Overview
As we teach followership and the importance of being enjoyable to lead, it’s essential students show discernment on who and what they follow. The Detective exercise will give the students an opportunity to lean in and work to follow the right leaders.
- Students will understand the importance of looking for the right leaders and messages to follow
- Students will have to decipher between good and bad leadership
- Students will learn how eliminating negative influences can amplify the positive influences around them
"“Stepping into the role of a “Detective” has helped me think more critically to the influences around me. If you’re not careful and selective, you’ll follow down a path you won’t want to go.”"
Senior Varsity Football Defensive End – Maryland
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Lesson Plan
Example Videos
See Detective in action below to get a better understanding of how to teach the the Exercise.
Additional Resources
Exercise Reminder Card
To emphasize and reinforce the lessons learned in this exercise with your players, download and share this graphic with them 24 hours after completing the exercise.
Exercise Slides
Powerpoint slides ready for you to use
Quiz Questions
Use these questions below to engage after you have taught the exercise.
- What is the main goal of the role of the detective?
- What does it mean to decipher a message?
- What does it mean to discern a message?
Teacher Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on the lesson and how you can lead by example to your students.
Who are the voices you know and trust? If you haven’t done so in a while, take some time this week to audit the voices you're listening to. Practice deciphering what is being said and discerning whether or not it is best for you to continue engaging with them.
Special Assignment
Have students work in small groups and challenge them to create a visual representation of the 3 D’s of being a successful detective. Ask students to only use visual images to represent what it means to: detect, decipher, and discern. Once they are finished have students share their representations with the class.