Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: Apples from the Same Tree – Safety at Roberto Clemente

School Counselor: Roberto Clemente Community Academy School Counselors

Date: September 17-20th (The week before International Peace Day which is September
21st)

Activity: Root Cause Tree and “Imagine If…” Journal Activity

Grade(s): 9th – 12th Grades

ASCA Student Standards (Domain/Standard/Competencies):

 M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of
mental, social/emotional, and physical well-being
 M 3. Sense of belonging in the school environment
 B-LS 1. Demonstrate critical-thinking skills to make informed decisions.
 B-SMS 6. Demonstrate ability to overcome barriers to learning.
 B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem.
 B-SMS 9. Demonstrate personal safety skills.
 B-SS 2. Create positive and supportive relationships with other students.
 B-SS 9. Demonstrate social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the
situation and environment.

Learning Objective(s) (aligns with competency):

1. A safe, open student dialogue will begin surrounding safety concerns both inside
and outside of Roberto Clemente.
2. Students will work together to discuss ways in with Clemente can become a better
place for peace, justice, and student empowerment.

Materials:
1. Whiteboard, chalkboard, or large piece of paper (only 1 of the 3 needed)
2. Different colored markers
3. Journals/pieces of paper
4. Pens or pencils

Procedure:

Opening Activity – Introduction and Root Cause Tree (20 Minutes)

1. Begin by having all of the students push their desks against the wall and sit in a
circle.
2. Administer pretest.
3. Open up the session by having everyone close their eyes and take a few deep
breaths. Tell the students to let go of stressors like peers, homework, or school.
Have them center so they can be present for following activities.
4. Begin this lesson by expressing to students that they are in a safe, confidential
space. Anything that is said there will stay there, unless someone is in harm. You
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

cannot discuss violence unless people are respectful and feel safe in that
environment.
5. Begin with a Root Cause Tree

6.
Symptom – Students Don’t Feel Safe
7. Begin to fill out the Root Cause Tree
 Roots – underlying issues
 Trunk – problems
 Leaves – results
8. Lead questions: What happens because of this? What is our result? Who does this
impact?
9. Take a step back and ask students what they see when looking at the tree.
10. Let the dialogue continue and ask thoughts/feelings on this topic.

Core Activity – “Imagine If…” Journaling Activity (30 Minutes)

11. Leave tree up on board and begin to pass out journals or papers and pen so
students can write thoughts and feelings.
12. When the room is quiet and in reflective mode, write down, “Imagine Roberto
Clemente if…” on the board.
13. Ask students to write down this phrase as you say it again and begin to reflect on
answers to the statement.
14. Ask students to reflect on what would need to change within their school to
become a school of justice and student empowerment.
15. Encourage participation in all forms – drawing, writing, etc.
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

16. Questions: What comes to mind when you hear this question? What do you think
needs to be changed? What positive changes are you imagining?
17. Take time for all to journal.
18. Let students break into small groups to discuss feelings/thoughts.
19. Open up the dialogue to the larger group.
20. Allow students to share key issues/solutions that they wrote about in their
journal and begin to connect them to a struggle.

For example, if someone said, “I wish people were nicer to each other.”
Issue: Bullying

Closing Activity - Closing and Group Thoughts (10 Minutes)

21. Close the discussion out by asking everyone to return to the circle.
22. Go around the circle and have each student use one word to describe how they
are feeling.
23. Take a few short deep breaths to close out the lesson together.
24. Administer posttest.

Process Data: All students will participate in a 50-minute classroom lesson during
each grade level’s English class during the month of September in honor of
International Peace Day.

Perception Data: Before the lesson, 33% of students reported feeling unsafe in the
bathroom or hallways at school. 81% reported seeing fights occur between students as
well. After the lesson, only 12% reported feeling unsafe in the bathroom or hallways and
62% reported seeing fights happen between students.

Outcome Data: There was a 24% decrease in fights happening between students
within the school. As a result of increased safe environment, there was a 31% increase in
attendance.

Follow Up: The same groups of students will have a follow up discussion at some point
in the second semester of the school year to have the same conversation and to develop
ways in which they have both failed and succeeded.
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

Safety Pretest
Student ID:____________(optional)
Directions – Circle the response that most applies to you.

1. How safe do you feel on your way to school?

 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
2. How safe do you feel at school?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
3. How safe do you feel in your classrooms?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
4. How safe do you feel in the hallways, bathrooms, or at lunch?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very unsafe
5. If you were feeling unsafe anywhere within Roberto Clemente, how would you
handle it?
 Consult a teacher
 Meet with my school counselor
 Tell a friend
 Go to the main office
 Approach the Chicago Police Officer on campus
 Do nothing
 Other _____________________________
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

6. Who do you feel most comfortable at Roberto Clemente talking about issues
regarding safety with? (Circle all that apply.)
 Friends
 Parents/Family Members
 Teachers
 School Counselors
 Administrators
 Security Guards
 Other _____________________________
7. Do you wish the topics of safety and violence were discussed more at school?
 Yes
 No
8. How would you like them to be discussed more at school?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
9. How can the teachers, school counselors, and staff at Roberto Clemente make you
feel safer?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
10. Any additional comments regarding violence, safety, or your experience as a
student at Roberto Clemente:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

Safety Posttest
Student ID:____________(optional)
Directions – Circle the response that most applies to you.

11. How safe do you feel on your way to school?

 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
12. How safe do you feel at school?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
13. How safe do you feel in your classrooms?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very Unsafe
14. How safe do you feel in the hallways, bathrooms, or at lunch?
 5 - Very Safe
 4 - Safe
 3 - Not safe or unsafe
 2 - Unsafe
 1 - Very unsafe
15. If you were feeling unsafe anywhere within Roberto Clemente, how would you
handle it?
 Consult a teacher
 Meet with my school counselor
 Tell a friend
 Go to the main office
 Approach the Chicago Police Officer on campus
 Do nothing
 Other _____________________________
 Clemente SEL Lesson Plan

16. Who do you feel most comfortable at Roberto Clemente talking about issues
regarding safety with? (Circle all that apply.)
 Friends
 Parents/Family Members
 Teachers
 School Counselors
 Administrators
 Security Guards
 Other _____________________________
17. Do you wish the topics of safety and violence were discussed more at school?
 Yes
 No
18. Did you find this lesson about safety at Clemente to be helpful? How can we
improve it in the future?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
19. How can the teachers, school counselors, and staff at Roberto Clemente make you
feel safer?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
20. Any additional comments regarding violence, safety, or your experience as a
student at Roberto Clemente:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________