Printer-friendly versionBuilding a safe and productive classroom community is one of the most important tasks when beginning the school year. Engaging students in getting to know one another and helping each other teaches them to appreciate the beauty of diverse abilities, makes the teacher’s life much easier and helps the whole school community feel safe and respectful.
Additional Resources
To read about some other activities that help students talk
about their strengths and learn more about each other, see, Who We REALLY
Are,
Getting to Know Each Other and Happy Faces.
PRIMARY GRADES (K-2)
ELEMENTARY GRADES (3-5)
Standards
Activities and embedded assessments address the following
standards (McREL 4th edition):
Language Arts
Standard 1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
Standard 3. Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.
Standard 8. Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.
Visual Arts
Standard 1. Understands and applies media, techniques and processes related to the visual arts.
Standard 5. Understands the characteristics and merits of one’s own artwork and the artwork of others.
Working With Others
Standard 1. Contributes to the overall effort of a group.
Standard 3. Works well with diverse group of individuals and in diverse situations.
Standard 4. Displays effective interpersonal communication skills.
Self Regulation
Standard 2. Performs self-appraisal.
Standard 5. Maintains a healthy self concept.
