Activity Planning
Activity Planning
New Staff Orientation
New Staff Orientation
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OUR APPROACH
OUR APPROACH
All children, no matter their neighborhood or circumstances, should be safe after school. But they also deserve more - they deserve a place where they can learn and thrive through social, emotional, intellectual and physical engagement with caring adults and dynamic experiences.
Programming at LA's BEST is about quality and balance, with four areas of engagement and multiple ways to engage.
What the Learning in Afterschool & Summer project tries to do is focus not on what young people should learn, rather on the how... program approaches that promote learning.
THE 3-STEP PROCESS
THE 3-STEP PROCESS
Check In, Engage, Reflect! There are multiple opportunities to connect with students during any given activity.
Our approach to planning activities helps in creating engaging and hands-on experiences for students to learn.
There are multiple opportunities to connect with children throughout every activity.
Checking in with students serves many purposes. It helps solidify connections, introduces activities and can surface concepts from previous activities.
Reflection time solidifies connections, debriefs the activity and identifies modifications needed for the activity.
ACTIVITY PLANNING FORM EXPLAINED
ACTIVITY PLANNING FORM EXPLAINED
The Activity Planning form supports us both in our preparation and in capturing the spirit behind each activity.
Completing an Activity Planning form thoroughly means another staff member can come in and facilitate the planned activity without guidance, if needed.
Use this interactive guide to gain insight and learn specific strategies for how to maximize the various components that make up an Activity Planning form.
What is it that we want our students to walk away with after an activity? Use this guide to write meaningful and effective outcome statements.
STRATEGIES & CONSIDERATIONS
STRATEGIES & CONSIDERATIONS
Grounding exercises can be done before any activity, training or meeting (site, cluster, regional) to help people become focused and present in the current space.
Social and emotional skills proactively help children and adults develop and practice the following competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness.
Whether we work with lower or upper grades, there are plenty of opportunities to get students involved during the check-in, planning, engagement and reflection of an activity.
As responsible staff members, we must encourage students to safely and confidently use available materials while offering our guidance and support.
HOMEGROWN
HOMEGROWN
Homegrown programming happens when student and staff creativity and interest spark engaging experiences – activities, clubs, themes, etc. Homegrown originates at the site.
Check out tips from the Summer 2019 Homegrown Task Force - a group of PWs, PSs and SCs that came together to talk all things Homegrown!
Want to see examples of Homegrown experiences from LA's BEST staff and students? Check out our #ThrowbackHG on the Summer 2023 Website!
ACTIVITY RESOURCE LINKS
ACTIVITY RESOURCE LINKS
Check out some of the other activities and partner resources we recommend. You can also access more resources via The Link Index.
Please note that any activity you choose should align with current LAUSD and LA's BEST standards and guidelines. Contact your supervisor with any questions.
Dozens of individual activities custom-made for LA's BEST
Dozens of individual activities custom-made for LA's BEST
Engage students academically, physically, creatively, and socially/emotionally.
Don't miss the Community Corner, where you'll find Building Connections activities, Grounding Exercises, and Daily Reflections.
The Mizzen App
The Mizzen App
Developed by the Mott Foundation specifically for afterschool and expanded learning.
Learn how to create a free account and get a glimpse of how to navigate the hundreds of activities and playlists via this LA's BEST tutorial.
Check out Tips for LA's BEST Staff for even more, including Getting to Know Your Students, Quick Activities for Students and Easy Crafts!
WHAT'S NEXT?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Use the Follow-Up Tool to try specific strategies with your group. Don't forget there's a space to fill in your own strategies based off what you learned!
Think about what you've learned in the Activity Planning training. What strategies will you try with your students?
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