Sample Instuctor Lesson Guide

Instructor Guide

Subject: Gang Identification and Recognition

Allotted Lesson Time: 1- 2 hours

Instructional Materials:

PowerPoint Presentation/Videos/Student Guide/Handouts

Instructional Aids:

Since this presentation is designed to be presented in a Distance Learning environment the following are strategies to assist the instructor during the presentation (other tips are threaded throughout the lesson guide):

I. Course Description

In the past ten plus years, gangs have become a part of life in the community. To combat the growing gang related activities, this course will assist in helping to identify and recognize gang behavior. Major topics of the course includes: What is a gang?; Community Gang Issues; and Family Issues.

II. Purpose of the Course

To empower the student with the knowledge to identify and recognize gang activity in the community and how to combat it.

III. Major Goals

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to identify and recognize gang related activity and behavior.

IV. Objectives

Students will obtain background information, terminology and perspectives essential to the identification and recognition of gangs.

Students will complete a gang scenario.

Students will discuss issues and topics related to gang activity.

I. Introduction

 

 

A. Establish Contact

 

 

 

 

1. Introduce self, give credentials & brief bio.

2. State question & answer policy

PowerPoint (ppt): TITLE PAGE, no picture-in-picture

(no pip), or with pip (2 slide choices)

Have all sites confirm contact

DISCUSS: Culture of a distance education classroom

 

 

 

Have all students identify themselves and give brief bio.

DISCUSS: Lecture interruptions

 

 

 

Will students:

  • know who is in charge of equipment & classroom;
  • know how to use equipment;
  • know how to address you or other students;
  • know how the linkage works;
  • know about any transmission delays;
  • be responsible for attendance/breaks?

(This allows the student to become accustomed to the microphone and camera)

  • state name and site
  • remember that raised hands cannot always be seen- interrupt "politely"
B. State Objectives

 

 

C. Establish Readiness


1. Motivating statements

2. Lesson overview

ppt: OBJECTIVES (no pip) (p.2 of this guide and Student Guide)

 

 

Establish importance and relevance of lesson material using personal experience or anecdote.

Video clip (video tape from Department of Juvenile Justice)

Outline material to be covered in this session.

ppt: GANGS (w/pip)

A. Background information, terminology and perspectives to identify and recognize gangs

B. Complete a gang scenario

C. Discuss issues and topics related to gang activity

 

 

 

 

 

In this lesson we will discuss:

  • "What is a Gang?"
  • "Community Gang Issues."
  • "Family Issues"
II.PRESENTATION


A. What is a Gang?

1. Definition

 

 

 

 

 

2. Gang membership


ppt: WHAT IS A GANG? (w/pip)


ppt: DEFINITION (no pip)

ASK: Can anyone define a Gang?

 

 

 

 

ppt: DEFINITION (no pip)

ppt: GANG MEMBERSHIP (no pip)

ASK: Who typically belongs in a gang?

"Turn to p.4 of your Student Guide, there are four things we need to discuss"

Overview - show 4 bullets


Show title "Definition"

(Give an opportunity for students to respond. Make sure they cover the main points:

  • Informal or Unusually close social relationship
  • Share Common Collective identity
  • Gang Name
  • Gang Symbols for Identification
  • Claim control over a certain area ("turf")
  • Deliberately involved in illegal or antisocial activities

Show definition after discussion.

Membership crosses all boundaries of age, sex, race, academic achievement and economic status.

(Allow only a short 1-3 minute discussion of who belongs to a gang)

3. Reasons for joining ppt: REASONS FOR JOINING A GANG (w/pip)

ASK: Why do you suppose these children are prone to join gangs?

 

 

 

 

 

ppt: REASONS FOR JOINING A GANG (no pip)

Show title


(Allow 3-5 minutes for discussion. Lead discussion to include all reasons on ppt slide)

excitement companionship
peer pressure lack of alternatives
economic rewards neglect
attention absentee parents
low self-esteem lack of adult guidance
lack of identify need to feel accepted
security/protection minimal neighborhood involvement

Show ppt slide to check if all points were discussed.

Briefly state each one again for reinforcement.

4. Gang structure ppt: GANG MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE (LEADERSHIP ROLES) ( no pip)

 

ppt: GANG MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE (HIERARCHY) (w/pip)

Key points:
  • Leadership
  • Composition
  • Age
  • Middle Class
  • All Racial & Ethnic Groups

Discuss each level of the Hierarchy

  • Hardcore
  • Regular Members
  • Claimers - Associates - Wanna-be's
  • Potential or Could-be's

Discuss the Organizational Chart (in this guide and Student Guide)

B. Community Gang Issues

1. Gang presence

ppt: COMMUNITY GANG ISSUES (w/pip)

ASK: How do gangs effect the community?

 

 

 

 

ppt: HOW DO WE KNOW... (w/pip)

ASK: What are some of the clues that would lead us to believe that we have Gangs in our community?


Begin discussion with least active site. (Allow some discussion, 1-3 minutes)

Let's talk about some of these issues:

  • How do we know there are Gangs in the Community?
  • Types of Gangs
  • Gang Identification
  • Gangs & Graffiti
  • Strategies for Dealing with Gangs

First let's discuss "How do we know there are Gangs in the Community?"

