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Showing posts with label team building games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label team building games. Show all posts

Why Drama Matters: 20 Ways Plays Benefit Elementary Students

Getting students to work with other students can be a challenge!

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students


They usually have a couple of friends they are comfortable with, but it's awkward when they need to work with someone else. 

Things become less awkward when they work together for a common goal. How can we get them working together while continuing to teach the curriculum?

Starting the day with Morning Meeting, along with Team Building games is a great way to start! However, one of my favorite ways to get children working together is by putting on plays!

Research shows that including dramatics and theater in the learning environment enhances many important life skills. Here are 20 of them!

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Students learn new words in context, improving their vocabulary. 

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Performing in front of their peers helps students gain confidence and reduce stage fright.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Working together in a play fosters teamwork and collaboration skills.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Students explore their imagination through character development and storytelling.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Students must listen to cues and instruction, honing their listening abilities.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Script reading allows students to practice reading fluently with expression.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Taking on different roles encourages empathy as students see the world through other perspectives.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Understanding the story and characters reinforces comprehension skills.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Acting and reacting on stage improves social interaction and communication.


Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Memorizing lines and cues enhance memory and recall abilities.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Plays often require creative solutions and quick thinking.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Staying in character and following the story requires focus.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Movement and gestures during dramatics improve coordination.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Many plays introduce students to different cultures and histories.


Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Speaking in front of others develops clarity and expressive language.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Acting can help students identify, express, and manage emotions.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Plays allow for various roles so all students can participate.


Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Drama gives students a constructive way to express themselves.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Regular practice helps students speak confidently in front of others.

Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students
Plays and dramatics bring excitement and joy to learning, making concepts more engaging.

What to use for resources? Well, I have several Reader’s Theater resources here: Reader's Theater Resources
And I’m working on more! And I’ll be glad to honor your requests! (Just email me at elementarymatters@gmail.com with your ideas!)

Check out these blog posts for more information about dramatics in the classroom and team-building activities:


How do you get your students to work together?



Why Drama Matters: 20 ways plays benefit elementary students






Me, Too! Not a Movement, But a Team Building Game!

Me, Too!

I know what you're thinking... wasn't there a "Me, too" movement a couple of years ago?
Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

I never really thought about that term being used in the classroom until I saw this on Twitter!

This game is great for the beginning of the school year, but it's also great for those times when a child is feeling a little too "different" and feels he doesn't belong. 

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!


It's also a great Morning Meeting activity!


It all starts with one child saying something they like. It can be an activity, or a food, or a toy, or even a subject in school. 

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!


Those students who also like that interest call out "Me, too!" and walk over to form a group of all those who like that item.

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!


After a few rounds, children will be joining with a variety of groups and agreeing with a variety of interests.

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

Soon they'll be learning about the interests of their classmates. 

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

They'll be learning they have things in common with classmates they never realized they'd have anything in common with!

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

After a few times, they'll realize, even though there are some interests they don't share with classmates, there are plenty of interests that they do share!

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

Most important, they will develop that feeling of belonging!

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!

We all know that feeling like they're part of the team is the very beginning of the learning process! Acceptance matters!

Looking for more Team Building ideas? 

Try these posts:

How do you help your students feel like they belong?

Me, Too! Not a Movement, but a Team Building Game! Here's a fun way to get the students thinking about what they have in common with their classmates!



Why Encourage Team Building in the Elementary Classroom?

Why should we encourage Teamwork in the Elementary Classroom? 

This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your students.

I've encouraged children to work as a team in my classroom for many years. Although they're not necessarily going to score better on those high-stakes tests, working as a team helps children develop many important skills!
 
This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your students.

Here are some of the skills children learn from team-building activities:

  • communication
  • collaboration
  • listening
  • time management
  • problem-solving
  • putting others first
  • conflict management
 
Interesting, some might say these are "life skills!" Yes, these are skills that children need to develop to be successful in life, which I feel is far more important than being successful on tests!

 

This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your students.

These are some activities to encourage teamwork in the classroom:

  • morning meeting activities
  • shared stories
  • project-based learning
  • STEM or STEAM projects
  • put on a class play
  • relay races
  • team trivia
  • partner work
  • plan a class party
  • scavenger hunts 
  • educational games, played as teams
I'm sure you can think of plenty more, including activities connected to your curriculum! Make sure to mention that the goal is to "work as a team," and "look out for the others!"

This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your students.
 
