World Caf Lesson Plan

Grade Level: 6-8 Unit/Course: Beginning of Year Topic: Success

Essential Questions:
1. What does it mean to be successful?
2. How do you know whether you are successful?
Prior Knowledge Needed:
None
Objectives (skills/information that will
be learned):
I will actively participate in a
World Caf Conversation
I will be able to define success
for myself

Lesson:
Before- Prepare the room with tables so each table has 3-4 chairs around it.
Each table needs paper tablecloths, markers, pencils, crayons. Lighting, timers,
and music can be helpful as well to keep participants sharing time equally.

Introduce Lesson-
Engage:
Probe students with think time and the following questions in partner
discussion
Describe a time when you were successful.
Do you consider yourself a successful person?

Explore:
Looking at a variety of pictures, have small table discussions about which
pictures are successful and which are not.

Explain:
Provide expectations and ground rules for caf conversations
Respect
Taking turns
Participation

Evaluate:
Final share out
Students provide a response on a notecard: What does it mean to be
successful at STEM Launch? How will I know whether I am successful?

Elaborate:
Debrief the caf conversation experience with a silent physical response or
human scatterplot.
1) I enjoyed the World Caf experience.
2) I felt like my ideas were heard at the tables I sat at.
3) I felt like I was a good listener for those at my tables.
4) I took notes or drew on the table during the conversation.
5) I would like to participate in a caf conversation with a different
discussion topic.
As a class, have students share successes and suggestions for improvement for
the next World Caf session.
Information (demonstration or lesson
details):
Provide expectations for caf
conversation:
FOCUS on what matters
CONTRIBUTE your thinking
SPEAK your mind and heart
LISTEN respectfully to
understand
LINK AND CONNECT ideas
PLAY, DOODLE, DRAW on the
tablecloths
HAVE FUN

Verification (student understanding
steps or checklist):
During the last caf rotation,
table members discuss their
concluding thoughts and
summarize their experience
Volunteers from each table
will stand and give a summary
of what was discussed at the
table
Students should be able to
describe what it means to be
successful and how they will
know whether they are
successful at STEM