim to hear from quieter students by inviting them by name or using a “popcorn” style share if appropriate.
• Time-Keep: Spend about 2–3 minutes per main prompt to cover all questions in 10 minutes.

Next Steps: After this discussion, distribute the Team Roles Chart Worksheet for students to reflect individually on their group role and plan how they’ll support their squad this summer.

Team Roles Chart Worksheet

Instructions:

1. Review the list of team roles below and their descriptions.
2. Reflect on which role you naturally fill and which you’d like to develop.
3. Write an action step for how you will use or strengthen your chosen role this summer.

1. My Natural Role

Which role do you most naturally fill in a group?

2. My Growth Role

Which role would you like to develop further?

3. Action Step

Write one specific step you will take this summer to use or strengthen your growth role.