Fostering classroom community is an important aspect of any successful classroom. Creating an environment where students feel valued, respect each other, resolve conflict, and work together as a team benefits everyone. Building relationships with our students, between students, and with their families is the most worthwhile thing we can do as teachers. This will cultivate the culture of kindness and respect we all strive for.
While this type of environment doesn’t just “happen” it can be easy to develop with some simple planning. Check out some of my favorite kindness activities, community building read alouds, and why community building in the classroom should be part of every teacher’s lesson plans.
Building Classroom Community: Why it Matters
Community building in the classroom is absolutely crucial if we want each student to be an important, contributing member of our class. When students feel safe and part of something bigger than themselves, they’re able to achieve more academically and socially. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. However, as students learn more about how to be a community member and improve their social skills, your classroom atmosphere will improve right along with them.
Community Building in the Classroom
Monthly kindness and team building activities are my favorite way to build community throughout the year. This is the resource I use because it provides consistency and everything is already created and ready to go.
The monthly resources include 2 kindness lessons, 2 team-building games, videos and discussion cards, journals, writing crafts, kindness challenges, and a bunch of other stuff my students love. I’ll link it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindness-Activities-Lessons-for-the-Year-Bundle-4299775
Community Building Games: Part 1
Classroom team building games is one of my favorite ways to foster community.
- There are different goals for different games:
- build student relationships by getting to know each other better
- practice teamwork
- share in the fun together because it deepens and strengthens those friendships
My students’ favorite games are:
- Minute to Win it Challenges
- the Best Classroom Game Ever
- Entourage: Similar to rock, paper, scissors – except when you lose you start cheering for the person who beat them. You become their “entourage.” Eventually, there are only 2 students left and a whole lot of cheering!
- Spider Web Connections: One student starts with a ball of yarn and holds the end of the string. They say something about themselves. Anyone who has it in common raises their hand, the yarn is thrown to one of them. They hold a section of the yarn and say something about themselves, and the web continues. At the end, students will have a visual for how much they have in common. (Teacher can also say statements if you have a shy class)
- Power Tower: See image below Students build a tower of plastic cups. The only tool they can use is a rubber band with strings attached. Students work together to move their strings to build the tower.
Team Building Games: Part 2
- Perimeter Pass: Borrow a large ball from the PE teacher (or use recess equipment). Have students line the wall by laying on their backs with their bottoms against the wall. Their feet are up and their legs are flat against the wall. The goal is to pass the ball from one end of the line to the other.
- Lava River: Students use 3 hula hoops to get from one designated point to another. They can pass the hoops back and forth, but only 3 people are allowed in a hoop at a time.
- Marshmallow Tower Challenge: Fun STEM challenge – this is the TedTalk video explaining it.
- Mission Possible! : Students turn into secret agents for kindness! See below or click the link to learn more.
You can check out some of my other favorite community-building activities on these blog posts here. https://shannonmareeteaching.com/category/classroom-community/
Read Alouds to Build Classroom Community: Part 1
1. Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors: A fun story of the “history” of the game, Rock, Paper, Scissors. It’s silly and can be used to make great connections to the classroom community. The best part is…after you can play a few rounds of Entourage! (It’s just like rock, paper, scissors. The difference? When you lose you become a cheerleader for the person who beat you. Eventually, there are only 2 people left and a whole lot of cheering for each other going on! Your kids will eat this game up!!
This is a great read-aloud version of the book from the author with a Q&A after. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyxcpMhUM7M My kids LOVE his voices!
2. Remarkably You: This is a great book for student self-awareness as well as community. I love using it as a community-building read aloud because of the discussions we can have around the theme. Each child is different and holds a special role and place in our classroom. Classroom community isn’t about everyone being the same. This book is about embracing, celebrating, and using our differences to better the class as a whole.
3. Let the Children March: This book is set in 1963 Birmingham, AL. Let the Children March shows how African American children came together and used their voices to change the world. I love using this book as it not only is an important part of our history. It also ties in well with our social studies lessons. I can then challenge my students to think critically about something in our class, school, or community we should work to make better.
Read Alouds Part 2
4. What Should Danny Do? This is an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure, style of book. It teaches students how their actions impact themselves and others. It empowers our kiddos to make positive choices and students love the interactive component!
5. The Invisible Boy: Being left out is a terrible feeling that we all can relate to. This book is a powerful reminder of how simple acts can make all the difference.
6. Stick and Stone: This is a great book to demonstrate acts of friendship and kindness. Its anti-bullying message promotes a positive classroom community and school environment.
Read Alouds Part 3
7. Enemy Pie: Some students may be familiar with this title as it’s popular among many elementary grades. Its message is timeless and encourages students to get to know each other without making judgments. Pair this book with a get-to-know-you activity like a yarn web connection, friendship scavenger hunt, or get-to-know-you Jenga.
8. Do Unto Otters: Not only does this book teach manners it also packs a powerful message about how to be a good friend. Reinforcing the concept for students to treat others the way they want to be treated in the classroom.
9. The Last Stop on Market Street: This picture book teaches students to be grateful for what we have. Along with serving others and to be accepting of each other’s differences, it’s message is powerful. This theme lends itself to discussing how every day in our classroom we can do these things to help each other be our best.
10. The Juice Box Bully: This picture book is a perfect back to school read aloud or mid-year when you might be facing some kindness issues come up. Have students create their own classroom promise after reading it.
(As a fun treat I like to ask a parent to donate juice boxes. We either pass them out during the read aloud or sometime later that week. If you do it later, add a little reminder on the board saying be an “upstander!”)
Social-Emotional Learning
PS: If you’re looking to truly change classroom behaviors and create a culture of kindness, this FREE teacher guide is what you need. It’s all about how spending 10 minutes a day on social-emotional learning will transform your classroom. This looks like students knowing how to resolve conflict, interacting with respect and kindness, and a classroom where everyone can thrive.
