| Dates: | April 5 9-2pm EDT 3-4 possible sessions |
| Sign up method: | Exploding Collaboration - Registration is done on CAPSpace |
| Grades: | 6, 7, 8 |
| Subjects: | Language Arts/English |
| Outcomes: | Discuss strategies for students to cope with personal issues that teenagers face today. We want to empower teens to make a difference in the lives of themselves and others. |
| Preparation Time Frame: | You will need a few class periods prior to the connection to prepare your presentation and a 45-60 minute videoconference. |
| Methods and Activities: | Preparation: Have students prepared to discuss issues that they deal with in their daily lives and how they cope with obstacles to help themselves or others (peers, siblings, friends) |
| Responsibilities: | Students will lead the discussion with adult facilitator support. |
| Agenda: | Agenda: 30-40 minutes (depending on class periods of participating classes) 5 min. Welcome and introductions. Each class shares their location and brief information about their school. Visuals: Use the document camera or PowerPoint to share a few pictures of local interest. 5 min. Host group will share overall theme of our community book read. 25-40 min. Discussion. Students from each class take turns discussing the themes of bullying, peer pressure, family crises, and finding "home". Key questions will be shared prior to event. Participating classes may wish to assign a student facilitator for each class to assist in the flow of discussion. 5 min. Debrief and Conclusion. After the discussion, teachers may wish to debrief and comment on the process and content/curriculum discussed. If time is available, students may enjoy asking each other questions about their respective locations. |
| Other: | Though the themes of this discussion surface in this specific book, we will exchange ideas about other books that address these themes as well. A book list will be shared. |