This season, Girls on the Run Greater Boston will post an overview of each week's lessons for families/guardians to follow along with their participants over the next 8 weeks. 

Girls on the Run 

Lesson 17: Small Acts Make a Difference (Planning the Community Impact Project) 

In Lesson 17 the big idea was Small Acts Make a Difference. We began by reframing this project not as a large undertaking but as a chance for the team to exercise their agency, even with limited resources, to make a difference. During our warm-up, we moved and voted on the top project choices and then used our Speaking Star to narrow it down further. With lots of teamwork, communication, and the power of the Speaking Star we were able to plan out our Community Impact Project! The GOTR Goal for this practice was: Share our Community Impact Project idea with someone outside of GOTR. 

 

Questions and conversation starters:

1. Tell me about how you helped your team choose a group to help.

2. I bet you are proud of your team! Tell me what has made you the proudest.

Lesson 18: Helping Our Community Shine Brighter (Completing the Community Impact Project) 

The big idea for Lesson 18 was special – instead of providing the big idea, the team came up with it themselves: (FILL IN YOUR TEAM’S BIG IDEA HERE)! The team used their Star Power and Girls on the Run tools to make our community shine brighter. We had a wonderful time [Insert information about your team’s Community Impact Project here. For example, “We had a wonderful time cooperating to create get well cards for the children’s hospital. It was great to see each team member use their unique strengths to complete the project.”] The GOTR GOAL for this lesson was: Try to do another small act to help your community shine brighter.

 

Questions and conversation starters:

1. I am so proud of you for giving back in this way! What have you learned about yourself while doing this project? What have you learned about your team?

2. Would you like to do something like this again? What sort of project could we do together, and which group should we help?

Heart & Sole (2x a week)

Lesson 16

The Big Idea in Lesson 16 was: we are all connected.  In this lesson the girls participated in activities that showed how they are connected to each other both physically and emotionally.  This prepared them for a discussion at the end of practice about how everyone’s Wheel is connected.  They were then able to look at whose Wheels are in their comfort zone and stretch zone.  Today’s lesson prepared girls to take action on expanding the reach of the Girl Wheel to positively impact others.  The Take Home Challenge for this lesson was to explain the Girl Wheel comfort zone and stretch zone ideas to someone at home.

Questions and Conversation Starters:

1. What Wheels are in your comfort zone?  What Wheels are in your stretch zone?  How can you expand the reach of your Girl Wheel to include others?

2. Next week is your practice 5k!  How are you feeling about that?  Are you feeling prepared? (Remember to focus on personal improvement, goal setting, effort, emotional and physical preparation.)

Lesson 18

The Big Idea in Lesson 18 was: we can positively impact others.  In this lesson, the girls focused on how they can positively impact others through expanding the reach of their Girls Wheel.  They did this by completing an activity which shows how one action can have a ripple effect on others.  During the Workout, the group brainstormed ways they can expand their Wheel to reach those in their Stretch Zone.  Finally, the girls returned to their journals and created an individualized action plan to reach out to Wheels in their stretch zone.  The Take Home Challenge for this lesson was to take action to expand the reach of their Girl Wheel to include others.

Questions and Conversation Starters:

1. How can one action have a ripple effect? (Share an example from your own life.)

2. What are the actions you will take to extend the reach of your Girl Wheel to include others?  Why is it important to do this?

Heart & Sole (1x a week) 

Lesson 7

In Lesson 7, the Big Idea was sticking up for yourself and others is not always easy, but it is important. Today’s lesson focused on the idea that we have choice to use our power and agency. Understanding agency —the power to act on our own behalf and on the behalf of others—teaches girls that they can advocate for themselves and others even when this may be difficult. In the first Activity, the girls thought about how their choices and actions are influenced by positive or negative thoughts. In the final Activity, girls thought about the consequence of advocating/not advocating for others (such as seeing a friend get bullied, or having others talk behind your back). During the Let’s Talk, girls discussed situations that were challenging for them to use their agency.  

Their Take Home Challenge for this lesson was to practice using their agency to stick up for themselves or someone else this week.

Questions & Conversation Starters:

1. Tell me about how sticking up for ourselves and others has consequences. (Share an example from your life.)

2. Tell me about how NOT sticking up for ourselves and others has consequences. (Share an example from your life.)

3. How can we help each other use our agency to advocate for others in our lives?

4. KEEP MOVING: You have been preparing so hard for this 5K! What are you most proud of?

Pictures in order of appearance: 

1. Tenney Grammar - Methuen
2. Salemwood - Malden
3. Lincoln - Melrose