Lead discussion to include the following:

Rampant Graffiti Neighborhood Fear
Gang Symbols Youth Packs
Vandalism Drug Use
Youth Group Violence Narcotics Traffic
2. Types of gangs

 

 

 

3. Identification

 ppt: TYPES OF GANGS (w/pip)

ASK: Are all gangs the same?

 

 

ppt: GANG IDENTIFICATION (w/pip)

ASK: What are some of the ways gang members use to make themselves known to each other, other gangs, and the community-?

 


ASK: Out of all of these characteristics, which is the most visible?


Answer: Three types:

  • Social or Neighborhood Gangs
  • Delinquent Gangs
  • Non-traditional Gangs

 


Guide discussion to include:

Colors Dress
Language Criminal Activity
Behavior Graffiti

(Discuss each characteristic briefly...mention graffiti last)

Answer: Graffiti

4. Graffiti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


5. Strategies

 ppt1: GANGS AND GRAFFITI (no pip)

Show some examples of graffiti

CHECK: Site Involvement - Request response from sites other than the teaching site.

ppt2: GANGS AND GRAFFITI (no pip)

ASK: What should be done when you find graffiti? (click to build)


ppt1: STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH GANGS (no pip)


Direct students to p.6 in their Student Guide.

Lead discussion of: how graffiti is used by gangs and where graffiti is found

 

 

STRESS: READ IT
RECORD IT
REPORT IT
REMOVE IT

Lead discussion on the types of strategies that can be used to deal with gangs.

Involve all sites.

5. Strategies (cont.) ppt2&3: STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH GANGS (w/pip)

 

 

 

 


ppt: NO TOLERANCE (no pip)

Reinforce discussion by briefly discussing each item on the two slides.
  • Gang Task Force
  • Youth & Parents
  • Enact Ordinances
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Community Workshop
  • Newspaper Series on Gangs
  • Service Club/Church Sponsored Community Speak-outs
  • Citizen Clean-up Patrols

 

STATE: What all this leads to is NO TOLERANCE.

C. Gang Scenario Introduction of the Scenario

ppt: GANG SCENARIO (w/pip)

Define expected outcome

 

 

 

Allow students to team/group

ppt: SITE RESPONSES (w/pip)

REPORT-OUT

Use the Guide for Processing Scenarios in this guide and p.7 of Student Guide

 

Number in Group:_______

Time Allotted for discussion:________

Direction to insure Group stays on task:_______

Report-out after discussion:_________

(To go off-line or stay on-line?)

 


Choose site...or...ask for volunteers.

After each report-out, encourage feedback and questions from other sites/groups.

D. Family Issues

 

 

 

 

 

1. Impact on family members

 ppt: FAMILY ISSUES (w/pip)

 

 

ppt: IMPACT OF GANG MEMBERSHIP, title only (w/pip)

ASK: If your child is a member of a gang, what are some of the ways this membership could impact the family?

 These are the areas we will discuss:
  • Impact of Gang Membership on Family members.
  • Typical Pre-gang Behavior
  • Parental Role
  • Protect Children
  • Combat Gangs

 

 


Lead Discussion to include:

Increases Family Exposure to: Increases likelihood of:
Drugs School Dropout
Alcohol Jail/Prison
Weapons Injury
Violence Death

 

2. Typical pre-gang behavior

 

 

 


3. Parental role

 ppt: IMPACT OF GANG MEMBERSHIP ON FAMILY MEMBERS (w/pip)

ppt: TYPICAL PRE-GANG BEHAVIOR (w/pip or no pip, 2 slide choices)

ASK: How would you recognize some of the behavior patterns of children that might lead to gang membership?

 

ppt: PARENTAL ROLE (w/pip)

 Summarize "impact" discussion (use ppt bullets)

 

 

 

Lead discussion (2-4 minutes)

Make sure all sites are involved.

Summarize Discussion using points on ppt slide.


There are two responsibilities that parents have:

Protect Children and Combat Gangs

Let's discuss each of these

a. Protect children

 

 

 

b. Combat gangs

 ppt: PROTECT CHILDREN, title only (w/pip)

ASK: What would you do to protect your child from gang membership?

 

ppt: COMBAT GANGS, title only (no pip)

ASK: How can parents combat gangs in the community?


Lead discussion (1-3 minutes)

Involve ALL sites

Summarize discussion using points on ppt slide.

 


Lead Discussion (1-3 minutes)

Call on students that have not yet participated.

Summarize discussion using points on ppt slide.

E. Summary ppt: DON'T SAY...(no pip)

ppt: SUMMARY (w/pip)

ppt: GANGS GROW THROUGH... (no pip)

 

ppt: PREVENTION STRATEGIES (no pip)

FINAL THOUGHT:

ppt: CLOSING ACTIVITIES (w/pip)

 Discuss the possibility/evidence of gangs in local area

Refer to first slide "GANGS" (located on SUMMARY slide)

FEAR POWER INTIMIDATION


EDUCATE INFORM RECOGNIZE HAZARDS

STRESS:GET INVOLVED!

Any final questions or comments?

Assessment

Evaluation

F. Assessment

 

 

 

G. Evaluation

 Administer Assessment

 

 

 

Evaluation

 Located on p.8 in Student Guide

Directions: Based on the training you have participated in today and your knowledge and experience with working with gang members, please respond to the following questions in your small groups. Please be prepared to share your responses with your colleagues at your site and prepare a site response to share with the other sites.

Allow 10-15 minutes

Student Evaluation critique sheet located on p.9 in Student Guide.



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