Middle School Students Lack of connectedness With their Peers

The Power of Positive Relationships

Ruth-Joy John

Queen United Middle School

6th and 8th Grade Biology Regents Teacher

Introduction:

You are president of the Student Government, and you recognize the importance of happy and healthy relationships. You, along with your fellow members, create the Student Wellbeing Team. This team works closely with the school staff to implement initiatives that will encourage a happy environment that fosters a sense of belonging and connection. This nurturing environment allows students to feel supported and encouraged to engage in their education.

Step One: Define the Problem: What is the culture like at Queens United Middle school?

Enjoy this video to learn more

How friendships affect your brain

Task:

In this WebQuest, using the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) you will be solving the problem of how to connect students more positively with their peers at MS289.

The Student Wellbeing Team wants to build a school culture that fosters positive relationships and helps students to succeed. Your posters will be hung around the building for visible reminders to staff students and visitors. The poster should:

❖ Choose visuals that are uplifting and positive.

❖ Consider using images of happy people, acts of kindness, or inspiring scenes.

The weekly Public Service announcement should include these steps after using the PPA.

1. Choose a Theme

2. Develop a Compelling Message

The objective is to learn to use the PPA which is the Public Policy Analyst (PPA)

This example demonstrates how a positive PSA can be crafted to encourage positive actions and spread positivity within a community. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-for-creating-own-psa.pdf

PROCESS:

PPA Steps:

Define the Problem

Gather the Evidence

Identify the Causes

Evaluate an Existing Policy

Develop Solutions

Select the Best Solution

You will work in teams of 3 members.

Students must use the PPA policy in order to complete their presentations. Students will use a survey to determine important information in the PPA about student connectedness at MS 289.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AOKdJVH99t8LSyy1wCPqqaKJ8CPnmBimCCRRMrSXpDw/edit?tab=t.0

Step One: Define the Problem: What is the culture like at Queens United Middle school?

Step Two: Gather the Evidence: Students will use this worksheet https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F56GNw2MsiJDoPEQeCfPOU2n0tgvtdSW1uTD__MLF3E/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.chm9bgy5voau

to keep track of information for each step.

Step Three: Identify the Causes: What is causing schools to have negative environments?

Objectives:

The members of The Student Wellbeing team will

● Create a monthly public service announcement with a slogan that encourages positive relationships at MS 289.

● Create a school poster to promote positive school-wide relationships at MS 289.

Step Four: Evaluate an Existing Policy: Why is The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) an existing policy?

Step Five: Develop Solutions: If the The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) is not meeting student needs what are other ways to make school environment more positive?

Step Six: Select the Best Solution : Based on feasibility and effectiveness graphic organizer, which solution is the best?

Evaluation

POSTER RUBRIC

CONCLUSION

IN this investigation you are president of the Student Government, and you recognize the importance of happy and healthy relationships. You, along with your fellow members, create the Student Wellbeing Team. This team works closely with the school staff to implement initiatives that will encourage a happy environment that fosters a sense of belonging and connection. This nurturing environment allows students to feel supported and encouraged to engage in their education.

To further help the Student wellbeing Team and create a positive school culture please reflect on how the sense of belonging relates to other social issues (peer pressure, bullying, school to prison pipeline)?

Standards

NGSS Standards: HS-ETS1-3 Engineering Design

NGSS Standards: HS-ETS1-3 Engineering Design	Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
NGSS Standards: HS-ETS1-1 Engineering Design	Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.