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Unity Days

Stand Up for Kindness

Unity Days are interactive workshops that bring high school students together to strengthen relationships and help create a more welcoming school culture. Through guided conversation, team challenges, reflection, and collaborative art-making, students practice empathy, respectful communication, active listening, and cooperation.

Students explore what they share, consider how assumptions shape the way they see one another, and hear perspectives different from their own. They also reflect on how everyday choices can affect their school community and identify ways to support their peers.

What does Unity Day look like?

Embracing Our Differences works with each school to prepare a core group of 10-15 student leaders and 2-4 faculty partners to help lead the workshop. Additional students are invited through educator nominations, with the goal of bringing together a group that reflects the range of voices and experiences across the school.

The workshop is planned with the school to fit its students and campus. Participants work in small groups, take part in guided activities, and close with time to reflect on what they learned.

 

From workshop to school community

Students leave with ideas they can carry into their classrooms, clubs, teams, and everyday interactions. Unity Days support students in building stronger relationships, communicating across differences, and contributing to a school culture grounded in kindness and respect.

Examples of Unity Day workshop activities include:

Activity

Objective

If You Really Knew Me:

To demonstrate the importance of being/exposing your authentic self and being able to recognize that there is more to your peers than what is apparent on the surface.

Leader of the Pack:

To demonstrate for students the opportunity to spontaneously take a leadership role and command the attention of their small groups by having them follow their directives.

What Makes Us Think That?:

To create awareness of how people prejudge others and to help students recognize prejudgments they may have made about each other.

Wagon Wheel:

This discussion technique gives students the opportunity to respond to questions with a variety of peers, encouraging students to identify and reflect on the various ways they associate socially and it impacts the ways others perceive or treat them. 

Cross the Line:

To emphasize the importance of knowing and communicating personal values while reflecting upon their own self and acknowledging the identities of others.

Closing Circle:

This end-of-day responsive closing circle uses techniques that foster reflection and celebration after participating in activities on self-reflection and building relationships.

Education Standards

The following Florida Resiliency Education Standards are addressed as part of this experience:

  • HE.912.R.1.1 (Character): Demonstrate effective and respectful communication skills and strategies.
  • HE.912.R.1.2 (Character): Demonstrate empathy in a variety of contexts and situations.
  • HE.912.R.2.2 (Personal Responsibility): Analyze different perspectives to inform responsible decision-making.
  • HE.912.R.2.6 (Personal Responsibility): Analyze how actions and reactions can influence one to respond in different situations.
  • HE.912.R.3.3 (Mentorship and Citizenship): Analyze situations and demonstrate strategies to engage in respectful debate.
  • HE.912.R.4.3 (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving): Describe ways to anticipate, avoid or de-escalate conflicts.
  • HE.912.R.1.3 (Character) — Adjust behavior to respect the needs of others.
  • HE.912.R.3.2 (Mentorship & Citizenship) — Analyze ways a leader can inspire confidence and motivate others.
  • HE.912.R.2.1 (Personal Responsibility) — Describe the importance of leadership skills in the school and community.
  • HE.912.R.2.3 (Personal Responsibility) — Formulate a plan to attain a personal goal that addresses strengths, needs, and risks.
  • HE.912.R.2.5 (Personal Responsibility) — Formulate an effective long-term plan to include all dimensions of wellness.
  • HE.912.R.4.1 (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) — Analyze the importance of character and grit to achieve successful outcomes.  
  • HE.912.R.4.2 (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving)  — Generate and apply alternative solutions when solving problems or resolving conflict.
  • HE.912.R.4.4 (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving)  — Identify the importance of perseverance when facing difficulty solving a problem.

More Information

For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or 941-404-5710.

 

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