Hot Topic #4: A Curriculum that Prepares Us for Life Suggested session plan Topic (time) Activity Simplified activity Resources Helping you to do your best Support to be my best (25mins) In 3s or 4s, CYP think about things they want to do to be their best (e.g. joining in in class, making friends, trying new things). Each group works on a short role play showing an example of what has happened when they have tried to be their best, and the support they have had. Show the role plays to the whole group. After each role play, ask the audience to suggest ways that the CYP could have been supported better. Support CYP to draw a picture of a time when they have tried to be their best, and the support they had from staff. Talk to them about what could be better and support them to draw a second picture. IPad/ camera for filming OR Paper, pens, pencils Achieving your personal goals Understanding my personal goals (10mins) In small groups, think about what school/ college staff do to find out about and understand CYP’s interests and aspirations (aside from academics).E.g. informal chats, form tutor sessions, school council. Write or draw this on flipchart paper. In small groups, think about how school staff find out about CYP’s interests and aspirations. (E.g. home-school books, free time in class, informal chats). Write or draw this on flipchart paper. Flipchart paper, pens Rating my support (5mins) Using stickers or pens, ask each CYP to give a traffic light rating on how well they think school/ college staff help Using stickers or pens, ask each CYP to give a traffic light rating on how well they think school/ college staff help them to work towards these goals and aspirations. Red, yellow and green stickers or pens
them to work towards these goals and aspirations. Why have they given this rating? Improving my support (10mins) As a whole group, think about ways that schools/ colleges could be better at helping CYP work towards these goals and aspirations. Think about ways that schools/ colleges could be better at helping CYP work towards these goals and aspirations. Building confidence How I am supported to build confidence (10mins) In small groups, think about the ways that school/ college helps CYP to build confidence. You can use the poster as a starting point. Write or draw them on flipchart paper. Using the poster, talk about the ways that school/ college helps CYP to build confidence. Can CYP think of any more? Poster How well school/college supports me to build confidence (5mins) Using stickers or pens, ask each CYP to give a traffic light rating on how well they think school/ college helps them to build confidence. Using stickers or pens, ask each CYP to give a traffic light rating on how well they think school/ college helps them to build confidence. Red, yellow and green stickers/ pens Imaging a fully supportive environment (10mins) Ask all CYP to close their eyes and focus on one area where they would like to build confidence. In an ideal world, what support would they have to do this? Give them a couple of minutes to think about it. Feedback ideas to the whole group. Ask each CYP to think of one way in which they want to be more confident. What do they think school/college could do to support them? Independent living skills
The skills I need (5mins) As a whole group, think about the skills that you will need as you become an adult. Write them down on a flipchart as you go along. Use the flashcards to think about independent living skills. Can you think of any more? Stick the ones that you have been learning one flipchart, and the ones that you are not learning on a different flipchart. Flipchart paper, pens OR Flashcards, flipchart paper, glue/ blu tack The most useful skill (2mins) Give everyone a green sticker. Ask them to stick it on the skill that they think is the most useful. Why is this the most useful skill? Give everyone a green sticker. Ask them to stick it on the skill that they think is the most useful. Why is this the most useful skill? Green stickers What I want to learn more about (2mins) Give everyone an orange sticker. Ask them to stick it on the skills they would like to learn more about. Why would they like to learn more about this? Give everyone an orange sticker. Ask them to stick it on the skills they would like to learn more about. Why would they like to learn more about this? Orange stickers What I am most worried about (2mins) Give everyone a red sticker. Ask them to stick the sticker on the skill they are most worried about for when they are an adult. Why are they worried about this? Give everyone a red sticker. Ask them to stick the sticker on the skill they are most worried about for when they are an adult. Why are they worried about this? Red stickers Who supports me (10mins) In small groups, think about the people that you go to when you need support. Write this down on flipchart paper. Draw pictures or look at photos of the people that the CYP go to when they need more support. Flipchart paper, pens OR Paper, drawing materials