Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 7-8

Activity Objective: The objective of this activity is to explore ways youth can get help for their peers, the barriers they may encounter, and potential solutions to these barriers.

Materials Required:

• Scenarios
• Chart paper and markers (enough for each small group)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Print out scenarios
• Prepare chart paper for small group work

 Task Time: 45 minutes

Activity Description:

1.       Tell the class that in small groups of 4-5 students, they will be examining scenarios involving a peer who is in need of help. In their small groups, they will generate ideas around how to get help for their friend, barriers to getting help and potential solutions

Explore the sample scenario with the whole class

2.       Divide the class up into small groups and hand each of them a scenario card

3.       On chart paper, have the group write down the barriers to getting help, the potential solutions to the barriers and ways of getting help. Facilitator will circulate and follow up with each small group.

Note to facilitator: while circulating, encourage students to think of ways to get help from trusted adults

4.       Regather the whole class and have each group present their scenarios, ways of getting help, barriers, and solutions

5.       Have a class discussion: identify some common barriers to getting help that are listed across scenarios and solutions to these barriers. Have a discussion around why it’s important to reach out to a trusted adult(s) to get help for a friend 

Activity Extensions:

To make the activity more interactive, scenarios can be rotated among small groups so that each small group works on a different component (i.e., barriers, solutions to barriers and ways of getting help)

Additional Comments:

Make sure a list of resources for getting help are available for the class to refer to (e.g., Kids Help Phone, Cybertips.ca, etc.)

Additional Resources:

Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/