Safe Spaces (We Do It For The Culture)

Relationship BuldingProblem solving
Written By Gina Patterson

Grade Range: 6–8

SEL Domains: Problem Solving, Relationship Building 

Estimated Time: 60–70 Minutes

Relational Risk: Medium

Lesson Description 

Students explore the power of spoken word to build safe spaces by analyzing CHIKA’s poetry, reflecting on their classroom culture, and committing to actions that foster respect, inclusion, and expression.

Learning Objectives

  • Define what makes a space feel safe or unsafe

  • Reflect on how language and actions influence emotional safety

  • Analyze lines from CHIKA’s poem for meaning and connection to SEL competencies

  • Identify individual and collective actions that promote a safe classroom culture

Materials Needed

Lesson Structure

CYPHER (10 min)

  • Ritual: Libation / Acknowledgements / Apologies / Announcements / Affirmations

ICEBREAKER / HOOK: “What Is a Safe Space?” (10 min)

Block Party Activity

  • Students reflect silently on:

    • What does a safe space mean to you?

    • What makes a space feel safe or unsafe?

  • Music plays → Walk the room → When it stops, partner up and discuss

  • Share ideas back to the whole group

Class Brainstorm

  • Prompt: “What can we do to create a safe space in this classroom?”

  • Record ideas and connect them to respect, listening, and support

PART ONE: “Building Safe Spaces” (25 min)

Watch CHIKA’s Spoken Word

  • Define “safe space”

  • Ask students to listen for a line that speaks to safety, inclusion, or expression

  • Play CHIKA’s spoken word video

Independent Reflection

  • Highlight a powerful line in the poem

  • Reflect: Why did this line stand out? What SEL skill does it connect to?

Group Sharing

  • Small groups: share lines and personal meaning

  • Discuss: How do these ideas help build safe spaces in school?

Whole Class Discussion

  • What lines stood out and why?

  • What does “we do not suppress, we express” mean to you?

  • How can we take space and make space in this room?

Closing Reflection

  • Circle share: One action I will take to help create a safe space is...

DEBRIEF / EXTENSIONS

  • Introduce the Anonymous Q&A Box: a place for private questions, worries, or ideas to be addressed in small group or one-on-one

Gina Patterson
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