Activity: Plan a project
Taking action: Adolescents develop plans for their group projects
Activity overview
Energy level: 3/5
Literacy level: 2/5
Complexity level: 4/5
Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Purpose: Work in groups to develop ideas and plans for projects.
Objectives
Adolescents will be able to:
- Form plans.
- Make decisions collaboratively.
Competency domains
- Critical thinking and decision making
- Hope for the future and goal setting
Works well for
Adolescents who are ready to work together on group projects over several sessions and can work on them independently.
Phase
Taking action
Before
Adolescents should have already agreed on an idea for a group project. Read and use Collaborative decision making.
After
Help the adolescents to keep their project plans in a place where they can access them in follow-up sessions. For example, they could store their notes in a secure place in the activity space, or in the Supply Kit.
Adolescents should have time during (and possibly outside) of sessions to work on the project steps they have outlined, and to review progress on their plans.
Preparation
None needed
Activity steps
Step 1
Explanation and Discussion: Ask the adolescents to sit together in a circle and post the marker board or flip chart paper where they can see it. If they are working on different projects in small groups, ask them to sit with their groups and distribute a few pieces of paper to each group.
Step 2
Write the project idea that the adolescents have chosen on the marker board or flip chart paper. Then write the following questions:
What do we want to do with our project? Examples could include:
- We want to hold a traditional music performance for the community.
- We want to have a poster campaign with positive messages about adolescents.
- We want to have a reading room that we can use during evenings and weekends.
What do we want the result or effect of our project to be (on ourselves or others)? Examples could include:
- We want to know how to play and sing traditional songs.
- We want adults to recognize the good things that adolescents do.
- We want to be able to read and study in a safe place.
Who can help us?
Who do we need to work with?
What materials and resources do we need?
What steps do we need to take to do this?
Step 3
Give the adolescents time to brainstorm answers to these questions. When they are ready, ask them to create a work plan using the template below (draw this on the marker board or flip chart paper).
Step 4
Share and Take away: Ask the adolescents to present their project plans and encourage them to include all of the necessary steps to succeed. Discuss which steps (if any) they will take before the next session.
Step 5
Agree on the next steps and discuss whether the next session will include time for carrying out their plans.
Planning template
| Our project will be (what we will make, do or create): | |
|---|---|
| The effect of our project will be: |
| What steps will we take? | Who will do this? | When will they do this? | What do they need? | What will happen as a result? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Do and don't
Do
- Help adolescents to set achievable goals for their projects.
- Review adolescents’ plans and make sure that they are feasible, safe, appropriate, and that tasks that are fairly distributed among group members.
- Let adolescents experiment or try things that might not work - as long as they aren’t at risk, and are ready to manage the consequences.
Don't
- Let adolescents make plans that are likely to fail if they won’t be able to handle the disappointment or embarrassment.
Adaptation
Different goals: Adapt the plans to focus on learning goals if adolescents are more interested in exploring a specific topic than working on a project.
Environment
Indoor or outdoor space with minimal distractions.
Supplies
A marker board, flip chart paper, notepaper (at least a few pieces for each group), markers and pens.
Improvise
If adolescents have access to social media, they can share their project plans online and post updates on their progress.
Continue
Adolescents can use this planning process for other projects or collaborative activities.
Highlights
Work in groups to develop ideas and plans for projects. Works well for adolescents who are ready to work together on group projects over several sessions, and can work on them independently.
