ACTIVITIES

Getting in a circle

“Everyone wearing green, join the circle.” “Everyone whose favorite ice cream is strawberry, join the circle.” “Everyone who has freckles join the circle.”

Clapping game

Going around the circle, one clap continues in one direction, two claps changes the direction - then one clap continues the opposite direction.

Pass the keys

One child stands in the middle of the circle blindfolded. The other children pass a large bunch of keys around the circle. When the child in the middle thinks they know where the keys are, they shout, “stop!” and point in that direction.

Hedgehogs

Move around the room to the music, when the music stops, children curl up on the floor like hedgehogs. Put a curtain over one child. The others stand up and guess who is under the curtain. Return to seats and share a round to say what we like about the curtained hedgehog game.

The line up game

Without help, students need to create a circle in birthday month order.

Storm

Teacher starts by wiggling fingers for the rain. This passes around the circle until everyone is wiggling their fingers. The leader then changes the action to other aspects of the storm, ie. wind - arms waving, thunder - slap knees. End with the sun - mime a circle.

Help!

One person in the middle calls out “help, help!” Others reply “What’s the matter?” First person makes up a situation ie: stuck up a ladder, chased by bees. Others reply “who do you want to help?” First person makes up random criteria, ie: the tallest, kindest, best at math, funniest, etc. Others nominate a person to help, they swap places with one in the middle. All good at different things, we can all help each other.

Spot the student

The teacher relates a lot of information about a pupil in the group, “focussing on their strengths) - everyone else has to guess who is being discussed. Remember- hands up!

1-truth, 1-lie

Each child has a turn to share one truth and one lie about themselves. The other students guess which one is true.

Last one standing

As all students to move the tables to the side of the room and put the chairs in a circle. Remove one of the chairs so one of the students is standing up. Say “everyone with blue eyes swap seats,” and everyone with blue eyes has to find a seat on the opposite side of the circle. Last person standing comes up with the next question.

A warm wind blows

All but one student stands creating a circle. They remove one shoe and leave it near their feet. One student stands inside the circle. The student inside the circle says, “a warm wind blows for anyone who likes chocolate ice cream.” - a warm wind must blow for something that person likes or is true for that person. “A warm wind blows for people who have freckles.” All the people for whom this is true leave their one shoe behind and find another shoe to stand by. The person without a shoe is now in the middle and blows the warms wind. (this is about making connections).

Appreciation Chain

variation #1: Have students share something they appreciate about a classmate. When they share, they link arms with that person. Teacher may need to facilitate a bit, so that eventually a whole class chain circle is formed. You may want to have students write appreciations about every classmate before the activity begins.

variation #2: Have students and teacher stand in a circle with linked arms. The teacher will start by sharing an appreciation to either the student on the right or left. That student then keeps the appreciations going around the circle. Writing appreciations before starting the game is helpful.

Hello Game

Students sit in a circle. One student starts by turning to their right and saying, "hello" to that person. During this task, they should notice (silently) the color of that students eyes before the "hello" continues. When the "hello" makes it around the circle, the first student then says the color of the student's eyes, whom they had greeted initially and this continues around the circle.

QUESTIONS: Less intense (getting started)

Share a happy memory.

If you were an animal what animal would you be and why?

Which classroom tool do you like, but you think most people might not pick?

What is a smell that you enjoy, but you think most people don’t?

If you were going to serve dinner to the president, what would you serve?

If you could have one superpower, which would it be and why?

Would you rather be able to travel through time at will or be invisible and why?

What is one thing you appreciate about being able to go to school and why?

What is one word a friend would use to describe you?

What is one word a caregiver (parent/guardian/teacher) use to describe you?

What is one thing you would like to change about your life?

What is one thing you would NOT want to change about your life?

Name two things or people that always make you laugh.

Share one skill or talent that you have.

If you were a reporter, what kind of stories would you want to write about?

If you were a photographer, what kind of pictures would you most like to take?

Share your peak/valley for the week?

Share a time when you felt nervous about doing something, you did it and it was okay.

Share something you like and something you don’t like about your neighborhood.

If you could make a difference in our world, what’s one thing you would do?

What is the most important quality in your relationships with others - why?

Who is someone in your life who you have learned from. How did they help?

Who was one of your favorite teachers. What made them one of your favorite?

Tell about a time when you felt like you really belonged.

Share a time when you felt left out.

What is one thing that your caregivers (the adults you live with) say to you often?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

If you were completely free, what would that mean? What would you do differently?

Share something positive about the person sitting to your right.

What is something that would help you feel safe in our classroom?