Fun Games to Build Classroom Community

I’m here to remind you (and me) that we WILL! This post will share some activities to get to know your students academically and personally. With these fun and interactive games and activities, you’ll build classroom community before you know it. Plus, you’ll (once again) have a classroom full of students who you know inside and out and who can work cooperatively.

One game that has become Super popular these days is the “this or that” game. I think this one has stemmed off of the “would you rather” trend from a few years back. This is one of my favorite no – prep games that really help me to get to know my students.

Here’s how to play: you have all of the students stand in the center of the room. Then you name two things that they have to choose from. For example would you rather have a slice of pizza or a candy bar. As you say the two options you point to two different sides of the room. So in this example, the kids who would rather have a candy bar may take two steps to the left or the kids that would rather have a slice of pizza would take two steps to the right. Then all of the kids will reset for the next options.

This game is particularly helpful during the first couple weeks of school because you can ask more personal questions to. For example, if you are trying to get to know them as learners you might ask questions such as, “Would you rather work alone or with a group?” Another question might be, “Would you rather work at a desk or on the carpet?” If you are trying to get to know them outside of school you might ask questions about siblings, pets or even how they get to school. You’ll be shocked at how creative they are!

A final way to use this is as a body break! There are a ton on Youtube that incorporate body movement like THIS one.

Another one of the activities to get to know your students that I like to use during the first week of school is called “Find a Friend”. During this game, you will name different qualities that student will need to search for in their classmates. For example, you might say find a friend with a different eye color than you or find a friend who likes the same flavor of ice cream as you. There will be times that someone may not find a person to fit in that category. That actually is great! It leads to more class discussions revolving around acceptance of differences. Plus it gives you the opportunity to learn so much about your students!

This one is always a hit in my second grade classroom. Students are partnered up with another student. Then they are giving questions to use in order to interview their new friend. They might be questions about what they like to do, what they did over the summer or even what they hoping for during the school year.

Once the interview is over they will then share their findings. You could have the students share what they learned with the entire class if you think they are comfortable doing that. If not, you could have them partner up with another partnership making a group of four. That takes the pressure off and allows them to just enjoy getting to know each other!

I love love love this one! When the school year begins, I have my students write a letter to themselves. In this letter they write everything they are hoping and dreaming to learn during that school year. When you read these letters, it’s literally like getting a view into their minds and hearts. You will find out how they feel about making friends, being in a new school or even what they have a hard time with when it comes to learning. The cool thing about this is that you can pass the letters back out on the last week of school. Then the students can read them and see if they were able to make their hopes and dreams come true!

If you’re looking to build classroom community, this game is a winner! It will have your class cracking up. Bonus: you can figure out who is able to lie a little too well. 😉 This game is definitely popular with older kids but completely applicable for an elementary class. I use it with my second graders and we typically end up with a whole lot of giggling and silliness. That makes it such a great icebreaker for the class.

All you need for this activity is a piece of paper with three lines. One says”lie” and two say “truth”. Students will write three facts about themselves. Obviously two will be truthful and one will be made up. Once the students have completed the paper, you will meet as a class. I like to save these and use them as an activity during morning meeting the next day. Each student you will have a chance to read their two truths and a lie. Remind them to read them OUT OF ORDER! The class will try to figure out which fact is the lie. I’m always amazed at how creative even the youngest kids can be with their answers!

If you’re looking to help your students make stronger connections with other students in the class then this is the activity for you! It’s especially helpful with helping the most shy students form a connection with a peer.

All you’ll need is a blank venn diagram for this activity. First you’ll partner this students up. I’d like to do a little pre-planning here! I try to partner students up with other students who I think would be a great match in a friendship. This gives them a chance to get to know each other early on.

Once they are partnered up, they’ll just simply have a conversation about themselves. If they find a connection, like they both like fishing, they will write that in the center of the Vin diagram. But if they find something that they differ on, they write them on the outside of the diagram.

You can definitely do it this activity more than once or even in groups of three or four.

This is an activity I’ve been doing for so many years and it really helps me to get to know my little learners as people. When writing a biopoem, the students will share things that they love, fear, need, feel. Once they share their favorite activities or things that make them happy, you can use that to build classroom community.

Activities to get to know your students are fun, but this is more of a yearly tradition that will be a powerful addition to your classroom!

I ask students to bring a family photo with them to open house or during the first week of school. I like to hang these above their cubbies where they can see them each day as they unpack for the day. Also, if they start missing their families they can walk over and see them.

An added bonus is the stronger connection I feel with the students when I see them with their families. It sort of reminds me that they are someone’s whole world and I need to take great care of them!

This one is new to me but I found it valuable in getting to know my students. As you learn to value your students for WHO they are, you’ll build classroom community in no time. When preparing, you’ll need a blank outline of a head from a front view where the face would be. There should also be a line going down the middle of the face.

Students will use one side of the face to draw a self portrait. The other side of the face is used for drawing and writing things that are a part of their identity. This could be things or people that they love, what they enjoy doing, and really anything that makes them who they are. You can find a more detailed lesson over at Art-Paper-Scissors blog.

Again I like to share these the next day at morning meeting. I also need to take a look at them closely before share time. That way I can be ready with any questions that I might have. I can also follow up on any red flags that I might have noticed.

This might be one of the most valuable activities to get to know our students. You can use learning inventories to learn about your students as learners. Then, you can use that information to set them up for success!

For example, you might learn that some students prefer to work with a partner, some prefer to work in small groups, while others prefer to work independently. Knowing this, you might plan a project with option groupings. Or, you can use a student’s preference of workspace to plan out any assigned seating in your classroom.

Another idea is to ask for students’ feeling revolving around particular subjects. You could learn that a student feels worried about math, bored with reading and curious about science. Such valuable information to a teacher!

It’s important to start building classroom community right from the start so your students can get comfortable and less overwhelmed by learning all of the new routines and rules.

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