Plan an Event: Performance Task Teacher Guide

RESOURCE CATEGORY

Description

The Plan an Event Performance Task Guide structures a process through which students plan and implement a social action event.
“It is often said that people vote with their feet. The ability to inspire and mobilize people to action is one of the most important and transformative skill sets one can possess. It is not only empowering for students to experience the iresults of purposeful planning, organization, and community engagement around a social or environmental issue — it lays the foundation for true citizenship and democratic participation in and throughout adulthood.

The Plan an Event Performance Task Guide addresses the many different facets of event planning: ideation and research, action planning, team management, outreach, implementation, and reflection.

Opportunities for Student Choice

Student choice can be encouraged in a number of ways. Students can choose the issue, and/or they can choose their position. They can also choose the purpose of the event, the format of the event, and many details surrounding the operations of the event.

Authentic Task

Events are planned in almost every professional field, and they serve a number of purposes. Institutions such as schools, non-profit organizations, hospitals, and cause-based organizations often plan fundraising events such as galas, walk-a-thons, auctions, car washes, and bake sales. Organizations that work for social change often bring people together in retreats to create community and to make collaborative work more effective by building mission alignment and focusing on organizational goals. Many organizations plan events such as shows, presentations with speakers, or fairs. These are designed to raise awareness of important issues.

Opportunities for Exhibition to an Audience

There are many possible audiences for student events. If students are working on a school issue, they might have their event in and around the school. If it’s a community issue, they might choose to open up their event to their neighborhood, having it at a local venue, or having it at the school. People also plan events virtually, such as a meetup on Twitter or a virtual conference.