1. Healthy Relationships Sticky Note Activity Guide
Materials
- Sticky notes (enough for at least three per participant)
- Tape
- Giant easel pad or ten large sheets of paper
Set up
- Write “Relationship Behaviors” on the top of two of the large sheets of paper. Tape one to the wall on one side
of the room and the other to the opposite side of the room
- For the rest of the pages:
o Two should have “healthy” at the top
o Two should have “unhealthy” at the top
o Two should have “abusive” at the top
o One or two should have “unsure/depends” at the top
- Each side of the room should have one of each. Be sure to tape them where students cannot see the categories
yet. The paper can be folded halfway up and attached to the wall with tape to accomplish this.
Instructions
1. Instruct the participants that they’ll be doing an activity that helps them identify the difference between
unhealthy and healthy relationship behaviors.
2. Pass out 3-5 sticky notes per person (depending on size of group). Make sure each sticky note still has sticky on
it.
3. Divide the class into two groups.
4. Tell the participants you want them to think of some things people do or say in a relationship. This can be
anything from “hold hands” to “send nude pics” to “look through their partner’s phone” to “saying if you break
up with me I'll hurt your family.” These can be examples they heard of or experienced, or they can be made up.
We want them to be as specific as possible, though. Instruct them that they will write each behavior or saying on
a sticky note, then bring the sticky note to their side of the room and attach to the paper underneath
“relationship behaviors.” Each of them should write at least two but can write as many as they want as long as
each behavior or saying is on a separate sticky note.
5. Give them a limited amount of time depending on how long the class is.
6. When time is up, instruct students that they will now switch sides of the room and reorganize the sticky notes
that were created into the categories on their respective sides of the room. Make sure to show them the
categories by un-taping the bottom half of the paper. Students should get as much time as they need to
categorize, although it shouldn’t take any longer than 5-7 minutes as long as students are actually working.
7. When all the sticky notes are categorized, have the students sit back down. Ask if anyone wants to help you read
them out loud. If time allows, each sticky note should be read out loud and the students can say out loud if they
disagree with any of them. Make sure all sticky notes are in the appropriate category and specify why. Students
should be given time to ask clarifying questions or add their input.
Alternative activity:
- A student who doesn’t want to go up individually or can’t write well can partner with someone and tell them
some behaviors. Or they can raise their hand and the teacher can write them in.
