Health Education Partnership Ltd –
Secondary SEAL small group work sample session plan
Weeks 1 - 3
- to establish group dynamics and develop group interactive skills
- to establish a learning environment which nurtures and develops self-esteem
- to get to know, and develop empathy towards, group members
Weeks 4-6
- to continue developing skills identified in weeks 1-3
- to identify inspirational figures in pupils’ lives and name their positive attributes and motivations
- to identify personal goals and steps to help achieve these
Considerations:
- How is the school’s reward system to be applied to these sessions?
- How are pupil’ to document their progress?
- How is progress to be fed back to staff and applied beyond the group i.e. positivity journals?
See also ‘Considerations for Schools’ document.
Week 1:Set up: chairs in a circle
Learning outcome: / Pupils will work together in identifying strategies to help them work as group for the duration of the sessions. / SEAL outcome (s)Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Change seats if ...
Have one seat less than participants. Person in the middle reads a card i.e. change seats if ... you like spicy food. Whoever this applies to must change seats. Person left in the middle reads the next card. Prompt pupils to talk about themselves. / social skills, motivation
Group aims and objectives / Explain the purpose of the group, , session duration, AQA accreditation and rewards
Plan for today’s session / To identify how we will work best together as a group.
Main activity / ‘Ways of Working’
In the room are hidden stars with team work quotations on. Ask each group member to try to find a star and bring it back to the seat.
Encourage pupils to read out their quote and to discuss what they think it means.
Give the group a large sheet of flip chart paper. In the middle is written For our group we think it’s important that we try to ... Ask the group to brainstorm things which they think will help them work well together and write on the flip chart paper (use sample statements to prompt if necessary) Discuss.
Ask them to circle SIX which are most important to them. Explain these will be typed up and used every session so the group can reflect on how they are doing.
Raise confidentiality boundaries
SEAL Questionnaire
Ask each pupil to complete a SEAL questionnaire. Explain why they are doing this. / social skills, empathy, managing feelings, self awareness
Energiser/Main activity extension / Either continue main activity if it requires additional time, or do a quick energiser if energy levels are lagging. Can return to main activity after this energiser if necessary.
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/something they have gained from today’s session. / self awareness, managing feelings
Next week
Evaluation
Sample ‘Ways of Working’
Be open minded about activities
Try not to interrupt other people talking
Don’t be afraid to challenge others
If you are thinking it, say it
Be on time
Respect other’s opinions
SEAL QUIZ
Key:V = very true/always, T = true/often, P = partially true/sometimes, N = not true/neverSocial and emotional aspects of learning / Social and emotional skills / V / T / P / N
Self-awareness / I find it easy to talk about my feelings.
I am aware of the things I do well and the things I could do better.
Managing feelings / I have good strategies to help me cope when I get angry.
I tend to think before I act.
Motivation / On the whole, I do things when they need to be done.
I usually understand the reasons why I do things.
Empathy / I usually know when people are unhappy, even when they say nothing.
I care what happens to people.
Social Skills / I am a good listener.
When I am in a new situation I find it easy to join in with others.
Is there anything you hope to gain from being in this group?
Week 2
Learning outcome: / To develop team building skills and strategies for supporting group members. / SEAL outcome(s):Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Character drawing/introductions
Give each participant a pen and ask them to draw a picture of themselves with their name beside it. Then ask them to write down ten words to describe themselves, around the picture. These can be words that describe their identity (eg, Jewish, Chinese, northerner, footballer), physical attributes (eg, short, skinny, ginger) or characteristics (eg, funny, shy, bossy). The participants should then stand by their portrait and introduce themselves. Everyone can then look at all of the portraits and find out a bit more about each other. Leave the pictures up on the wall throughout the session.
Reminder of group aims / To enjoy working well together as a group
Point out ‘Ways of Working’. Is there anything the group would like to add/amend?
Introduce group to token reward system. / social skills, motivation, self awareness
Review of previous week / What went well this week? / self awareness, social skills
Plan for today’s session / To continue team building
Main activity / Team building activity. Split in two groups. In turns each team nominates a player who must do a question based on the cranium board game. The challenges include drawing, singing, acting, true or false, spelling and sculpting. / social skills, motivation, self awareness
Energiser/Main activity extension / Either continue main activity if it requires additional time, or do a quick energiser if energy levels are lagging. Can return to main activity after this energiser if necessary.
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/feedback to the group / social skills, empathy, self awareness
Next week / Please bring anything you think would help you in your role for designing a board game.
Week 3:
Learning outcome: / To get to know each other and understand differences. / SEAL outcome(s)Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Inside the circle
Give the group a sheet of flipchart paper and a pen and ask them to draw a large circle on the paper. Tell the participants to introduce themselves to the rest of the group. Inside the circle they should write down four things that the whole group have in common. Outside the circle they should write something that is unique to each member, see below for an example. Display the sheet for the rest of the session. / Self awareness, social skills
Reminder of group aims / To enjoy working together as a group
Point out Ways of Working. Is there anything the group would like to add/amend? / social skills, self awareness, empathy
Review of previous week / What can we remember about last week’s session?
