Irmo Middle School

International Academic Magnet

An Expeditionary Learning School

LessonTitle/Focus:CommunityCrew101Lesson3 Date:Sept.4,2014

PriortoCrew:
1. Chairsarrangedinacircle
2. HavespaceonboardavailableforwritingtheacronymSLANTandassociatedaction
3. Normsposted

YearLongLearningTarget:Icancreateandmaintainhealthyrelationshipswithallcommunity
members.

StrandLearningTarget:Icancontributemeaningfullytomycommunity.

*LessonLearningTarget:IcanexplainhowS.L.A.N.T.isausefultoolforachievingthenorms
forCrew.

Norms:
1. LISTENwiththeintentoflearning.
2. SPEAKtoshare,wonder,clarify,connect.
3. ENGAGE&exploremyroleasaCrewmember.
4. BEPRESENT&minimizedisruptions.
5. ENJOYoneanotherscompany,fosterhumor,reachout.
6. BECOURAGEOUS&beOKwithnotknowing.

Time LessonComponents DetailedStepsandMaterials

5Minutes Openingand
Welcoming:Welcome
and/orgreetone
anotherIntroduce
targetorgoalReview
agendaSettone.

Greetstudentsatthedoor.Welcomebackto
Crew.Rememberlastweekwetalkedabout
normsandselected____normasneedingsome
moreattention.Chooseapartnernearbyand
shareanexampleofhowyouworkedonthenorm
overtheweek.Youwillthenintroducethis
personandwhattheydidtogiveattentiontothis
norm.Youhave30seconds.
Regroupanddemonstrateintroductions:Thisis
____,(Hello,____),andsheworkedonthenorm
for____by____thisweek.Allowstudentsto
introduceeachotheruntileveryoneiswelcomed.
Letstaketurnsreadingthenormssowecan
reviewtheagreementsforbehaviorduring
Crew.
2Minutes Reading:Meaningful
excerpt,poem,song,
riddle,etc.tiedto
purposeofcrew
session.

15
Minutes
Community
Initiative/Main
Activity/Discussion:
Centeredonthefocus,
targetorgoalforthe
day.Mayinclude
teambuilding,fitness,
discussionofrelevant
eventsorissuesinthe
studentslives,visit
fromanexpert,portfolio
workorstudentled
conferencepreparation.

WritethelettersSLANTontheboard.
Letsshareanideathatincorporatesmanyofthe
normscalledS.L.A.N.T.Illtellyouwhateach
letterintheacronymstandsforandIwantyouto
actitout.Sisforsitup.Lisforleanforward.A
isforaskquestions.Nisfornod.Tisfortrack,or
followthespeakerwithyoureyes.Howdoes
followingSLANThelpyoutomeetthenorms?
HelptheCrewreachtheunderstandingthatitisan
easywaytorememberanddemonstratethenorms.
(3minutes)
Activity:DividetheCrewinto3groups.Nowthat
youunderstandalittleaboutSLANT,yourjobis
tosellittotheCrewintheformofan
infomercial.Hereisanexampleofan
infomercialhttp://safeshare.tv/w/EtDGeOWiRK.
Whataresomethingsyounoticedthat
infomercialshaveincommon?(guidediscussion
towardsthese3components:humor,butwait,
theresmore...,problemsolution).Inyour
group,createa30secondinfomercialselling
SLANTtoanotherschool.Youhave4minutes,
andthenwellpresent.
Eachgrouphas1minutetopresenttheirinfomercial.
WhatdidyoulearnaboutSLANTfromthe
infomercials?Whatweretheproblems
addressedinourinfomercialsandhowdidSLANT
helpsolvetheproblems?Howdoesthisrelateto
ournorms?Forexample,demonstratinglisteningby
leaningforwardandnoddingengagingbyaskingand
trackingwitheyes,etc.(5minutes)
5Minutes Debrief/Reflection:
Checkinonhowthe
sessionwent,including
ourcollaboration,
individualwork,
progresstowardthe
targetorgoalandideas
forimprovingournext
session.

Letslookbackatourlearningtarget.Nowwe
knowhowSLANTconnectstothenorms.Explain
howSLANTandthenormshelpbuildabetter
Crewcommunity.Ex:respectingeachother,
learningfromeachother,positivelearning
environment,etc.
Weregoingtowrapupwithanactivitycalled
whiparound.Hereshowitworks:Iwantyouto
comeupwith3wordsthatdescribehowSLANT
andnormsbenefitourcommunity.Wewillgo
aroundthecircleandshare,anddontworryif
someoneusesyouranswers,wecanhave
repeats.Facilitatorselectsstartingpoint,student
selectsdirection.
3Minutes NextSteps:
Teacher/student(s)
reviewimportant
upcomingeventsand
agendaitems.Identify
nextstepsforCrew
(assignnextcrew
leader,ifstudentsare
takingturns).
Nextweekwewillbediscussinghow
communicationisimportantinbuildingastrong
community.Arrangeroomasneededtopreparefor
class.