Assembly Expectations Lesson Plan 

Classroom Pre-teaching Activity (Upper & Lower Campus):

Activity A) Bring class down to drama room at a time when it is not being used (counselors can assist). Practice with class entering drama room, where to sit and why (need to leave room in middle for aisle, etc). While class is sitting you could have a discussion about how to be a good member of an audience. Can record ideas on a chart if desired. Make sure to discuss why each idea is important (quiet to show respect to presenter, seated on pockets so scholars behind can see, etc).

While class is in drama room, can play a game to have scholars ‘find the talkers’.

• One scholar stands up front where presenter would be
• Scholar up front turns around, teacher points to two scholars who will pretend to be whispering to each other. Rest of class needs to practice being a good audience member.
• Scholar up front turns around, designated ‘whispers’ pretend to whisper to each other
• Scholar up front tries to find who is whispering.
• Purpose of this is to help kids realize that even the presenter up front can pretty easily tell who is being respectful and who is not. A lot of times scholars think they can ‘hide’ in the crowd. This can help them to realize that they can’t

- Can make more difficult fun by giving a message on a card to one of the ‘whisperers’, they get bonus points if one can whisper the message to the other without getting caught.

While still in Drama Room you can practice waiting to be dismissed, and standing up to get in line. Where to line up, signals to look for from teacher, etc. Can discuss why it’s important to wait to be dismissed and what it could look like/how it could be dangerous if everyone tried to rush out at once.

Activity B) Tell scholars you are going to give them directions to draw a picture. When scholars are ready to draw turn on loud music and start to give directions. When students begin to feel frustrated, stop the music and discuss why they were not able to focus on the directions. Talk about how distractions make assemblies difficult. Talk about how you can be a good audience member so everyone can focus. Use scenarios below for discussion.

Activity C) Have a scholar go up to do a reading or share. (Talk to them before the activity to explain that you will not be a good audience member.) While they are talking the teacher and another student will start talking, booing, interrupting, etc. Stop the activity and discuss how to be a good audience member. Use scenarios below for discussion.

Scenarios
1. The student sitting next to you starts to boo, laugh at an inappropriate time, or
talks to you. What would you do? How should the other student be acting?
2. You are really bored at the assembly. How can you show respect to the
presenter(s)? What strategies can you use to help you stay focused?
3. List 10 behaviors that are not appropriate for assemblies, and discuss why.
4. Additional scenarios specific to your classroom and student(s) needs.
5. Remind students that they are representing our school to the community and parents who attend our assemblies.

Activity D) Could have a discussion with class during Morning Meeting about why it is important to be a good audience. Key points to discuss could be:

• Scholars talking or making noise distracts others around them, makes it hard to hear presenter.
• Parents/families join us for assemblies so we are representing our school to our community and families.
• Scholars receiving awards have worked hard and we should show respect.
• t’s easy to see from up front who is playing around and who is being a good audience member.
• Since most of our scholars do great at assemblies, you really stand out if you are playing around.

Show What You Know Activity (Upper & Lower Campus):

Divide the class in half or into small groups. Have one scholar talk or read while other scholars practice being a good audience. Teacher will monitor activity to recognize positive examples.

Positive Reinforcements:

• Presenter at assembly could point out great behaviors that they notice among the audience
• Pass out Tiger Paws for classes who have been doing a great job at assembly
•  After you return to class you could spend 5 minutes discussing with the scholars how they think they did as an audience, and what they could do better next time. Could make a chart of these suggestions, and save/review for next assembly or time spent as an audience. (For younger scholars, some way of celebrating if they become a better audience next time?

What happens when expectations aren’t met . . .

• Scholar should be directed to move to sit by an adult.
• Classroom seating chart may be implemented if not already.
• Scholar can be directed to sit by another grade level.
• Scholar can be directed to leave the assembly.
• If necessary scholar may not join next assembly.

Ways to revisit:

• Practice being a good audience at morning meetings.....every day!
• Take time to review expectations before leaving for the assemblies.
• Discuss how you did after you came back, ask scholars what they noticed.