Lesson #GG3: “Post” GPS Growth Grid – Basic Time: 50 minutes
Overview
This is a workshop designed to capture youth reflections on the concept of goal management, while completing the post-version of the GPS Basic Growth Grid. This workshop includes activities that incorporate a review of Step-It-Up-2-Thrive concepts and further promote an understanding of goal management as youth complete the program. The workshop is approximately 50 minutes (including time to complete the GPS Basic Growth Grid).
Mirroring the work of Dr. Richard Lerner at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, we use the acronym GPS to represent the three fundamental elements of goal management that are tied to every aspect of life success: Goal Selection, Pursuit of Strategies, and Shifting Gears “when the going gets tough.”
Objectives
By participating in this lesson, young people will:
1. Reflect on their own experiences and takeaways from their time in the program.
2. Complete a post Growth Grid that draws youth to reflect on their experiences growing patterns of goal management skills and initiative.
Anchor Vocabulary
· Skill — The ability to do something well and with expertise.
· Initiative — The ability to start something before being reminded by others; to take action early in a situation.
· Pattern — A regular sequence of repetitions.
Materials & Media
· Step-It-Up-2-Thrive Bingo Cards handout
· Pens
· Reflection Cube handout
· Markers
· Scissors
· GPS Growth Grid - Basic [paper version or be prepared with online version].
Note: If using the online version of Growth Grid, materials include one Online Growth Grid Handout for each youth, Post-It notes with each youth user ID, and URL links to the appropriate Growth Grids.
· Strips of blank paper (2 strips per young person)
· Balloons
· Optional: Safety pins or other sharp objects to pop balloons
Confidentiality Note
· To emphasize confidentiality on the Growth Grids, tell youth that their names are kept confidential and will not be recorded with their Growth Grid responses. Each youth will be assigned a code (Unique ID) in place of his/her name. Their personal information will be confidential at all times.
· To ensure that Growth Grids are used as self-reflective tools and not viewed by the youth as evaluative or academic assessments, we ask that adults-in-charge encourage the youth to submit the grids anonymously, with only unique I.D. in place.
· When using a common printer, have one person collect all the grids, so specific individuals are not connected with printed grids.
· In the lesson, encourage general reflection, but stay away from youth sharing their specific answers.
Lesson Outline / Lesson DescriptionENROLL
(2 min) / Welcome
(2 min) / Build relationships with young people as they walk through the door: Four at the Door! (Name, eyes, hand, heart)
Say:
· Today, we’re going to have a fun review about how you have grown your GPS skills and initiative during our time together.
EXPERIENCE
(10 min) / Activity: Step-It-Up-2-Thrive Bingo
(5 min)
Processing
(5 min) / Step-It-Up-2-Thrive Bingo
The purpose of this activity is to reintroduce and reflect on Step-It-Up-2-Thrive’s core concepts and help young people connect these ideas with their own practical experiences. The winner of the game is the young person who has successfully filled in a row, column, or diagonal completely.
Instructions:
· Pass out one bingo sheet per participant.
· Young people circulate around the room collecting signatures on each square from others in the group who fits the description listed. Allow this to continue for 5-7 minutes.
· Inform participants that they can sign another person’s paper no more than twice (or adjust this rule based on the size of group).
· Inform participants that before a winner is declared, they will be asked to prove that they have, or can do, what is stated in the box they signed.
Participants play bingo.
Continue until a few participants call out “Bingo” by completing a row, column, or diagonal. At this time, have the winners share the winning bingo boxes, highlighting who signed each box and asking that signer to share his/her responses that support the box’s statement.
Ask:
· What happened? Which squares were easy to get? Which ones were difficult? Why?
· So What? What surprised you about the things that you did or did not remember?
· Now What? What are some concepts that you will take with you from this program that you will not forget?
EXPERIENCE
(15 min) / Activity: Reflection Cube
(10 min)
Processing
(5 min) / Reflection Cube
Have youth brainstorm a list of activities they remember from the program. Facilitator writes this list on the board or a large piece of paper.
Instructions
· Pass out the cardstock with the cube outline.
· Inform participants that each square has a symbol that will help them determine what to put in that box. (Brain – something that made you think; Heart – something you took to heart; Backpack – something you will take away from this program; Foot – some action you want to take after leaving the program; Wildcard – additional takeaways)
· Participants will draw images or write words or phrases that represent their thinking around each symbol.
