HERstory Curriculum Suite: A young women's journey of self-discovery through creative writing and dynamic interactive activities

by The Leadership Program

Overview

HERstory is a leadership program for middle and high school girls. This preventive intervention program is composed of 50–60 interactive sessions that address social emotional learning, leadership, and Common Core standards and that provide opportunities to link to the school day curriculum. Designed to be facilitated over the course of a school year, the curricular framework is scaffolded by three components:

• • COMMUNITY BUILDING—Team-building establishes trust within the group.
• • WRITING WORKSHOP—Enhances literacy skills and fosters individual identity through writing on seven core themes: Identity, Those We Are Closest To, Body Image, Love & Relationships, Dreams, Heritage or Tradition, Legacy.
• • CREATIVE OUTPUT—A culminating ethnographic theater or artistic literary journal project provides a platform for self-expression within the wider community.

Participants report improvements in key areas targeted by HERstory, including peer connectedness, academic achievement, and a range of protective factors such as future orientation and goal setting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781959411000
Publisher:	Girl Friday Books
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

The Leadership Program’s curriculum is steeped in leadership development from an SEL perspective, taking participants through self-discovery, group awareness, and community impact. The program can be used in classrooms, after school settings, and at home. It includes project-based activities designed to support positive change in the schools, homes, and communities.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part 1 Community Building

Objective: Participants will create a cohesive, socially and emotionally safe, positive peer group.

Section Guide 2

1 Welcome to HERstory! 6

2 Guess Who I Am 11

3 R.E.S.P.E.C.T. 15

4 Human Spectrum 22

5 The Ties That Bind 29

6 Lights, Camera, Action! 36

7 Introduction to Character 42

8 Ethical Minds Want to Know 55

9 Personal Values Posters 63

10 Choices, Decisions, Consequences 70

11 Free Your Voice 78

Part 2 Writing Workshop

Objective: Participants will examine and express their responses to and feelings about multiple aspects of girls' identity development through writing.

Section Guide 84

1 Who's the Woman? 88

2 Lean on Me 105

3 Body Positive! 120

4 Make a Connection 132

5 Great Expectations! 143

6 Around My Way 152

7 The Road Less Traveled 165

Part 3 Creative Output

Objective: Participants will create an ethnographic theater piece or literary journal that synthesizes their responses and presents the group's writings about identity development as an artistic product.

Section Guide 178

1 What's Our Style? 185

2 What Do I Stand For? 189

3 Literary Journal: The Art of Words 192

4 Introduction to Acting: Session One 210

5 Introduction to Acting: Session Two 218

6 Introduction to Acting: Session Three 223

7 Introduction to Acting: Session Four 227

Epilogue

Objective: Participants will identify and demonstrate appreciation for the HERstory group's accomplishments throughout the year.

Closing Rituals 231

Reference

1 Creative Output Options Checklist 237

2 Ethnographic Theater Script Tools 238

3 The Experiential Learning Cycle 247

4 Classroom Management Techniques 249

5 Theoretical Rationale 253

6 Curricular Framework 256

7 Credits 258

8 Bibliography 259