New Year-New Kids-New Goals

This week I got a new group of 5th graders. It was also the first week of the third grading period. I had my students complete the following activity as a kick off to the class.

Materials - colored paper & markers

• I discussed responsibility with the class and brainstorm ideas of what responsibility means (areas of discussion could include school, home, with friends, teams, or clubs)
• Divide paper into 4 sections. Students will write what they are responsible for doing in each section.

Possible discussion questions:
What would happen if you did not follow through with your responsibilities?
What would your parents think? Friends? Coaches? You?
Are there any consequences for not completing your responsibilities?

Friendship Links

Friendship Links

This activity can be used with groups or classrooms of all ages. 

Objective:  To facilitate student’s abilities to express positive feelings towards another person and to build class harmony.  

Materials: Strips of colored paper, markers, crayons

Procedure:

1.

Discuss  friendships

•

qualities to look for in friends

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where they see their friendships in 1, 5, 10, 10 years,

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how might friendships change when moving to a new school or school building

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what makes them a good friend

2.

Ask students to begin thinking about the people around the classroom and to brainstorm as many positive attributes as they can about their peers.  Teacher may demonstrate by brainstorming on the board about someone whom they all know (principal).  Emphasize the importance of listing only POSITIVE characteristics.

3.

Pass out strips of paper to each student and yourself.

4.

Explain that the strips of paper will be used to make a friendship chain and stapled together (similar to ones made at Christmas and used to decorate).  

5.

Students should write their name on the strip – big enough for other students to know who the strip belongs.

6.

Students will pass the strips around the room and will write a positive statement or compliment on the strip and then sign their own initials.  Please monitor for positive statements only.

7.

Students will review the nice statements made about them.

8.

Discussion points:

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How did you feel when the person read nice things about you?

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Did you agree with what people wrote about you?

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Why is friendship so important?

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What makes you a good friend?

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What things could you work on to become a better friend?

**It makes it easier if students only pass slips of paper when instructed to do so by the teacher

**Monitor slips to make sure the same statement is not being written over and over (i.e – smart, funny, nice)

No Name Calling Week

No name calling week is fast approaching. January 21st thru the 25th is dedicated to a week without name calling. The No name calling week website will provide you with all the tools you need for a successful program. There are free posters to print, lesson plans, and activities to get you started. The lesson plan are divided into elementary, middle, and high school levels.

I am planning on having a Mix It Up Day at lunch during the week. Another activity in the works is a friendship chain. Students will have a slip of paper with their name on one side. On the other side students in the class will write positive statements or compliments (you're a great friend, thanks for helping me with my homework, ect).  After students have a chance to see all the nice things about themselves the links will be connected into a chain. Think of this as a chain made during Christmas for classroom decorations. I'm not sure what other activities I'm doing the rest of the week but will keep you posted. What are you doing for No name calling week?

Character Bulletin Board

Well 2013 is off to a great start. The kids are rested and ready to work. And so am I. Here is my latest bulletin board creation . I have to admit I am not the best at creating bulletin boards. I blame it on being short. Standing on a chair and trying to line everything up has never proved to work for me. I am afraid of one, falling off the chair, or two, stapling my finger.