Duration: 60 minutes
Mode: Virtual (Zoom, Teams, or similar)
Facilitators: Lead facilitator and well-being focal person

Session Journey

1. Welcome and Orientation (5 minutes)

Purpose: Build safety and connection.

• Greet participants and introduce facilitators
• Share session norms: opt-out at any time, one voice at a time, respect privacy
• Give a short content notice:
• “The night sky can stir feelings of awe, curiosity, and sometimes difficult emotions. You are free to participate in ways that feel right for you, including stepping back if needed.”
• Optional quick poll: How connected do you feel right now on a scale of 0 to 10?

2. Grounding Exercise (5 minutes)

Purpose: Help participants settle into the present moment.

• Guide sensory grounding: notice three things you see, three things you hear, three things you feel
• End with: “Bring your attention to the space around you, and carry this awareness as we begin.”

3. Astronomy Narrative (10 minutes)

Purpose: Inspire awe and create perspective.

• Share a short story from the OAD Narratives Reference Booklet (for example Earthrise or a constellation story)
• Show an image such as the Milky Way or Earth from space
• Pause for 30 seconds of silence
• Invite participants to write one word in chat that captures how they feel

4. Values Reflection (10 minutes)

Purpose: Connect astronomy narrative to personal meaning.

• Prompt: “When you look up at the night sky, what matters most to you in that moment? What values or ideals come to mind?”
• Give participants two to three minutes to write their reflections privately
• Optional sharing: invite one word or phrase in chat or small pair breakout

5. Action Step (5 minutes)

Purpose: Translate values into practical commitments.

• Prompt: “What is one small action you could take this week to connect more deeply with the night sky and your well-being? For example, spend five minutes stargazing, share a sky photo, or write a short journal note.”
• Ask participants to write their action step down

6. Mood and Connection Check (5 minutes)

Purpose: Light evaluation and reflection.

• Quick poll: mood, stress, connectedness (scale 0 to 10)
• Ask: “What shifted for you since the beginning?”

7. Peer Exchange (10 minutes)

Purpose: Strengthen social connection.

• Break participants into groups of three to four
• Prompt: “What stood out for you in today’s narrative or reflection? What might help you carry your action step forward?”
• Return to plenary after discussion

8. Closing and Feedback (5 minutes)

Purpose: End with clarity and support.

• Summarize key takeaways: awe, values, small action
• Share support resources (helplines, community contacts)
• Feedback poll: “What was most helpful today?”
• Chat prompt: “What would you like to see more of next time?”

Thank participants and close: “The night sky belongs to all of us. Carry a piece of it with you this week.”

Facilitator Checklist

Before Session

• Select narrative from OAD Narratives booklet
• Choose image or visuals
• Prepare polls for mood, stress, connection, and feedback
• Script grounding and reflection prompts
• Set up breakout rooms
• Prepare support resources list

During Session

• Deliver welcome, content notice, and norms
• Run grounding exercise
• Share narrative and image with pauses
• Guide values reflection and action step
• Run polls and monitor chat for well-being
• Well-being focal person available to support participants privately if needed

After Session

• Debrief with co-facilitator
• Record attendance and feedback
• Share summary and support links with participants

Design Principles

• Session flow: grounding → awe → reflection → action → sharing → closure
• Micro-engagements: polls, chat prompts, breakout discussions
• Accessibility: plain language, inclusive instructions, opt-outs always available
• ACT principles: values reflection, grounding, small committed actions (not therapy)
• OAD narratives: cultural and human-centered stories as the heart of the session