Are you coming up short when it comes to community building activities? Have you tried every name game in the book? Well, here are a few new suggestions from the Inspired Teaching Staff. These are all things we've tried (in the first weeks of school) to get to know our students.Dreamcatchers - have your students make dreamcatchers out of twigs and twine and attach strips of paper with their hopes and dreams written down. Hang these in the room to demonstrate the importance of their aspirations to what you are teaching.
First Homework - for the first homework assignment of the year have students write you a letter telling about themselves. This will not only teach you about who they are as individuals - it will also serve as a writing assessment.
Hanging Out - spend as much time outside the classroom with students as possible - sit with them at lunch, if you work with younger kids spend time with them on the playground. Talk to them, ask questions, and get to know who they are both as students and as members of the community.
3 Name Game - in a circle, try this name game - it is a great way to learn names quickly and thoroughly! Teacher says her name: Ms. Fournel (then another student's name) Jacob. Jacob says the teacher's name: Ms. Fournel, (his own ame) Jacob, (and a third person's name) Julie. Julie says Jacob's name: Jacob, (her own name) Julie, (and a third person's name) Janet. Janet says Julie's name: Julie, (her own name) Janet, (and a third person's name) Jordan. Etc. Keep going around the room until everyone is playing quite rapidly - that's when you know the names are really sticking!
Chain of Expectations - In a class of 30, give each student 30 strips of construction paper (each about 2 inches thick). Students share one expectation they have for class and write it down on each strip of paper. These are distributed to the other members of class so each student ends up with 30 strips of paper containing expectations from each one of their classmates. The strips are then assembled into a paper chain so every student has a chain symbolizing the collective expectations of the class. These can be taken home as reminders of the class community or hung around the room to symbolize unity.
A Good Book:
Kincher, Jonni, and Espeland, Pamela (1998). Psychology for Kids II: 40 Fun Experiments That Help You Learn About Others. Free Spirit Publishing.
ISBN: 0915793830
One of our staff members used to use these activities in the beginning of the year to help students learn about themselves and one another.
