Collection
Creating a Classroom Community
All the resources you need to create a positive atmosphere and foster a sense of belonging among your students.
- Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
A successful classroom community promotes positive social skills and academic achievement. Children learn best when they feel they are part of a community, where everyone feels accepted and where individuality is encouraged. Creating a classroom community requires planning and practice. Foster a sense of belonging where children learn how to participate in class meetings, work collaboratively, and resolve conflicts peacefully with some of these resources.
Included Here:
- Articles (6)
- Lesson Plans (6)
- Unit Plans (2)
Articles
How to Be a Good Friend
With this lesson plan, you can encourage awareness of good manners through literature and creative expression.
Building Bridges of Friendship
A unit on friendship that involves music, crafts, teamwork activities, and identifying shared values and interests
Help For "They Won't Let Me Play with Them!"
Big Friends, Little Friends
Younger and older students are paired to work on team projects and play games.
8 Ways to Welcome Students
Third grade teacher Marissa Ochoa explains how she gets students excited, settled, and motivated for the new school year ahead.
Building Community in the Classroom
Ellen Booth Church discusses the different elements that help to create a sense of community in the classroom at the beginning of the year.
Lesson Plans
New-to-School Student Booklets
Presents a fun getting-to-know-you classroom activity, where students make their own books out of supplied paper shapes and strips of pre-typed text.
Portrait of a Friend
Students get to know themselves and their classmates by filling in the blanks to create mini-biographies.
Aloha and Welcome Back!
Take a tropical approach to the start of the school year as students learn about our 50th state, get to know each other, and establish classroom expectations.
Move and Make Friends
Introduce these dance activities as a fun way for children to get to know their new friends.
Do You Want to Be My Friend? Lesson Plan
Children love Eric Carle's colorful illustrations and animal characters in Do You Want to Be My Friend?. I do an author study with my class; my students love making painted paper in the style of Eric Carle and having their own book to bring home.
Unit Plans
Come Explore Your Neighborhood
Use this lesson to teach your students the value of friendship and community. Discuss friendship and introduce students to the community around them with walks and mapping and modeling projects.
Building Relationships in a High School Classroom
The diagnostics in this unit will help teachers get to know their students both academically and personally.
- Subjects:Conflict Resolution, Character Education, Cooperation and Teamwork, Early Social Skills, Individuality, Respect, Tolerance and Acceptance, Friends and Friendship, Peer Pressure, Understanding Self and Others, Teacher Tips and Strategies
