The following social extensions are connected to the search Institute?s 40 Developmental Assets which are described as ?concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people.?

We encourage you to explore more about the Search institute, the 40 developmental assets and the supporting research here .

Social Extension: Group Jump Rope
Although many of the 40 developmental assets are addressed in this activity, certain assets make a stronger connection to the material than others. Below you will find our top picks for opening solid, valuable conversations with your students.

Key Assets

1. Empowerment: Service to Others
2. Boundaries and Expectations: Positive Peer Influence
3. Commitment to Learning: Learning Engagement

Example Lesson

1. Boundaries and Expectations: Learning Engagement

Learning Engagement can be defined as where the ?Child is responsive, attentive, and actively engaged in learning at school and enjoys participating in learning activities outside of school." This concept fits easily with the Group Jump Rope activity as the students must be responsive, attentive and actively engaged to find success.

To take this simple activity further, ask your students which subject in school is their favorite and write it down on a scratch piece of paper.

Next, ask your students to get together with people who wrote the same thing down and write out as many specific reasons as to why they chose that subject as their favorite. What about it engages them and hold their attention?

Finally, ask groups to pair up and complete the following task. Each subject team is trying to convince the other, using the specific reasons brainstormed earlier, that their subject is the most exciting and enjoyable. This is not a shouting match, or a time to talk down to anyone else, but rather a time for each group to really detail why they enjoy that particular subject most. Give each team about 5 minutes to plead their case.

The idea is that by understanding why others like a certain subject so much, students can gain a better appreciation for subjects they never really paid attention to before.