Expectations, Ground Rules, and Group Agreements: A Hands On Activity

Aren’t you tired of lecturing about what you expect from your students and the ground rules for your class or program? I know I am. Year after year you review how you expect your students how to behave, and you may sometimes feel like the information goes in one ear and out the other. Rescue yourself and your youth from boredom and monotony of lecturing about expectations of the class or program. This activity allows for students to be involved in setting the ground rules and expectations; it gives ownership to the participants. They will collaborate and decide what will expected from their behavior, you, and the program. Using the carousel method to facilitate this activity, the participants will begin to establish their ground rules and expectations .

Participants will…

To begin to understand and take ownership of the expectations from the program or class
To be able to express their own needs from the program
To identify their expectations of the facilitator

Chart paper
4 Assorted Colored Markers

Using a separate piece of chart paper for each question, write one of the following question on the top of each paper.

What do you expect to learn from this program or class?
What do you expect from the facilitator or teacher?
What is expected from you in this program or class?
What do you expect from your peers in this program or class?

Hang each chart paper in four separate areas of the room.

Divide the participants into four separate groups.

Provide each group a different colored marker. This way each group will easily identify their section.

Each group should spend 3-5 minutes writing down the answers to the questions. When time is up, instruct the participants to move clockwise to the next question. If groups agree with the answers given by other groups, they should draw a check mark at the end of the statement.

Circulate around the room during the activity. Prompt participants when they struggle to come up with answers or may need to be more specific about certain details of their statements.

After all the groups have been to each station, ask for a volunteer from each group to read their answers. Review the information and clarify any statements which may need further examination. Ask the students if they want to add anything to lists. Make sure they have included the basic ground rules. For further information on establishing ground rules, check out Answers To Essential Questions: Creating Ground Rules And Group Agreements.

Ask the participants if they all agree on the paper labeled, “What do you expect from your peers in this program or class?” If someone states that they don’t agree with what is listed, ask them to explain why and have further discussion about their concerns. Use the information listed on the chart paper to create a group agreement, explain that these are the rules they have set for themselves and have agreed upon.

Have the participants sign the paper and keep it hanging in the room. You can also type the agreements into a contact they can keep in their binder or folder.