Designing Classroom Values

Values Discovery Activity

Overview

Materials

• Pens/markers
• Essential Question Sheet (In Desiging the Learning Alliance Guide)
• Value Rating Sheets (In Desiging the Learning Alliance Guide)

Prep

• Print out the Value Rating Sheets and the Essential Question Sheet Post them around the classroom.
• Fill out a Value Ratings Sheet as an example
• Space them out to allow students to walk around
• *Note, you can remove some of the values or create additional ones.

Activity

1. 
   Introduce the Essential Question. You might have a class discussion around what values are and why they are important.
2. Explain the purpose of the activity. For example, to shape a classroom culture that reflects who they are.
3. Explain how to use the Value Rating sheets (1) Each student fills in one circle on each value sheet (2) Sign it to show their commitment (3) Write down thoughts about the value based on their own insights and discussions.
4. Ask students to form pairs or triads and take a pen, pencil, or marker with them & visit a value rating sheet posted on the walls. They should distribute evenly so one value is not being “overcrowded”.
5. Students discuss with their partner what that value means to them. They can capture their summary on the sheet where is says “Thoughts”.
6. 
   Each student rates how important the value is in their life and learning.
7. After they have voted, they can move to the next value and repeat. *You can have them do this on their own or set a timer for them to rotate.
8. Analyze the results. Choose the top 3 or 5 values that are most motivating to the students as the core values. Share it with the group.
9. You may want to have a debrief conversation with the classroom around their values. Does it reflect who they are? Does anyone strongly disagree with the results?

Sample from Desiging the Learning Alliance Guide

Resources