· After youth complete their drawings, instruct participants to cut along the solid lines around the edges of the cube. Then, participants are to fold the paper along the dotted lines to form a cube (see instructions on the handout).
Ask:
· What happened? What did you put in the square with the foot symbol representing actions you’ll take after leaving the program?
· So what? Why is that action important to you? Why did you choose that action over others?
· Now what? What are some steps that you could take to carry out that action?
Say:
· What you just shared sounds a lot like the GPS skills that you have been working on over the course of our time together.
EXPERIENCE
(10 min) / Introduce and Fill Out Basic GPS Growth Grid
(10 min.) / Introduce the GPS Growth Grid: Basic
Pass out the GPS Basic Growth Grid to each participant.
Note: If participants are completing the growth grid online, have them log in to Qualtrics to view the GPS Basic Growth Grid now.
Say:
· Let’s take a moment to look at the GPS Basic Growth Grid again. Remember early in the program when you thought about where you were in the Growth Grid?
· Let’s review the meanings of the pink headings at the top.
· Thinking back on our program, with all the activities you have just included on your cube, can anyone share an example of what we mean by “Choosing Your Destination”?
Repeat this question for each GPS dimension (in pink) across the Growth Grid, each time asking for youth to reflect and share examples.
Say:
· When you fill out the Growth Grid for a second time, remember that you are looking at your GPS patterns of skills and initiative.
· Remember to start at the bottom of column #1 of the GPS Growth Grid (I don’t yet focus on meaningful, realistic positive goals in my life right now.) and decide whether this describes you. If that doesn’t fit, work your way up until the language best reflects your current pattern.
· This is important. You need both skill and initiative to move up to the next level. Remind youth about the difference between skill and initiative.
· When you find the statement that best fits you, record the level on the back of the Growth Grid for each column (or click if filling it out on computer).
· Then below your level, write your evidence for choosing your level on the Growth Grid. A couple of sentences for each column are sufficient.
Note: If you are using the online format, please pass out the Online Growth Grid Handout, along with Post-It notes with youth user IDs written on them.
· It is important to be honest with yourself about your current patterns.
· These Growth Grids are for your own self-reflection, to think about the skills that you have currently and the things you want to work on during our program.
· Just like in the Human Survey we just did, people are in different places and that’s totally okay. Remember that your names are kept confidential and will not be recorded with your Growth Grid responses.
Completion
· By the time you finish, you will have recorded your levels on the Growth Grid for each of the columns, along with behavioral evidence.
REVIEW & CELEBRATE
(13 min) / Balloon Pop Activity
(10 min)
Processing
(3 min) / Say:
· Now that we have completed the Growth Grids, let’s take a moment to celebrate what we have accomplished during our time together and what we are looking forward to as we move on.
· What better way to celebrate than with balloons!
Instructions
Distribute two strips of paper and one balloon to each participant and ask them to write two statements. (This is done anonymously.)
Say:
· Write one positive way that you have changed since learning about the four concepts in Step-It-Up-2-Thrive (i.e., Sparks, Mindset, Thriving, GPS)
· Write one thing that you want to continue to work on that relates to Sparks, Mindset, Thriving or GPS (e.g., finding a spark champion, having a growth mindset, strategies for avoiding risk factors, identifying meaningful, realistic and stretching goals)
Remind participants that their names are NOT included anywhere on the strips of paper.
After all participants have written both statements, instruct them to fold their pieces of paper up and insert them into balloons. Each participant will then blow up his or her balloon and tie it off. Participants will then toss all balloons in the air, until they are thoroughly mingled.
Next, ask each participant to find a balloon, pop it, and read the statements inside. Encourage participants to clap for (or celebrate) their statements, after all statements have been read aloud.
After all statements have been shared aloud, ask participants to share their thoughts about the activity and their advice for staying committed to plans.
Ask:
· How does it feel to have changed in a positive way?
· Do you feel that other people can see the change in you?
· You shared a lot of great ideas about working on goals. Are there more ways that we can support each other to make these things happen?
Developed by Thrive Foundation for Youth. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommerial-Share Alike 3.0. U.S. License. 2010. This document can be shared and adapted by users for educational, non-commercial purposes.
7
Last Updated: 5/25/12 GG: Youth Post Growth Grid – GPS Basic