Most important, motivate them to encourage others! Make sure these words are used often! 
  • Good job!
  • You can do it!
  • Awesome job!
  • You are incredible!
  • You figured it out!
  • You're on the right track!
  • You make it look easy!
  • That's the way!
  • You've got this! 
  • I can see you're really trying!

Here's an idea: let them make a list of more encouraging words, and display them for children to use as a reference. Be sure to model using encouraging words for your whole class team!

This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your students.

Here are some helpful resources:

Here are some links for more information about Team Building in the classroom:

This post tells some benefits of Team Building activities in the classroom and some ideas for including these class bonding activities with your kids.

Space Balls: Build Community and Team Building as Well as Imagination and Concentration!

Space Balls: 

It sounds like something odd, but it really is as simple as can be!
 
Space Balls are balls that are made up of nothing but space!

This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.


Space Balls is a great game for team building, but also works on focus, concentration, and imagination! It works well in morning meeting, or any time of day they need a break.

This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.

To start, establish what a space ball actually is: a ball made of space! Since you can't see the ball, it's important to show the size, shape, and weight of the ball by the way you hold the ball. 

This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.

Then, slowly pass the space ball around the circle. 
Students should watch to see that the ball maintains its size and shape. 

For many students, that's enough for the first time.

Later, or on another day, introduce a "new" space ball, and review the concept by passing the ball around the circle again. Make the new space ball somewhat different from the first one. (smaller, heavier, etc.)

When the ball completes the circle, it's a good time to break the group into groups of 2 or 3 to play catch with the space balls. (Have some fun passing out space balls to each small group! Encourage their creativity by asking what sort of ball they want, then slowly taking that ball out of your "box" for them to see!)

Another option is to toss the space ball to someone across the circle. (See photo at top.) In these cases, remind the children to show the size and shape of the ball, remembering to maintain the size and shape.

This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.

On another day, introduce the idea of changing the space ball. Model squishing the space into a very small ball, or stretching it into a very large ball. The space can also become quite heavy (grunting is encouraged) or it can become quite light like a balloon. The students' hands and body language should always show the size, shape, and weight of the space ball, so their partner can follow. 

This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.

Now it's time to let the children be creative: pass a space ball around the circle, letting children change the space ball any way they want to.  The students should be very clear in taking the space ball from the previous person, maintaining its shape, then showing the group how they are changing the space ball.

 I'll bet you (or your students) can think of more variations of "Space Balls!" 


Can you think of a way to include curriculum concepts?
Please share these variations in the comments!

You might even see them playing it at recess time!
 

Looking for some other team building games?  

 

Looking for something that can be used for socially distant or remote learning? 



This engaging game is perfect for children of all ages, fostering teamwork, concentration, and creativity. The best part? No materials are required, so the fun can begin anytime, anywhere! Space Balls will have children working together, staying focused, and letting their creativity soar.

 
Side note: the teacher in the photo above is my daughter playing space balls with her students at summer music camp! She has her own blog, Me vs Rent!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals!

Ah, summer! Isn't it a wonderful time of year? 

Summer is the time of year when most people enjoy going to the beach, going camping, or maybe just hanging out with friends. It's a great time to be outside!
A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

If you're still in school or working with kids during the summer, you're probably looking for things to do with the kids that also allow you to enjoy the summer! 

Well, I've got a few resources for you, and guess what... they're all dollar deals or free!

This is great for team building, plus important end-of-the-year review! (And perfect for an Olympic year!)


A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

Here's a science experiment, perfect for warm weather!


A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


Team Building is important all year!


A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

Themed paper can encourage children to write their stories!

Writing Paper With a Camping Theme

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


This Boom Learning resource is totally free! Plus, it can be used any time of year for building general knowledge! (July birthdays love it!)


A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


Here are two different fun ways to practice mapping skills in the summer!!


A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

Mapping with an ocean theme

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


This resource helps children learn about their learning!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

Another totally free resource for July! Thinking questions and/ or writing prompts for every day of the month!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


These questions are perfect to get students talking about the books they read or listen to! They work for any book!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

This game is a favorite! They can play over and over, and practice adding 3 addends!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!


If you're teaching at all during the summer months, I'm hoping these resources help make your life easier!

These deals give you a little more time to enjoy the summer weather and make your teacher life easier!

A Few Summer Dollar Deals! This post shares 7 dollar deals and 5 freebies that can be used at the end of the school year, during summer school, or in the early days of autumn!

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