CRSL
Leadership | ReLationship| communication
The Culturally Responsive Student Leadership (CRSL) programming is geared toward students in grades 4th-6th. Establishing a shared understanding and common language can help increase our student’s ability to take on multiple perspectives, build empathy, and strengthen interpersonal relationships; all attributes of effective leadership. This programming will provide myriad opportunities for students to share about their own culture, identity, values, leadership and communication styles as well as learn about their peers to develop effective leadership skills to be culturally responsive student leaders of the 21st century.
Like all of StoryArk’s programming, CRSL is embedded within StoryArk’s student-initiated, student-led creative process. It is not a top-down approach whereby schools or StoryArk attempt to tell students what to think or do, but rather, CRSL supports students in developing their leadership skills by creating space for students to share about themselves, learn about their classmates, and grow in empathy and understanding towards each other. Through conversations, activities, and games around the topics detailed below, students are empowered, uplifted, and amplified in their experience as everyday leaders.
See overview of lessons below
CRSL includes six lessons:
Click below to read about our lesson plans
Lesson 1: Identity and Culture
Students reflect on roles (family roles, job, duties, etc) and cultural identities (language, location, age, etc.) hobbies, passions, interests, and how this is lived out in their lives.
Lesson 2: Values
Students identify values – standards of behavior considered important to them and their families – and discuss with their classmates why. They share how their values impact their lives and the way they act. See
the list of possible values students draw from by clicking here. This list is used as a brainstorming tool, students are invited to add values of their own to this list.
Lesson 3: Leadership
Students create definitions of what a leader is, identify characteristics (traits) of a good leader, give examples of leaders they know, and share stories and experiences of a time they were a leader.
Lesson 4: Communication
Students learn about the four ways people communicate: Visionaries, Doers, Organizers, and Connectors. Find out which style you use to help you work and talk better with others. Discover your strengths and how they help you
connect with people around you.
Definitions of the different communication styles:
Visionaries: They dream, see the future and generate ideas for action.
Doers: They have the energy and the skills to make things happen.
Organizers: They take care of the details and logistics, and they do the research.
Connectors: They relate and reach out to others, facilitate meetings, and keep groups together.
Lesson 5: Intent vs. Impact
Students will learn the difference between intent and impact and brainstorm ways to bring them into alignment.
Lesson 6: Leadership Celebration
We build on all the lessons and discuss how these concepts relate to leadership and community. We also create space for students to share the original comic strip story they have been developing over the past five sessions.
Definition of Terms
values: a person’s standards of behavior and judgment of what is important in life; the things that guide our thoughts, actions, motivations, and attitudes.
identity: the qualities, beliefs, passions, personality traits, appearance, etc that characterize a person. The unique pieces that come together to make us, us.
culture: patterns of behavior for a group of people, including the foods they eat, language they speak, traditions they practice, beliefs they hold, etc.
intent: Intent is doing something on purpose
impact: Impact is how actions effect others.
restrained communication: internalized emotions, thoughts, and feelings
expressive communication: outward display and expression of emotions, thoughts, and feelings
For more information please contact Meghan at mbridges@storyark.org