Overview & Integration

Core 4:

Engagement

AQuA:

7D: Enables participants to explore resources and issues in their community through projects and activities

1C: Has a culture that allows participants to take initiative and explore their interests

CASEL Competencies:

Self-Management, Self-Awareness, & Responsible Decision Making

6DQ: Classroom Dialogue/Sharing

Ensure that students’ contributions and discussions form an integral part of the class

Overview

When you take charge and set goals for yourself, you take initiative. Initiative is a big word that means you take responsibility for something and go do it without being asked. If you saw that there was trash on the floor and picked it up, you took initiative. If you wanted to buy a bike and saved up money for it, you took initiative. And even that time that you took the trash out for your family without even being asked, you took initiative. People that have initiative are able to go for their dreams, work hard, and make things happen. There are many problems in this world that can seem too big or overwhelming for a kid to fix but, with a little initiative, kids can make a HUGE impact! Many children around the world have seen issues within their community and used their voice to bring awareness to these problems and to help come up with solutions to solve them. No matter how old you are, you have the ability to be a change-maker in this world and make it a better place for your generation and those that come after you. Take some time this week to learn more about issues and problems that affect your community and our world. Take initiative to share your findings with others and start using your voice to bring awareness! Together we can make the world a better place!

Reflection Questions

  • What is one of your goals or dreams?
  • What do you need to do to get to those goals or dreams?
  • Why is it important to take initiative?
  • What are some problems/issues that you see in your school that you could help fix?
  • What are some problems/issues that you see in your community?
  • What are some problems/issues that you see in our world?
  • How do the problems/issues that you see affect you and how do they affect others?
  • How do you use your voice to bring awareness to the problems/issues that you see?
  • What could you do to help be a part of the solution?

Arts/Crafts Reflection Questions

  • How did you show initiative today?
  • Share about a time today that you saw someone else take initiative and do something without being asked.
  • How can you use art to bring awareness to problems/issues in your community and the world?
  • How did you use your voice this week to bring awareness to issues that you noticed?
  • What makes it difficult to use your voice and speak up about problems/issues that you see?

Games/Physical Activity Reflection Questions

  • How did you take initiative during the game today?
  • What challenges did your team face?
    How did your team overcome the challenges today?
  • How did you use your voice to help your team overcome the problems/issues?
  • How does it feel when you use your voice and people listen?
  • Why is it important to take initiative when you are on a team?
  • How does taking initiative make you a “team player?”