These picture books about kindness and empathy will help you spark important conversations about this topic with children at home and school.
Books to build classroom community to establish a solid foundation for students to build on throughout the school year.
This must have list of children's books about community and building community includes a printable list of books to take to the library.
Classroom community building activities and free ideas and lesson plans to kick off the school year or implement at any time.
Today I'm sharing one of my favourite tasks for building community in the classroom. Students are able to share an important aspect of themselves (the story of their name) with the class and with me, their teacher. Through this task we are also working on important skills, like reading comprehension, writing, and reflection. Day 1 To begin, I asked my students to write any name they wish they had on a sticky note. They then placed it in a mason jar. I read my class the story "The Name Jar" by Yansook Choi. We stopped at several points in the story to predict, make connections, infer, and ask questions. At one point, we paused in the story so that students could journal about the name they wrote down on the sticky note earlier: - Did they choose their own name? Or another? - Why? - If you chose another name, where did you hear that name before? Day 2 At the end of Day 1, students were given homework. (Stick around to the bottom of this post for a chance to get your own copy of this sheet.) I make it very clear, that while names all have meanings, your family may not have chosen your name for that reason. They might not know the meaning, and you can choose to look it up with your family if you wish. I also focus a lot on nicknames and your own feelings about your name. While I've never taught a student in foster care, or one who was adopted, I do think it's important to mention that this could be a touchy task in those situations, so be sure to know your students first, and modify as needed. Students use the homework task, and the journal write from the previous day, to write "The Story of their Name". Some possible options to include are: - who you are named after - the meaning of your name - a name you'd rather have - your feelings toward your name - nicknames you may have - the person (or people) who chose your name - how your name was chosen This piece of writing is then self, peer, and teacher edited, and a "good" copy is made. Day 3 I found this excellent step-by-step self-portrait from "Art Projects for Kids". I modified the task so that instead of drawing the left or right side of their face, they would draw the top half. Students find that folding their page into quadrants as she suggests is very helpful. Under the document camera I demonstrate each step, and students copy, adapting to their own facial features. Each student gets a mirror to look in to help them personalize. The final pieces are put on a bulletin board for display. Students also coloured in a bubble letter version of their names to complete the display. (I used the font KG Red Hands Outline for this.) Day 4 Once we've completed the task, the last job is to reflect on our work. I pulled some elements from our Arts Education curriculum (very relevant regardless of where you teach) for students to self-assess on. I've used the proficiency scale language our school has moved to for all reporting. A few students found it helpful to complete their reflection while looking at the finished product on their bulletin board, but most didn't need this. Want a copy of both my homework and reflection pages? Follow the image or button below to grab your copy. Take Me to the Free Download Pin this post.
Try these engaging activities to build classroom community during the first week of school, including STEM, books, icebreakers, and games that help with social skills and developing friendships.
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
Ready or not, back-to-school season is here! As you prepare your lessons, it's important to make time to set clear expectations, build relationships, and establish a sense of community. Picture books are a great tool for helping to create a warm and caring atmosphere to last the whole year. When you pair a book with a memorable craft or activity, you can bring the stories and messages to life. Today I'm sharing my favorite back-to-school books and activities.
How do I build classroom community? Try these community building picture books and free lesson ideas and activities to build classroom community in upper elementary classrooms.
This is a great activity that teaches how to build classroom community and mindfulness in the classroom. It's perfect for a variety of ages.
Picture Books in Middle School | Using picture books in your classroom can engage reluctant readers, help introduce a lesson, and build community. Check out tips & resources for using picture books in middle school from The Hanson Hallway at The Secondary English Coffee Shop.
Stop! Collaborate and Learn! Do you have that Vanilla Ice song stuck in your head now? Well all singing aside, let's talk collaboration. Collaboration is such
A strong classroom community is integral to students' success.
How do I build classroom community? Try these community building picture books and free lesson ideas and activities to build classroom community in upper elementary classrooms.
Classroom community building activities and free ideas and lesson plans to kick off the school year or implement at any time.
Which Back to School Activities Elementary can I use for Building Community in my Classroom? Which All About Me Activities are most engaging for my students?
What is citizenship? Is it the ability to vote? Does it mean having the right documents? Is being a citizen about being part of a community? And what does it mean to be a good
Whether your students are lethargic or super-charged, adding movement to your lesson plans will help to solve both issues. Not only is it healthy to move throughout the day, but it can also help students focus and become more engaged with the content they are trying to master. Due to the nature of English classes, ELA ... Read More about 10 Ways to Add Movement in the ELA Classroom
I was so eager to get back to my kids this week. Eager to hug them and talk to them and let them know I loved them. Coincidence or not, on Friday I pulled my kids together to talk community building and all things family. I have always been so big on building community in...
