Advisory Program Practices: Facilitating an Interactive Activity

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Blogger: Denise Wolk

One of the challenges to being an advisor is making the shift from a direct instruction role (content area teacher) to simply facilitating an activity with students. The following is a simple, step-by-step guide to facilitating an interactive advisory program activity with students.

1. Tell students what they’re going to do (“Now we’re going to an activity called_____________”.)
2. Give directions for how students should arrange themselves for the activity (standing in a circle/sitting face to face in a circle of four/divided into two lines of students facing each other/etc.)
3. Share some of the skills and attitudes that will make this activity a successful one.  (We’d like everyone to participate with an open mind, use your creativity, and listen carefully to the instructions.)
4. Give directions that are clear and specific.
5. Ask if there are any questions about the instructions.  Then ask for a volunteer to repeat the instructions to make sure everyone “got it.”
6. Do the activity.
7. Debrief ANY activity in two ways:
   
   • First, ask participants what they liked, what was fun, what they observed about their own participation or the participation of others, or what they learned about themselves or the group.
   • Second, link what students learned or observed to situations at school and qualities and skills they need to be a successful student.
     

Now that you have the basics, here are a couple of easy activities to try:

Name and Motion
Objective: This is a great way to have everyone learn each other's names.
Materials: None

1. Have everyone in the small group stand in a circle, including the facilitator.
2. One by one, go around the room and have everyone state their name, share something they love to do, and make a sign/mime/motion that represents that particular activity.
3. Go around the circle and each person repeats the names and signs of all the other participants, before they share their name and sign/mime/motion.

Two Truths and a Lie
Objective: This is fun way to find out more about people.
Materials: 3 x 5 cards, pens/pencils

Give each student an index card.  Have each student write down three “facts” about themselves on the card.  Two of the “facts” should be true while one of the “facts” should be false.  Students should try to create three facts that are all credible.  For example: 1) I have lived in 3 states, 2) I have 2 siblings, 3) My favorite food is pizza.  Each student reads the 3 “facts” aloud to the group and individuals in the group try to determine which statement is the lie.