Leading Between Groups, Not Just Within Them
TARGET:
9-11 years
INTENSITY:
30 min / 1x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Human-Human Co-Intelligence
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Choosing My Role in the Group
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Agency and Autonomy
Complex Reasoning
MATERIALS
Cross-group bridge project design
Social map of class/grade groups
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Gather the whole group together in a circle for this activity. Explain calmly to the children: "Some of the most important leadership happens not within a group, but between groups - building connections across the divides that normally keep people separate."
Step 1
Map the social groups in the class or grade. Where are the divides? Who bridges them?
Step 2
Bridging leadership: finding genuine common ground / facilitating contact between groups / being a trusted member of more than one group.
Step 3
Say gently to the children: "A bridge isn't on either side. And being a bridge is one of the most valuable social roles there is."
Step 4
Design and execute a small cross-group project that requires people from different social circles to work together.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child maps at least 3 social groups and identifies their divides.
The child takes on a bridge role in a cross-group project.
The child reports that the project created at least one new cross-group connection.