FACILITATOR NOTES
Introduction: Inquiry based lesson plan for 5-150 students and adult participants, particularly groups that will be working together for a long time.
Goal: When this session is complete, participants should be able to…
- Discuss how people prefer to work together
- Establish commonly accepted principles of dealing with each other
Time: 60 minutes
Materials: Flip chart paper and markers
Space: Enough to hold the entire group
Considerations: It’s critical for groups working together to take time to discuss the rules or guidelines by which they collectively agree to abide. These rules can be as simple as “Show respect” and “be on time.” The activity is important because it gives people the opportunity to set boundaries before they begin working together.
PROCEDURES
- Explain to the group the importance of setting ground rules. Mention that ground rules are best when kept simple, basic and few in number.
- Ask people to think about a group of people that worked will together. What was it about that group that worked so well? Facilitate a brief discussion.
- Ask for potential ground rules. Write three to ten suggestions on a flip chart.
- Make sure everyone understands each rule and does not have any issues with any of them. Ask for questions, concerns, or if someone needs clarification about the terms.
- When you feel sufficient discussion has taken place, ask everyone who feels they can support and uphold these principles to raise their hands.
- Post the page somewhere visible to the whole group. You may want to write them out more clearly later. Keeping ground rules posted is important to remind the group of the principles to which they have committed.If the group is one that will be working together for some time, you may want to discuss consequences for straying from the ground rules. This is a level of detail that many find unnecessary. Often, the group itself will informally enforce rules such as “listen to each other” and “Show respect.”

- Lesson Plan #1: Student/Adult Partnerships
- Lesson Plan #2: Student Voice
- Lesson Plan #3: Readiness
- Lesson Plan #4: Stereotypes
- Lesson Plan #5: Bias Against Students
- Lesson Plan #6: Creating Roles
- Lesson Plan #7: Understanding Who You Are
- Lesson Plan #8: Language in Schools
- Lesson Plan #9: Learning to Listen
- Lesson Plan #10: Feedback Techniques
- Lesson Plan #11: Jargon in Schools
- Lesson Plan #12: Power, Trust, and Respect
- Lesson Plan #13: Ground Rules
- Lesson Plan #14: Group Strengths and Weaknesses
- Lesson Plan #15: Expectations
- Lesson Plan #16: Trust Circle
- Lesson Plan #17: Appreciations
- Lesson Plan #18: Action Planning
- Lesson Plan #19: Problem Solving
- Lesson Plan #20: Staying Solutions-Focused
- Lesson Plan #21: Roadblocks
- Lesson Plan #22: Letting Go & Taking Charge
- Lesson Plan #23: Ideal Partners
- BONUS: Brainteasers
- Tips: Lesson Plan Notes and Requirements
- Tips: How to Facilitate Student Voice
- Tips: Tips for Teachers
These lesson plans were created by Adam F.C. Fletcher for SoundOut under contract from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction funded through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. All contents ©2007 SoundOut. Permission to use is granted exclusively for nonprofit and in-school education purposes only. All Rights Reserved.