Students journal about someone who seems very different from them, then brainstorm a list of things they likely have in common with that person to see them in a new light — followed by a discussion on how finding shared identity builds empathy and respect.

Students listen to the story of Ryan White, then work with a partner to complete a Compassion and Dignity word map before writing a first-person story from either the perspective of a student with a serious illness or a compassionate friend.

Students create a passion collage using magazine images and words across three categories (academics, career, relationships), then use the SMART goal framework to turn those visual passions into concrete, written goals they share with the class.

Students will each receive a cup of three different-colored Skittles and answer reflection questions linked to each color, sharing their responses with the group in a circle. This activity helps students build relationships and practice using their voice in a group discussion.

Teams race to fill a bucket by passing water-soaked sponges down the line (over heads, under legs) and wringing them out — with dropped sponges eliminated from play — until the water hits an exact tape line, then debrief on teamwork strategies used.

Students listen to Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise," discuss its message, and share a personal strength with the group before writing about a time they overcame a struggle and creating a collage of their strengths or sources of encouragement.

Working in pairs, students will use verbal communication to recreate a marshmallow-and-toothpick model — one partner is blindfolded and can only touch, while the other can see but cannot use their hands.

Students will take turns telling a short story that weaves in six words from a TABOO card while their classmates listen carefully and try to guess all six words, then discuss the listening and communication skills the game required.

In small groups, students use a limited set of materials to design and build a shelter that can protect a small doll from an incoming "meteor storm," then test their shelter's durability by having tennis balls thrown at it.

Students will select personal quality cards that represent their strengths, share them with a partner, then merge into groups of six to collaboratively fill out a Team Résumé that captures their collective strengths and values.

Teams will race to agree on a word that fits a given category, assign each member a letter tile, and physically line up to spell it out — competing against other teams for speed and word length.

In groups of three, students will use a bag of limited materials to engineer a contraption that protects a raw egg, then test their designs by dropping them from a second-floor window to see whose egg survives intact.

In groups of four, students will use only spaghetti, string, tape, and one marshmallow to build the tallest freestanding structure they can in 15 minutes — with the marshmallow on top — then compare heights and reflect on their teamwork.

Students will work together to figure out a secret hidden code embedded in a turning jump rope, using trial and error and group communication to get everyone across to the other side.

Students will generate lists of desirable and undesirable community values, then rotate through five carnival-style games where winning requires correctly identifying or targeting the positive values, earning tokens to redeem for prizes.

Students will select a mood card as they enter the room and wear it visibly throughout the session, then observe how their own and others' displayed moods affect interactions — and reflect on whether and how attitudes can be changed.

Students will write their own definition of what it means to feel inspired, then collaborate in small groups and a gallery walk to build a shared class vision of inspiring behavior — which gets posted in the room as a living agreement.

Students will take turns drawing puzzle pieces from a bag and guessing the hidden image, then connect the experience to a discussion about the dangers of judging others based on only part of their story.

Students will write their own definition of motivation, then collaborate in small groups and a gallery walk to build a shared class vision of what motivated and motivating behavior looks like — which gets posted in the room as an ongoing reference.