Procedure

Teacher Notes

Step 1: Choosing a Topic Brainstorming
The students will: participate comfortably and confidently in group discussions and experiences listen to the ideas of others recognize current social issues (PSVS). The teacher asks the students to brainstorm for topics related to the broad theme of "Healthy Lifestyles". She reminds the students that, when brainstorming, it is the quantity, not the quality of ideas, that is important. The students generate the following list: death drugs alcohol peer pressure sexuality pregnancy AIDS suicide relationships dating parents growing up nutrition health eating disorders stereotyping part-time jobs crime violence abuse accidents driving homework teachers activities career physical fitness dieting smoking school	Brainstorming is a valuable strategy in the initial stages of decision-making. All members of the group are encouraged to participate and all ideas are considered valuable. It is often during brainstorming that the most creative ideas emerge. Topics for collective creations can arise from a number of sources: studies in other curricula history of the region or community current affairs issues and situations related to the cultural backgrounds of the students social issues and situations of interest to the students a topic commissioned by an outside agency. It is important that the students and teacher reach a consensus on topic choice, as all members of the class must be willing to make a commitment to the work. While the teacher may suggest a topic, if he or she tries to circumvent the process by imposing a topic on the students, their sense of ownership in the work and the level of their commitment to it will be severely diminished. Once an agreement has been reached, it is understood that each member of the group will support it. To begin, students should be encouraged to choose a topic that is theme-oriented rather than plot-oriented; for example, "peer pressure" rather than "a play about a boy who is pressured to shoplift". The purpose of the collective creation process is to enable students to achieve the foundational objectives of the program. To that end, the story-line, if there is one, will emerge from an exploration of the theme, which must always be the focus of the work.
The teacher invites the students to think about the list of ideas and to come to the next class prepared to discuss possible topics for the collective. The teacher offer to bring a synthesis of the suggestions to the next class. The students agree. Talking Stick Circle/Discussion -- Whole Group The students will: participate comfortably and confidently in group discussion listen to the ideas of others reach consensus participate in group decision-making identify their own needs and interests (IL) exercise choice in the topic for their collective creation (IL) explore and express the purpose for and meaning of undertaking a collective creation (C) respect the viewpoints of others (C).	The class breaks indicated throughout this model unit are the ones which worked for this particular class, whose drama classes were sixty minutes long.
When the students arrive for the next class, they find the topic, "Healthy Lifestyles", displayed on a large chart. see page 52	In this case, the teacher prepares an idea web to assist the students in the decision-making process and to model a method of synthesizing sub-topics that they might use later when a broad topic for their collective creation has been chosen. Often this synthesis occurs only after the broad topic has been chosen and can be undertaken by the whole group or by small groups working together and then sharing the results with the rest of the class. It is important that the process is recorded, either by the teacher or by the students, as it occurs. Charts and lists are useful, as is the keeping of a daily logbook. Frequently during the process, the students may wish to refer to previous work. These records can provide valuable ideas for future work.
Using the talking stick circle, the students discuss the organization of ideas presented on the web and begin to suggest possible topics for their collective creation. After much discussion of possible topics for and approaches to a collective creation, the students reach a consensus. Many of them have part-time jobs and all of them are thinking about the place of work in their lives after high school. They reach a tentative decision to explore the topic of "Work" for their collective creation.	The talking stick circle originates with Aboriginal cultures as a method of discussion and decision-making. In the talking circle, one person holds an object, such as a stick or stone, while speaking. When finished, the person passes the object to the next person. This procedure is followed until all students have had an opportunity to speak. Students may pass if they don't wish to speak. After the object has been around the circle once, it may be passed to anyone who wishes to speak.
Reflection -- Individual The students will: evaluate the contributions of themselves and others to projects undertaken by groups reflect upon the strengths and weaknesses of democratic processes (C).
The teacher asks the students to answer the following questions in their journals: 1. How did the talking stick circle help you to be a more effective participant in today's discussion? 2. Are you in favour of undertaking a collective creation about "Work"? Jot down any ideas you have for a collective on this topic.	Journal writing should be included throughout the collective creation process. It enables students, through individual reflection, to assess their contributions to the work and to clarify their understanding both of the work and the topic they choose to explore.
The students are asked to take some time before next class to consider the topic of "Work". They will make a final decision about the pursuit of this topic next class.	It is important that the students have time to consider the choice of topic and the opportunity to change or modify their decision. The students' sense of ownership of and commitment to the collective creation process are essential.