Spark Lab Social Awareness

Volunteer Guide

Thank you for volunteering with Spark! This document should be used as a resource throughout the Spark Lab
to help you facilitate activities and teach students important workplace and life skills. All activities will be led by
a Spark facilitator, who will be available throughout the session if you have any questions.

THE 5 E’S
Tips for working with middle school students:
1. Expect the Best: Encourage students to reach their highest potential.
2. Empower Them: Listen to students and let them lead conversations.
3. Express Care: Show students they matter by encouraging them to meet high expectations.
4. Explore Their Identities: Explore student perspectives with open-ended questions.
5. Explore Possibilities: Share information about your job and your professional experience.

WORKSHOP AGENDA
Each activity will be introduced by Spark staff, then you will facilitate your small group. See details below.
1. Snacks & Company Welcome (5 minutes)
2. Icebreaker (5-10 minutes) (optional)
3. Company Introduction Activity (30 minutes)
4. Primary Activity: Be Method (30 minutes)
5. Movement Break (10 minutes) (optional)
6. Secondary Activity: Personal Pitch (30 minutes)
7. Debrief & Goodbye (10 minutes)

Welcome & Snacks (5 minutes)

Below you’ll find best practices as well as suggested conversation starters to get to know the students at your table
-Do table introductions by stating your name and an adjective that describes you that begins with the first letter of
your name (e.g. Lively Lucy)
-Share what you were like as a middle schooler; maybe your most embarrassing middle school experience!
-Share a rose, bud and thorn of your day (something that’s positive, negative, and ‘in bloom’)
-If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
-If you could have dinner with any celebrity dead or alive who would it be?
-Ask students about their hobbies and try to find commonalities: music, TV, sports, hobbies are a great place to
start!

Icebreaker Activity (Optional)

Big Idea: Pending time and space constraints, Spark staff will facilitate an activity to allow everyone to warm up and have
fun before diving in!

COMPANY INTRODCUTION (30 minutes)

Big Idea: During Spark Labs, students have the opportunity to visit 5 different workplaces during which they are
introduced to various industries, job functions and workplace best practices. The company introduction is an opportunity to
showcase what’s unique and cutting edge about your company, brand, workplace, people, etc. Companies are asked to
 Spark Lab Social Awareness

Volunteer Guide

choose from a menu of Spark generated activities or host their own introduction.

BE METHOD ACTIVITY (30 minutes)

Big Idea: Through this activity students will explore social awareness by considering the needs of others.

Be Method Activity Instructions:

 Each group has a story card in their folder that gives an overview of the circumstances a particular character is
experiencing. Together, your group will go through the three steps of the Be method to design shoes tailored to
your character’s needs.
1. Be – BE this person; put yourself in their shoes; what are the challenges this person is facing, and how
do those challenges make them feel?
2. Brainstorm – How can you design new shoes to help this person? Brainstorm all of the ideas you can.
3. Build – Narrow down your ideas to build your solution to the challenge you identified in Step 2.
 Before designing your shoes, your groups will complete the Be Method worksheet. Elect one person as the scribe
and take 5 minutes to collectively complete the worksheet.
 Once worksheets are completed, you’ll have 10 minutes to collaboratively design your shoe.
 In order for everyone to participate, make sure that the final shoe design incorporates at least one idea from each
member of the group.
 The Spark facilitator will regather the group’s attention and have groups present the shoes they’ve created.

CHARACTER CARDS

SCENARIO #1
Present has an upcoming presentation in class and she’s really nervous. She wants her look to balance professionalism
and confidence. She doesn’t like standing up in front of big groups of people, and she needs a pair of shoes that will give
her that extra boost.

SCENARIO #2
Amor is celebrating her 1-month anniversary with her significant other. They’ve decided to get fancy and go to the movies
and get pizza after. Amor wants to dress up for the occasion, but also keep it casual and fun - they are going to the moves
after all! She wants shoes that are comfortable but also fashionable.

SCENARIO #3
In an effort to make friends, NewB has decided to try out for the basketball team. Sadly, his basketball shoes didn’t make
it to [insert new city]. He needs a pair of shoes that will impress the team and prove that he’s got the best 3-point shot at
[insert school!]. However, he’s been known to injure his ankles so his shoes also need to have strong support.

SCENARIO #4
Lego just got a new job as a waiter that requires him to be on his feet all day long. He wants a pair of shoes that are cool
and that will get him good tips, but they also need to be functional and comfortable for 8 hours of standing! Lego is a huge
environmentalist and usually only buys clothing that is made with responsible materials.

SCENARIO #5
Gran is an old woman who is achy and a bit slow. She has trouble getting around and walks with a cane. She has
difficulty running around her office all day for work, and needs some shoes that are comfortable and can help her pick up
the pace.

Wrap Up & Transition: Spark facilitator will regather the group’s attention and have group captains share their 3 positive
stress reactions in order to transition to the next activity.

PERSONAL PITCH ACTIVITY (30 minutes)

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Volunteer Guide

Big Idea: Through this activity students will explore social awareness by giving empathetic feedback.

Personal Pitch Instructions

 In this activity, your group will practice your public speaking skills, and more importantly, your skills listening
and giving feedback in a helpful and respectful way. Students and volunteers will pretend that they are
Instagram influencers who are about to pitch their account to Instagram executives who are going to decide
whether or not they are going to sponsor their accounts.
 Volunteers will distribute Personal Pitch worksheets out to their groups. Everyone will have five minutes to
complete their worksheets.
 After the five minutes is up everyone will take turns and have one minute to pitch their accounts to their group
members who will act as the Instagram executives.
 Ask your group if someone would like to go first or begin with a volunteer and move clockwise. Each person
will have one minute to give their pitch and the group will have one minute as a whole to give feedback.
Volunteers to keep time.
 Remember: the goal of this activity is for students to understand the importance of empathetic feedback.
Good constructive feedback focuses on one thing and gives ways that the person could do better. It also
acknowledges what the person is already doing well.

Debrief Questions (Optional):

If your team finishes early, guide students through a reflection of the activity.
 When you were speaking, how could you tell if other people were listening?
 What was easy about speaking or listening? What was hard?
 What feedback did your partner give you that was helpful?
 Share with students the ways in which being a strong listener and thoughtful communicator is important in your
job?
 How is communication or public speaking important in school?