Belonging - How a 10-Year-Old Idaho Boy's Birthday Wish Demonstrates Acceptance and Love

• What does it mean to belong?
  • Belonging means more than being part of a group. It means knowing that your voice matters and that you contribute something important.
• Have you ever been part of a group where you felt included and valued?
• What are some ways people can unintentionally make others feel left out?

1. Tell students that they have a challenge. The challenge is to create a brand-new invention, business, or service that has never existed before. It should solve a problem at school, at home, or in the world. Possible examples:

• • Homework Helper Drone
  • Friendship Finder App
  • Lost-and-Found Detectives
  • Stress-B-Gone Backpack
  • Kindness Delivery Service

2. In the process, they must create the following for their invention:

• • A name
  • What it does
  • Why people need it
  • A demonstration or commercial

3. Students will complete this in rounds.
4. Round 1: Create

• • Divide students into groups of 4-6.
  • Give groups approximately two minutes to begin creating their invention.
  • Observe but do not intervene.

5. Pause #1: The Inclusion Check

• • Stop the activity and ask students to raise their hand if they have shared at least one idea in their group. Often, some students will not raise their hands.
  • Tell the students that before they can continue, every person in their group must share at least one idea
  • To promote inclusion, encourage students to use these sentence starters:
    • “We haven’t heard from everyone yet.”
    • “What do you think?”
    • “Would you add anything?”
    • “Do you have a different idea?”
    • “What would make this even better?”

6. Round 2: Improve

• • Allow the groups several more minutes to continue.
  • Add a new requirement that their invention now needs a role for every team member. Share possible roles:
    • Designer
    • Advertiser
    • Tester
    • Inventor
    • Customer Support
    • Demonstrator

7. Pause #2: The Belonging Test

• • Ask students if everyone has a job. Most groups will say yes.
  • Then ask the students, “Would the project still work if one person’s role disappeared?”
  • If the answer is yes, explain that that person may be included, but they are not fully essential to the group yet. Challenge students to redesign their project so every role contributes meaningfully to the group’s success.

8. Round 3: The Refine Challenge

• • Before finishing, the team must seek out feedback from every team member. Provide sentence stems:
    • • “What haven’t we thought about yet?”
      • “What’s your opinion?”
      • “Would you change anything?”
      • “What idea should we add?”
      • “Can you build on this idea?”
  • Use the feedback to make final edits of the project.

9. Have the groups present their invention to the class. Remind students that every person must participate. Participation may include:

• • Speaking
  • Demonstrating
  • Acting
  • Explaining their role
  • Answering questions

10. Process the activity by discussing the following questions:

• • What made your invention stronger?
  • Did everyone get a chance to contribute?
  • Was there anyone whose idea changed the project?
  • What’s the difference between being present and belonging?
  • How can we tell when someone isn’t included?
  • What are some small ways we can invite others in?

11. Share with students that belonging doesn’t happen by accident. Someone has to notice who hasn’t spoken, who doesn’t have a role, or whose ideas haven’t been heard. The strongest groups aren’t the ones with the smartest ideas. They’re the ones that make sure everyone matters.

Continue the Conversation

• Why do people sometimes feel left out even when they are part of a group?
• How can we help quieter people feel comfortable sharing their ideas?
• What makes someone feel valued and respected?
• Why are groups stronger when everyone contributes?
• How can we create a greater sense of belonging in our school and community?