Elementary (Grades 3-5)

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

CASEL Core Competencies

• Self-Awareness

• Self-Management

• Social Awareness

• Relationship Skills

• Responsible Decision-Making

Common Core ELA-Literacy

• Listening and Speaking

• Writing

NCSS Social Studies Themes

• Individual Development and Identity

• Identify beliefs and behaviors that will guide their interactions when participating in a community circle

• Articulate how they felt about contributing to the creation of the class centerpiece

• Centerpiece

• Agreements

• Empathy

• Symbols

Ask students to look at their classroom agreements and write down one or two words on an index card that they think are very important to include on the centerpiece. Model this for the students by writing the word “Empathy” on a card. Holding the talking stick, say: Even though it is not in our agreements, I want to add
the word Empathy, which means being able to understand and share the
feelings of another person. Place the card on the centerpiece and pass the talking stick to the student on your left or right. Explain that students should state their word, place the card on the centerpiece, and pass the talking stick. Do this until all students have placed a word on the centerpiece. Remind students that it is okay if more than one person has the same word or words.

After the talking piece has gone around the circle, ask students if anyone thinks there is another agreement that is missing and needs to be added. Ask students to raise their hands and cross the circle to hand the talking stick to the student. When the student has stated the word or words and put the card on the centerpiece, ask the student to give the talking piece to another student with a raised hand until all ideas have been placed on the centerpiece. When all students have had input, tell students you are going to go home and write their ideas onto the centerpiece. Tell students that you are going to leave room on the centerpiece to add symbols and other words as the class works together.

Thank the students for their input in creating the centerpiece. Ask each student to say one word expressing how they feel about creating the centerpiece together. Model by saying one word and then passing the talking piece. When the talking piece returns to you, hold the talking piece up. Remind students that the talking stick has been used for centuries by many Native American nations in council circles to designate who has the right to speak. Whoever holds the talking stick has within their hands the sacred power of words. Only they can speak while they hold the stick; the other council members must remain silent and listen.

Native Americans believe that speakers should not forget that they carry within themselves a sacred spark of the Great Spirit, and therefore they are also sacred. Because of its importance, a Native American talking stick may be decorated in ways that represent important beliefs for members of a council. For example, a council might attach an eagle feather to the talking stick because the talking stick gives the speaker the courage and wisdom to speak truthfully and wisely. Native Americans have also used other items such as colored beads, shells, pieces of fur or hair from different animals, stones and colors to represent the power in people’s hands when they hold the talking stick and speak. Explain the Extension Assignment below.