What has gone well this week? / self awareness
Plan for today’s session / To continue working as a team and get to know more about each other. / Social skills, self awareness, empathy
Main activity / Group Talk Jenga (a bright pink Jenga game with reflective questions on each block). / self awareness, motivation, social skills, empathy
Energiser/Main activity extension / Either continue main activity if it requires additional time, or do a quick energiser if energy levels are lagging. Can return to main activity after this energiser if necessary
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/feedback to the group / self awareness, managing feelings
Next week / Ask the group to bring pictures of people that they look up to.
Evaluation
Week 4:
Learning outcome: / Pupils will identify a person they look up to and reflect upon why they are inspired by this person. / SEAL outcome(s)Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Describe the Celebrity. One pupil must describe the celebrity on the card to the rest of the group. The pupil who guesses describes the next celebrity. Note the words they use on flip chart as they play. / social skills, motivation
Reminder of group aims / To enjoy working well together as a group
Point out Ways of Working. Is there anything the group would like to add/amend? / social skills, self awareness, empathy
Review of previous week / Can pupils remember what we discussed last week?
What has gone well this week? Share positives in journals. / self awareness
Plan for today’s session / Looking at what makes a great role model?
Who/what inspires you?
Main activity / Role models.
Ask the group to think about someone they look up to. If they have brought a picture, encourage them to explain their picture.
Give each pupil a mind map and tell them to put their picture in the middle. Ask them to think of ten words which describe their role model and what they’ve done to get to where they are. Encourage them to refer to the words they used in the starter. Share with the group.
Using magazines, find picture/words which apply to their role model. Explain that this will continue next week. / social skills, motivation, empathy, self awareness
Energiser/Main activity extension
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/feedback to the group / self awareness, managing feelings
Next week / Explain the jigsaw collage to the group. Encourage them to bring in magazines and pictures of their role model.
Evaluation
Week 5:
Learning outcome: / Extension of week 4. / SEAL outcome(s)Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Describe the word. One pupil must describe the word to the rest of the group. The pupil who guesses describes the next work. All words are associated with role models and motivation / motivation, social skills
Reminder of group aims / To enjoy working together as a group
Point out Ways of Working. Is there anything the group would like to add/amend? / social skills, self awareness, empathy
Review of previous week / What can we remember about last week’s session?
What has gone well this week? Share any positives from journals. / self awareness
Plan for today’s session / To make a collage about your role model and identify what you admire about them.
Main activity / Give each pupil a giant piece of jigsaw and using images and words from magazines, create a collage on their role model.
Ask the group to piece together the jigsaw. Emphasis how the jigsaw represents their role within the group. Decide with the group where to display the jigsaw in the school. / self awareness, motivation, social skills, empathy
Energiser/Main activity extension
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/feedback to the group / self awareness, managing feelings
Next week / Ask if there is a pupil who would like to deliver a starter activity next session.
Evaluation
Inspiring role- model collage template
Draw lines on the poster board like a jigsaw puzzle. Cut each piece out and gave a piece to each group member. Ask each group member to create their collage of an inspiring role model on their piece of the jigsaw puzzle. When finished, put the "jigsaw" puzzle back together to create a group work of art. Display within the school.
Week 6:
Learning outcome: / To consider preferred futures and reflect upon progress made within the group. / SEAL outcome(s):Welcome / Greet pupils on entry and direct to seats in a circle.
Session begins when all pupils and facilitators are seated in the circle. / social skills
Starter / Pupil-led / social skills, empathy
Reminder of group aims / To enjoy working well together as a group
Point out ‘Ways of Working’. Is there anything the group would like to add/amend? / social skills, self awareness, empathy
Review of previous week / What do we remember about last week’s session?
What has gone well this week? / self awareness
Plan for today’s session / As learning outcome.
Main activity / Planning my Destiny
Explain handout. Work individually in considering answers. Discuss with whole group. Emphasis similarities and differences.
SEAL Questionnaire
Ask each pupil to complete a SEAL questionnaire (note this requires a reflection on what has been gained). Show pupils SEAL questionnaires from first week. Are there any differences now? Share in a circle.
Ending
Each group member to pull another group member’s name out a bag. Ask them to write something positive that group member contributed to the group. Share in a circle. Everyone keeps their positive comment. / self awareness, motivation
self awareness, managing feelings
motivation, empathy, social skills
Energiser/Main activity extension / Either continue main activity if it requires additional time, or do a quick energiser if energy levels are lagging. Can return to main activity after this energiser if necessary.
Plenary / Bring group back into a circle
Opportunity to share something positive/feedback to the group
Next week
Evaluation and reflection
When I am 21
I would like to be ...
Put these in order of what is most important to you. / What can I do to get there? / Anything else?1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. / What can others do to help me?
7.
8.
9.
10.
SEAL QUIZ
Key:V = very true/always, T = true/often, P = partially true/sometimes, N = not true/neverSocial and emotional aspects of learning / Social and emotional skills / V / T / P / N
Self-awareness / I find it easy to talk about my feelings.
I am aware of the things I do well and the things I could do better.
Managing feelings / I have good strategies to help me cope when I get angry.
I tend to think before I act.
Motivation / On the whole, I do things when they need to be done.
I usually understand the reasons why I do things.
Empathy / I usually know when people are unhappy, even when they say nothing.
I care what happens to people.
Social Skills / I am a good listener.
When I am in a new situation I find it easy to join in with others.
Is there anything you hope to gain from being in this group?
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