for Grades K-1
Ashley Cottle
CI4000-431
To get my students acquainted with one another, I would have the class do an activity called "Switch Sides If...," where I split the class in half with tape, say a statement like "Switch Sides If...you like to read," and then have students choose a partner on the same side as them and discuss their favorite book. This activity would go on for a while, and it would be a great first week of school activity because students who may not know each other as well as they think they do would be able to learn something new about one another. I would also participate in the activity so that my students can get to know me as well, which is equally as important.
This activity focuses on building a sense of community in the classroom. Each student would be given a white crayon that they can make the color of their choice. Students would be required to draw a self-portrait and then write their name at the bottom of that portrait. Then I, the teacher, would collect all of the crayons to glue onto a crayon box that had the quote, "We are a box of crayons, each of us unique, but when we get together, the picture is complete" which is a quote from The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolf. I would, of course, read the book to them first, which emphasizes that when everyone works together great things can happen. This is a philosophy I want to enact in my classroom.
Getting Comfortable
The Crayon Box
Below are two activities that make for great "ice breakers" and "getting to know you" activities. These two things are important when trying to build a community in your classroom because it helps students with being accountable of their actions; for instance, if a student knows that another student does not like it when they are laughed at, then the other student would know not to do that because it will hurt the student's feelings. I personally love these two activities because the "Getting Comfortable" activity gets them moving and talking while the other one lets them express their creativity through coloring, and what k-1 student does not like to color? I hope these activities help you with creating your own community of learners!
