Lesson:
Engage (15-20 minutes):
Review the school administration’s response to the students’ letters and policy recommendations.
Suggested Questions:
- What changes were made based on your recommendations?
- How did your decision-making process affect the outcome in this situation?
- Are there changes to your decision-making process that could have impacted the outcome?
Apply (15-20 minutes):
Give students sticky notes to reflect on the group decision-making process. They should answer each question on a separate sticky note. When they’re finished, have them stick their responses to each question on chart paper or a wall for a gallery walk.
Suggested Questions:
- How is making group decisions different from making individual decisions?
- How does it feel to make a decision that impacts a large and diverse group of people?
- What challenges did you face in designing this policy as a group?
- What practices in your group decision-making did you find successful?
- What practices could be improved for making decisions together in the future?
Reflect (15-20 minutes):
Allow students time to walk throughout the room and read each others’ answers to each question. When they’re finished, discuss their thoughts on the experience of group decision-making and how it impacts their community and collaboration.
