Lesson #S2: Spark ChampionsTime:50 minutes

Overview

Search Institute reports that 62% of teens can identify their sparks. Of these youth, only 37% of them report having three or more adults who know and support their sparks. Skills in self-advocacy and creating resource networks are essential for youth to pursue their sparks and reach their goals. If a youth does not know his/her spark, that young person can still benefit from a spark champion team to support the spark discovery process. Research indicates that all youth need champions and coaches in their lives. Ideally, three or more champions form a critical mass of adult support that can move a youth’s life forward towards full potential.

Objectives

By participating in this lesson, young people will:

  1. Understand the benefit of spark champions.
  2. Test knowledge by identifying new concepts in movie clips.
  3. Develop plans for finding their spark champions.

Anchor Vocabulary

  • Self-advocacy - Representing one’s own views and dreams.
  • Spark Champion – An adult who supports and encourages a youth to discover and pursue his or her spark.

Materials

  • DVD Clip: Star Trek
  • Whiteboard or Poster Paper (for brainstorm of Spark Champion qualities)
  • Handout: Spark Champion Mapping

Lesson Outline / Lesson Description
ENROLL
(5 min) / Door Greeting
Self-Reflection
Peer Sharing / Build relationships with youth as they walk in the door. Build relationships with young people as they arrive. Use Four-At-The-Door! (Name, eyes, hand, heart)
Facilitator asks youth to reflect on the quote below (written on the board/flipchart).
Quote:“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Ask:
  • “What does this quote mean? Do you believe it?”
Facilitator reinforces that the goal is personal reflection. There is no right or wrong answer.
In pairs, youth share insights with peers.
EXPERIENCE
(7 min) / Peer to Peer: Sparks Interview Sharing / Pair & Share
Youth turn to a peer and share what they learned from their “Sparks Conversation(s)” with adult(s) (homework from Sparks I lesson):
  • What were/are the adult’s spark(s)?
  • How did he/she discover and grow this spark?
  • What strategies and resources did he/she use to pursue sparks in life?
  • What did you learn about identifying or growing your own spark through this conversation?
As a group, ask individual youth to share any new ideas or thoughts they have learned about identifying or growing sparks from the adult conversations.
EXPERIENCE
(10 min) / Watch & DiscussSpark Champion inStar Trek movie clip. / Star Trek Movie: Give a brief overview of the movie plot to frame the clip. Explain that it’s set in the future.
After showing the clip, facilitate a group discussion about the movie. The goal is to help youth identify and understand the spark champion concept, and then apply the concepts to their own lives. Questions follow the experiential learning cycle.
Discuss at least one question from each section (e.g., What Happened? So What? Now What?)
Show Movie Clip: Star Trek (3 minutes)
Discussion Questions:
What Happened?
  • What did Captain Pike see in Jim that Jim was unable to see in himself?
  • How did Captain Pike challenge Jim to consider becoming a captain of a star ship?
So What?
  • Why is Captain Pike’s role in Jim’s life important? (Explain: We callthe role Captain
Pike plays in Jim’s life a ‘Spark Champion’.)
Now What?
  • Can you think of an adult in your life that has helped you see your potential, and has supported you to grow in your skills and interests? How has this adult helped you?
Say:
  • Today we’re going to learn about what a spark champion is, identify your current spark champions, and develop a plan for finding new spark champions.

LEARN & LABEL
(10 min) / Define Spark Champion
Optional: Personal Facilitator Story
Group Brainstorm: Spark Champion Role
Group Brainstorm: Spark Champion Qualities
Peer Sharing: Personal Spark Champion Needs / Say:
  • A spark champion is an adult who supports and encourages a youth to discover and pursue her or his spark. Research by the Search Institute shows that youth benefit from having multiple spark champions, which could include parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, mentors, employers and others who can encourage youth to explore their sparks.
Note: Facilitator might also share a personal story about a time when he/she needed a Spark Champion. The example should be authentic, but short enough for participants to latch onto the general concepts relatively quickly and not get too distracted with too many personal details.
Brainstorm: How might a Spark Champion help you?
Helpyouth develop these answers:
  • Help identify spark(s)
  • Find opportunities for youth to practice or develop their sparks
  • Model ways the spark is pursued as an adult
  • Teach and mentor in how to improve in a spark
  • Show up to watch youth pursue the spark
Group Brainstorm (Or divide the group into pairs):
  • What are some qualities of a good Spark Champion?
Ask youth to share ideas and capture them in a visible place (e.g., whiteboard, poster paper) so that youth can refer back to them in the next Spark Champion Mapping activity.
Ask youth to pair up with a peer and share where they’d most like to have a spark champion in their lives, and what role(s) this person would play. (Youth can refer back to the roles and qualities from the group brainstorm.)
Say:
  • When you learn to identify and recruit a spark champion, you are deepening a very important life skill of finding and using resources to work towards your dreams. This form of self-advocacy must be learned for you to be successful in life.
  • Does anyone know what self-advocacy means? (To look out for your own best interests.)
  • How many of you have ever felt awkward asking for help or mentoring?
Say:
  • It turns out that many adults LOVE to be asked their opinions on things. They often see you as a more mature and confident person if you advocate for yourself, and if you know where you need support in grow in your skills and passions.

DEMONSTRATE
(10 min) / Mapping Personal
Spark Champions
Practice Asking
Spark Champions / Identifying Personal Spark Champions
Facilitator distributes Spark Champion Mapping Handout. Instruct youth to list their spark(s), or sparks they would like to explore.
Say:
  • Now that we’ve identified examples of some of the roles and qualities spark champions, let’s think about who your champions are now, or who future spark champions might be.
  • Start by writing down champions you already have.
  • Then, think of spark champions you would like, but don’t have yet. Who might be able to help you grow your spark(s)?
  • Fill in the remaining circles, or make more circles with their names.
Divide the youth into pairs.
Say:
  • Select one important role from your spark champion map that you will prioritize.
  • Think about exactly when and where they could ask this adult.
  • Taking turns, share this plan with your elbow partner.
  • Practice asking this adult to be your spark champion. Be specific about how and why you need support from her/him to develop your spark.
Facilitator circulates to give encouragement and feedback.
REVIEW
(5 min) / Journal Reflection: Finding Your Spark Champions / Journal:
  • What specific steps will you take in the next week to identify your spark champions?
  • What role(s) will you ask this person or people play to help you identify or pursue your spark?
  • Include where, when and how you could ask for this support, from the adults in your life.

CELEBRATE
(3 min) / Making a Public Commitment / Public Commitments:
Say:
  • Now that you’ve written down how you’ll choose and fire up your spark champions, let’s hear some of your commitments.
  • Let’s have five or six peoplestand up and share steps you’re going to take – and exactly when over the next week - to identify and develop a relationship with your spark champions.

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Last Updated: 5/26/12S2: Spark Champions