Small Group Lesson Plan

Name of Group: Students will choose

Focus of Group: Incidents of violence at Phillips within the past school year totaled 101. Our small group
aims to work with the top offenders to help them learn how to successfully manage their anger,
effectively resolve conflicts, develop self-compassion, and ultimately build healthy relationships. While
this type of group would be useful for any student referred for a violent incident, we chose to focus on
male students as they have been referred for incidents of violence at a higher rate (54 vs. 47 for
females).

Number of students: 8-10 Students

Grade Level: Juniors

Adult Leader: Cristina Vasquez

Number of Sessions: 4

ASCA Domain: Social & Emotional Learning

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors:

B-SS 1. Use effective oral and written communication skills and listening skills
B-SS 2. Create positive and supportive relationships with other students
B-SS 4. Demonstrate empathy
B-SS 6. Use effective collaboration and cooperation skills
B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem

Session One: Opening Session, Anger Management

1. Students will all introduce themselves to the group

2. Group leader will discuss the purpose of the group and why students are here
3. Students will agree on group norms and sign informed consent
4. Students will complete Anger Management Self-Assessment
5. Students will share the goals that they have created for themselves
6. Students will be encouraged to find common threads amongst their individual goals to create
common goals for the group
7. Students will be encouraged to think about and write down when they have feelings of anger
throughout the upcoming week.
8. Group leader will collect Anger Management Self-Assessments

Materials:

1. Anger Management Self-Assessment

Session Two: Conflict Resolution

1. Check-in; see where everyone’s head is and ask them to be present

2. Administer the Ways to Resolve a Conflict Worksheet. Have the students complete this with a
partner or in smaller groups. After about 10 minutes have the group discuss as a whole the
different ways to resolve a conflict.
3. Go over the conflict resolution skills sheet with the group. You can read it as the facilitator or
have a student read it out loud. Discuss and give examples of how to use these skills.
4. Hand out the role-play scenarios to the groups of students they used in step one. Have each
group choose which strategy is the best to use in order to resolve their conflict and have each
group role play it for the whole group.
5. With any time left have a discussion with the group about the lesson.
6. Check-out; how is everyone feeling about this group, what did they learn

Materials:
1. Ways to Resolve a Conflict Worksheet
2. Conflict Resolution Skills
3. Role-Play Scenario Slips
Session Three: Self-Compassion: Making Friends with Yourself

“It seems that when you take the time to be kind to yourself, you realize that you do deserve this
kindness, you are valued and valuable, you have a unique role on this planet, and you deserve to do
well. You believe in yourself.”
1. Check-in; where is everyone, are they present
2. Open up by compiling a list of definitions the students have for “compassion”. Write these on a
board. Have them write down times they would show compassion and who they show
compassion for on a sheet of paper.
3. Have a couple students share what they wrote. Did anyone write down themselves?
4. Share the information that is on the Components of Self-Compassion worksheet.
5. Mindful self-compassion audio meditation:
http://www.mindfulselfcompassionforteens.com/meditations/

6. Check-out

Materials:
1. Components of Self-Compassion Worksheet
Session 4: Building Healthy Relationships

1. Check in, confidentiality, orient group, grounding activity & mindful participation prep
2. Contextualize meaning of group & purpose of gathering, platonic relational, familial
love, relationships, boundaries.
3. Learn & review the healthy relationship spectrum: warning signs of abuse & stepping in.
4. Group discussion: scenarios.
5. Group activity: safety cards & bill of rights.
 6. Check out, confidentiality, processing session, transitions out of group, review for next
meeting.
7. Re-administer posttest evaluation.

Materials:
1. Relationship Spectrum Toolkit
2. Safety Cards
3. Relationship Bill of Rights

Plan for Evaluation:

Process Data: The small group will consist of 8-10 Juniors with the highest number of referrals for
incidents of violence.

Perception Data: Pre- and post- tests will be administered. 100% of students will be able to identify
triggers and healthy ways to cope with feelings anger.

Outcome Data: Incidents of violence amongst the group members will decrease by 50% over the
next school year.