Community Building activities

Why is community building important?

A strong classroom community should promote student growth, both in academic and personal spheres. Classroom community building is important because, students who are comfortable in an environment, are more likely to embrace their learning journey. They will keep a growth mindset, while also gaining confidence from their peers and their individual work. The students in our classrooms need to feel valued, heard and understood. Even as adults, we feel best in rooms where the people are supportive of us, and want to see us succeed. Our students need these spaces in order to properly develop in their educational careers. I want my students to feel that who they come as through my door, is enough.

Community Building Activites in My Classroom

*Activites meant for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students*

Materials needed: Classroom Meeting Presentation Slides, Talking Piece, Poster Board, Markers.

#1 - Classroom Meetings

Each day, after instruction, students will pass around a talking piece. The student with the talking piece is the only person that can talk. We will ask questions, watch videos, and reflect on our work from the day. I will create the prompts, but only students will respond to them.

#2 - CLassroom Check-ins

Before instruction starts, I will ask students how they are feeling based on an assortment of engaging and comical scales. Not only will students enjoy the photos, they have a chance to reflect on their own feelings, and have the chance to share with their peers.

#3 - Classroom Contract

During the first week of school, the class will create a classroom contract that states the classroom expectations for myself, and every student. We will detail what a strong classroom looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Examples will also be added for students to refer to. All students will sign the contract at the end to signify our agreement.

#4 - Show and tell

Each month, students are encouraged to bring in a different item that is about a book we read in the classroom. For example, students bring in an item that reminds them of their family - we explain what family is, and what feelings remind us of these people. Students will then each get a turn to individually explain their item, and how it connects to the prompt.

#5 - bucket fillers

Students will complete an activity as a class where they sort examples of 'bucket fillers' and 'bucket dippers'. We will go over what each means, but students learn what I expect when I ask them to be bucket fillers. As a class, other examples will be created and added to our buckets.

#6 - Team goals and prizes

Short and long-term goals for a classroom community encourage teamwork as well as keeping accountability. I will add the goal and if the class completes it that day or throughout the week, we can add it to our monster picture. Once students have completed the monster, the class can vote on possible prizes that the entire class will enjoy.

Materials needed: Childrens books, two buckets, laminated bucket fillers and dippers, poster board, markers, monster pieces, student goals cut outs.

#7 - small group games

'Save Fred' is a great teamwork and group work practice game. This activity in particular requires the participation of every group member to complete the task. This means that students must communicate with and aid their group members. This is great teamwork practice for students and offers an engaging and enjoyable activity.

#8 - Change or suggestion box

A box labeled 'suggestions' or 'make a change' is used for students to offer their concerns and issues without disrupting learning time. Students can complete a form by writing down the basis of their complaint and at the end of the week, I will gather any forms and share them at our classroom meeting. If I notice that the same issues are coming up, we will have a longer group discussion about possible solutions or changes we could make that would benefit everyone.

#9 - Purposeful talk

An activity and poster called 'Purposeful Talk' gives students helpful experience in conversation strategies. Having healthy and productive conversations with others is important not just for the classroom but for building relationships, or future careers. Each day, for a week, students are introduced to a new strategy and then are given time to practice it. After each strategy is discussed, students will have discussion time in which they can reflect on the parts they did well and the parts that need practice.

Materials Needed: Gummy worms, paper clips, rubber bands, string, suggestion box, loose pieces of paper, poster board, markers.

#10 - Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness in the classroom encourages students' emotional regulation, as well as gives them examples of health outlets for negative emotions. These strategies should be practiced in the classroom, specifically breathing exercises, yoga, music or calming sounds, positive affirmations, or completing a puzzle.

#11 - Student jobs

Classroom jobs offer students responsibility as well as accountability. Students can be assigned jobs each week, and are expected to complete them throughout the school day if necessary. As an educator, these jobs greatly help me with tasks, and they help students by giving them power in the classroom. After completing their job, students may feel a sense of accomplishment that increases their confidence in the classroom.

Materials Needed: Youtube videos, literary resources (books about mindfullness), puzzles, student name tags, poster board with student job titles

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