Peer Mentoring

Discussion and Self-Reflection Questions

• Could we have done this with only two people? With three people?
• How many people would it have taken to make a web strong enough for someone to lie on?
• What is the message that this activity sends about the power of working as a group?
• Think about our school mission statement that was read at the beginning of class. How do you think our weekly advisory can impact that mission?
• What could we do to make our Advisories support that mission?

Conclude this session by watching the video segment Peer Mentoring, to listen to first-hand from Jeisson Santana about the ways that positive peer mentoring can change someone’s life for the better.

Activity

Divide the Peer Leaders into two groups of 10 to 15 people. Have the group stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder. As the advisor/facilitator, hold the ball of rope and keep one end in your hands. Ask for someone who shares a characteristics with you (such as shares your birthday month, likes sushi, has seen a certain movie) – and throw the rope to that person who says he or she shares your characteristic. As each person gets the rope, he/she thinks of a characteristic and throws the rope to another who shares whatever he/she said.

Little by little, the group will be forming a web that should be strong enough for to lie on like a hammock. Ask for a volunteer to lie on rope web (held low to the ground), to demonstrate the support that the group was able to weave together.

Download the Lesson Plan for full activity and discussion questions.