Group activities resource

104 Activities that build: self- esteem, teamwork, communication, anger management, self-discovery, coping skills, is a book that I discovered and purchased over the summer as a resource for activities to do in any groups that I may have. The book contains game and activity ideas to address different topics. The games can encourage children to modify behavior, increase interaction with others, start discussions, address issues, and build relationships. The activities in the book are best suited for middle school and high school age students. I think it’s a great resource because most of the activities don’t require many materials and all of them have some sort of discussion piece that can be done following the activity.

The book’s author, Alanna Jones, is a certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, who has worked in psychiatric hospitals with children, adolescents, and adults. She has several other books out with therapy games and other team-building activities. These activities can help us deliver evidence-based education, behavior, and mental-health services to our students.

Anger Management Groups

Anger Management Groups

This item of interest is based off of a CBT-based anger management curriculum called Healthy Choices. This is geared towards high school students, but can be easily adapted for younger students. The goal of this group is to work towards three social and emotional learning goals: 1A.4a: Analyze how thoughts and emotions affect decision making and responsible behavior. This is achieved through focusing on the A, B, C model of the relationship between events, thoughts and feelings. The second goal it focuses on is: 1A. 3b: Apply strategies to manage stress and motivate successful performance. The focus of this goal is to help teach relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, counting backwards and positive imagery. The last goal is: 2D.3a: Evaluate strategies for preventing and resolving conflicts. In this strategy you will help students be able to use assertiveness and positive decision making to stay out of conflicts.

The format is an 8-week session with small groups of students who either have been identified from your experience, the Dean’s office or a teacher referral. Below is an example of what the 8-week outline resembles.

Session Outline

 Session 1 – Introduction

 Overview of the purpose and goals of group

 Review group rules, expectations, and confidentiality

 Icebreaker Activity

 Pre-Test

 Anger Thermometer

 Introduce Hassle Logs

 Session 2 – Triggers and Cues

 Identifying Triggers (Anger Buttons worksheet from Strategies for Anger Management workbook)

 Identifying Physical Cues (body signs) (Physical Cues to Anger worksheet from SAM workbook)

 Session 3 – Anger Reduction Techniques

 Deep Breathing

 Counting Backwards

 Positive Imagery

 Session 4 – ABCDE Model

 ABCDE of Anger Control

 ABCDE Analysis of Student Examples

 Session 5 – Effective Communication

 Assertiveness Training

 Conflict Resolution

 Session 6 – Skill Building #1

 Dealing with an Accusation

 Keeping Out of Fights

 Session 7 – Skill Building #2

 Dealing with Someone Else’s Anger

 Understanding the Feelings of Others

 Session 8 – Review and Closure

 Review of Past Sessions

 Completion Ceremony

Reference:

http://www.schoolsocialwork.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Anger-managment-group.pdf

Popsicle Surprise Group Activity

Therapeutic Popsicle Surprise (School Edition)

Design:

This activity is designed to be utilized in a school setting. It is best used with small groups of 4-6 students. It can be used as an icebreaker to get to know the group/individual. This activity can be custom designed for any group you are having. It can be tailored for any child/adolescent/teen ages 5 – 19. Each set of popsicles has questions on the back of the popsicles. The questions can be tailored to the appropriate age of the clients and group type.  For example: if you are facilitating a group on anxiety, self-esteem, social skills, healthy dating, life skills, depression, LGBTQ etc you just pick the edition envelope with the questions you desire. There is also an icebreaker edition you can do at the first session of any group.

School Social Work Model:

This item of interest meets the School Social Work model under the practice feature of “Promoting a school climate conducive to student learning and teaching excellence.” This is done by school social workers promoting a psycho-social environment that fosters academic engagement and achievement. This practice is implemented by the school social worker building supportive relationships within and between students and facilitating engagement between students such as small groups. (sswaa.org)

Objective:

The objective of this group activity is to increase open discussion about specific topics and concerns students are having. The goal is to have the students gain trust, knowledge, support, and awareness surrounding the topic and start open dialogue.  

Rules:

Explain to the group that they are at a hypothetical “Ice cream Social” and everyone is there to get to know each other better. Walk around the group and have everyone pick an ice cream/popsicle from the Popsicle Surprise box. Instruct them to lay it on their lap or table and not to flip it over yet. Once everyone has their popsicle ask for volunteers first to flip it over and read their question out loud and answer it (if they wish). If no volunteers just start cold calling on them.

Below are some sample questions from the icebreaker edition:  

1.     What was the happiest memory from your childhood?

2.     What was the saddest memory from your childhood?

3.     Tell the group a joke.

4.     What is something your mother or dad does/did that makes you angry?

5.     Tell the group three things you’d like to change about yourself?

6.     Tell the group three things you like about yourself?

7.     When you feel sad what do you do to feel happy again?

8.     Tell the group three things you worry about?

9.     Make a silly face to the person on your right.

10.  Tell the group one thing you like and one thing you dislike about school and why?

Below is are sample pictures of the Popsicle Surprise box:

          

created by Evette Robinson - Dominican University GSSW