A little classroom camaraderie delivers big benefits. But community isn't built in a day. Students need experience working with classmates toward shared goals, trying (and sometimes failing) together, building bonds, and settling conflicts along the way. With these opportunities, students are sure to become invested in class and feel that their voice matters.
Building classroom community lesson plans
For students to thrive, it's important they develop meaningful relationships and connect with their classmates. These classroom community-building activities for elementary students are a great place to start.
1. Spark classroom conversations
Here’s a good relationship-building exercise that will help students get to know one another at a deeper level, beyond their likes and dislikes. Display one of the five Discussion Starter cards below. Set a timer for up to five minutes, depending on your students’ age and attention span. Then have students pair up to share their responses to the question on the card. When the timer goes off, display another Discussion Starter, and have students talk it over with new partners. Alternatively, you could display all the cards and allow the student pairs to choose which questions they’re most interested in tackling.
Print the Discussion Starter cards, laminate them, and keep them in a center for students to use all year long. You might also provide index cards for students to come up with their own Discussion Starters to add to the class collection. These quick, yet meaningful conversations will make students feel more connected and better-equipped to achieve shared goals, whether that’s a group project or a whole-class reward.
2. "Flex on them" Fridays
Here's a classroom community-building activity for students from fourth-grade teacher Perry Hollins. He hosts "Flex on Them" Fridays, where students get to do a little bragging about their unique skills. Maybe the student is an awesome photographer, dancer, meme creator, or can really belt out a tune. Friday is their day to showcase their awe-inspiring talents.
Allow time for students to ask each other questions like: How did you get so good at _______? or Do you have any tips for those who'd like to try _______? "If you don't have a community where students feel like they can open up their mic and have conversations with one another, with me present or not, and in a healthy and constructive way, then I'm not really doing much of anything because that is really the point I believe of education," Hollins says. Listen to the whole conversation with Hollins on our Teachers in America podcast. Plus, he shares six of his top strategies for building community in the classroom in this blog post.
3. Give a shout-out
Encourage students to find the best in each other. Provide a public space for them to compliment one another and celebrate your class’s awesomeness. You might use a bulletin board in the classroom, or try Google Jamboard for a digital experience. Fourth-grade teacher Joanne Miller's Shout-Out board (see below) is posted on the classroom door where passersby can see it. Students write their praise for classmates on colorful sticky notes and attach them to the board. Remind students to include the classmate’s name in the note. They might praise a classmate’s willingness to explain an assignment, help clean up after completing a project, or simply for being a good friend.
4. Eyes on the prize
Think of a whole-class reward—such as a dance party, movie day, no homework for a week, or free time on Friday—you’d like your class to work toward. (Here are ideas for virtual rewards for students.) Then make a list of goals for them to achieve to earn the reward. A goal might be making quick transitions between subjects or following rules of polite discussion. Write each goal on a separate sticky note. Then, write the reward in big letters on a white board, chart paper, or the like. Cover it with the sticky note goals. Every time the class achieves one of the goals, remove the related sticky to reveal the class reward a little at a time.
5. Start a class newsletter
A class newsletter is a great way of connecting the classroom with parents, administrators, and the community. Creating the newsletter fosters collaboration as students work together to produce a variety of news items to keep readers informed on the latest classroom happenings. The process can also give students a sense of pride in their classroom. Here are steps you can take to get started:
- Decide how often you want the newsletter to go out.
- Come up with departments such as Classroom Corner, Class Wish List, Upcoming Events, Student Spotlight, or Fun Photos.
- Assign students' jobs, such as writer, editor, proofreader, designer, photographer. These roles can change with every newsletter.
- Choose a template, such as these free classroom newsletter templates from Canva.
Don't stop there. Give those future designers in your classroom a challenge. Have them take these steps to design a newsletter that truly shines.
6. Do something kind
Ask older elementary students to research community organizations, nonprofits, and charities, such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and Goodwill. Take a class poll to decide which group the class would like to help. (For younger students, simply choose the organization.) Then brainstorm ways to help. Record ideas on a white board, Google Jamboard, or in a place where the entire class can view them. Students might suggest making cards for children in the hospital, collecting canned goods for a local soup kitchen, or donating clothes or toys to Goodwill. However they choose to help, start by having students set a goal. How many cards will they make? How many cans would they like to donate? Write down the goal on chart paper and create a graph that you can update every day to show the class working toward its goal, or track progress virtually using a free app like Strides.
7. Establish classroom norms
Give students the chance to take charge of their learning. Invite them to work with you to create classroom norms. Tell them they will be helping to ensure the class operates smoothly and efficiently. Ask: What can students do to ensure everyone gets the most out of class time? (Students might say: Be prepared. Show respect. Be responsible.) Once you have a list of norms, you can begin to elaborate on them. Take for example the classroom norm "be prepared." Write it at the top of chart paper. Ask: What does it look when students are prepared? Make a list on the chart paper of student responses. (Students might say: Make sure your homework is done. Bring a charged tablet. Sit in your seat before class starts.) Be sure to add any norms that you think should be added and ask students to weigh in on them. Post the norms prominently in the classroom and refer to them often.
8. A rose and a thorn
Make time at the beginning of class for students to share a "rose" (an achievement or something special to them) and "thorn" (a difficulty or challenge that they face). Teachers may want to model this activity for the class by sharing their own successes or difficulties. Let students know that they can bring up something as low-stakes as feeling tired or bored, or they can share something more personal, such as concerns about a sick relative. When classmates get a glimpse into each other’s emotional and personal lives, they build bonds and are better able to support each other through challenging times.
9. High-fives and fist-bumps
You'll pat yourself on the back for using this community builder for students. Brainstorm with your class a list of ways to show appreciation and post the ideas in the classroom. After an activity or lesson, have students congratulate each other for their efforts using an agreed-upon expression from the list. They might choose to shake hands, high-five, or simply say, "Nice work."
10. Morning meetings
Morning meetings not only foster bonding among classmates, they also establish a routine that helps students at every grade level transition into the school day. Whether the meeting is student- or teacher-led, be sure there is a focus. For example, the focus might be on building social and emotional well-being or addressing an issue that involves the whole class. Consider this structure: greeting; discussion; activity; announcements. Here are activities that you can use for morning meetings that will help students develop the five SEL competencies.
11. Appreciation or apology
At the close of each day or lesson, have students come together into a circle to share their appreciation of a classmate or an apology for something they regret or wish they had done differently. Alternatively, they can share their own “aha!” moment from the lesson where they gained a greater understanding of the subject matter. Teachers can model this activity by sharing their own appreciation, apology, or "aha" moment before inviting students to join the discussion.
More classroom community builders for students
A positive classroom community is crucial to student success in school and life. What community-building activities for students do you use to ensure they feel connected to one another and invested in classroom goals? Share your favorites with us via email at shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Instagram or Facebook.
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This blog post, originally published in September 2021, has been updated for 2024.
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