Start off the elementary school year with these special back to school lessons and activities that are fun and important for K-2 kids: Participate in community building activities, get to know each other with All About Me activities, and build friendship and empathy with students.
This post originally appeared on the blog Mom2punkerdoo. I always love it when I can find a fantastic book that ties to exactly what I want to teach! The picture book, The Name Jar, by Yangsook Choi i
Customizable class book to help children learn the names of their peers. Easy to create just click and type to customize words, drag and drop to add photos quickly. Great as an interactive read aloud, and to use in conjunction with picture book favorite "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Thi...
It’s no secret that I love books! I especially love books that help my students understand kindness, community, friendships, and teach valuable life lessons. The follow list of books is pretty extensive back-to-school read aloud list. I don’t read these all in one day, but rather spread them out over the course of the first ... Read more
Looking for a list of cooperation books for kids? These children's books about cooperating with others are for you to help create classroom lessons and teach kids. These are cooperating books for the classroom to teach kids what it means to share, and get along with others.
Creating self portraits at the beginning of the year is a great way to have students celebrate their differences and what they like about themselves. Great back to school activity!
Activities to go with all 5 picture books by Shannon Olsen! Use these books for building class community & student relationships.
Try these engaging activities to build classroom community during the first week of school, including STEM, books, icebreakers, and games that help with social skills and developing friendships.
At the start of a new year, chances are some of your students are new to your school. Other students were not in the same class last year and everyone is new to your classroom. Let your students know that great things happen when they all cooperate and work together. During the first week of school, you should spend some time on team building activities. Here are a few ideas I found around the web: Adapted from this activity: http://www.teampedia.net/wiki/index.php?title=Helium_Stick -Floating Hula Hoop, This activity sounds simple, but it’s great for communicating and working together. Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5. Have the group form a circle facing the center. Ask then to hold out their index finger. Place a hula hoop on their fingers. Their job is to lower the hula hoop to the ground without dropping it. They have a tendency to go up instead of down. It will take some communication to get the hoop to the ground. http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activity/hula-hoop-pass.html -Hula Hoop Pass, The object of this activity is to pass a hula hoop all the way around the circle. You can have kids stand in one large circle or divide the class into two circles. Students face the center and hold hands. Choose two people to open their hands and place the hula hoop there to start the activity. The kids have to move the hoop over their bodies and pass it on to the next person. Others can give encouragement and suggestions if the hula hoop gets stuck. Inspired from this video---https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILlp1i2WJcM -Balloon Caterpillar Race, Have students form 4 lines with 5 to 6 students in each line. Students should all be facing forward with the lead students behind a start line. Place an inflated balloon between each person. When you say go, the entire line must cross the finish line without dropping any balloons. If they drop a balloon they need to go back to the start and begin again. Another way to begin building a community is to brainstorm what it takes to be a positive classmate. Use a chart like this to brainstorm the characteristics of a positive team member. You can download a copy of the blank chart here. Since it is a pdf file you can print it poster size. I made mine 200% of the original. Then I glued the six pages together to make the poster for our class discussion. I also make a single page copy for every student so they can make their own chart along with you. Once the students understand what makes a positive classmate tell them the class will earn a reward for showing all these characteristics. Using the letters SPARKLE, which stands for Students who are Prepared, Attentive, Respectful, Responsible and Keep Learning every day! Put up one letter every time the whole class is following the guidelines for being a positive classmate. When they earn all 7 letters the class has earned a special reward. You can choose the reward or let the class brainstorm a possible list. You can download the letters here. For more ways to help your kids SPARKLE, check out the entire product in my TPT store.
This post shares 10 of the best novel studies for 4th and 5th graders. A FREE PRINTABLE list with book and Lexile reading levels is included.
School community building activities that go along with the book Our School is a Family by Shannon Olsen, author of Our Class is a Family.
A read-aloud book such as Our Class is a family is an amazing way to build a positive, safe, and supportive community in your classroom!
Unlock your creative potential and embark on a journey to becoming a successful content creator with this comprehensive guide. From unleashing your creative genius to establishing your online presence, each section of this book is meticulously crafted to guide you through the process step by step. Learn how to identify your niche, develop a unique voice, and create compelling content that resonates with your audience. Dive into community building strategies to foster meaningful connections and grow your online presence. By the end of this book, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to establish yourself as a content creator in your chosen field. Plus, it's editable in Canva with MRR/PLR rights for customization and resale.
A planned week of preschool activities to play, learn and create for the theme of our community featuring the book All Are Welcome.
Try these engaging activities to build classroom community during the first week of school, including STEM, books, icebreakers, and games that help with social skills and developing friendships.
Unique, fun Icebreakers and games for Women's Ministry Events, Bible studies, small groups, and Youth Group. Everyday and Seasonal icebreakers.
Looking for a great classroom community building or empathy activity for your classroom guidance lessons? You'll love this I am Human activity!
