Mentoring Activity Ideas

Mentoring in the Middle
School Years

Mentors are powerful influences on the lives of middle schoolers.  In fact, "two-thirds of students with mentors improved their grades and said that mentoring was a positive experience." 

~ Excerpted from the report Preservice Teachers Are Making a Difference by Mentoring Middle School Students

How do mentors and mentees spend fun time together? Here are just a few ideas to get you started. Let your mentee play a deciding role in the activity chosen. There are many other great ideas that you can come up with, and this list is just the beginning of what's possible.

• Take turns teaching each other a new game.

• Play catch

• Hang out and talk

• Research each of your interests on the internet

• Listen to music each of you enjoys (choose appropriate lyrics)

• Go to a movie

• Shoot some hoops

• Read a book together

• Read a magazine, newspaper, or comics together (if necessary pick something that would be understandable with a basic reading level, you don’t want to frustrate your mentee). Write a story together

• Create artwork together

• Have a picnic. Take snacks outside on nice days

• Fly a kite

• Talk about your classes and what college is like

• Talk about the future and what you both want to do when you “grow up”

• Research and talk about famous people who used their abilities to get ahead

• Make greeting, get well, holiday, or thank you cards to give to other people

• If your mentee has trouble sitting still, be sure to allow for time to work off energy (running around the gym or the track)

• Play a musical instrument or learn one together

• Teach each other a craft or favorite hobby.

• Color

• Bring in a photo album from home or just a few pictures to show your mentee. They love seeing you as a middle schooler.

• Eat lunch together.

What is Mentoring All About?

According to mentoring.org, mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example.

If you're already a mentor, congratulations!  If not, why not get started mentoring someone today!

Here's to your mentoring enjoyment and success...

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