Whether it's called tribes, advisory, or homeroom, this is a great time period for teachers to engage students' minds and hearts. These also work great in Sunday School class.

 

Valentine's week:

On board or large sheet of paper, invite students to write the names of famous couples.  On small cut-out hearts, ask them to name characteristics that make good friends/ sweethearts.

This was a successful activity for my advisory class, keeping them chatty and involved.


My activity last week--"Write about qualities of a good friend"--was a disaster.  This week, I'll try this survey:

Friendship Survey

Answer the questions below and then add anything you would like on the back of the paper:

Friends and friendship are very important to me. yes****maybe***no****no way

I’m willing to talk about my life to almost anyone. yes****maybe***no****no way

Thinking about friends makes me uncomfortable. yes****maybe***no****no way

Writing about friends makes me uncomfortable. yes****maybe***no****no way

Writing about anything makes me uncomfortable. yes****maybe***no****no way

I prefer "associates" to "friends." yes****maybe***no****no way

My family members are my friends. yes****maybe***no****no way

I think that friends may let me down. yes****maybe***no****no way

I am a good friend to people who need me. yes****maybe***no****no way

I don’t trust anybody. yes****maybe***no****no way



Even though I have been disappointed in the past, I still think that relationships are very important. yes****maybe***no****no way

Whoever I date also needs to be a friend to me. yes****maybe***no****no way

Lots of people think they know me, but they don’t. yes****maybe***no****no way

I only need a couple of good friends. yes****maybe***no****no way

I am happy hanging out with a large group of people. yes****maybe***no****no way

I prefer to let other people talk; I listen. yes****maybe***no****no way

I’m very social and could talk for hours. yes****maybe***no****no way

 

 

 

 


Gum sculpture:

Take a big, bumpy rock.  When students chew gum, invite them to add pieces (chewed) to your "gum sculpture."  They usually comply readily, and then you don't have to remind them to ditch the gum as they walk through your door. (Gum is a no-no in my room, as we do many oral activities.)

I'm a ELA teacher in a school with a diverse student body.  Many of my activities reflect English class!

These are some activities we've done so far.

*Brainstorm:  what can we do to help the victims of Katrina who have come to Houston? (our school is collecting items)

*Bridge-building:

Allow teams to divide themselves up into groups of 5 (or divide them according to your purpose.)

Give each team a specific amount of straws, paper clips, tape, and notecards.  Add 3 plastic animals to each group.

Say, "each team must build a bridge between two chairs.  The goal is to make a bridge strong enough to hold three animals."  Take pictures; print later;  hang on bulletin board under a sign, "Building Bridges."

 

*Emergency:

Outline a concept you want to teach, such as the grief process, or post-traumatic stress syndrome.  Talk to students about how they might often be the one to help a friend through a difficult time.  Cap off the lesson with the following fun activity.

Divide into groups of 5;

Give each group a roll of toilet paper. 

Stipulate that teams must:

    A. Bandage each player

    B. Bandage each player in a different place

    C. Use all the toilet paper

Once again, take photos! 

 
*This site will grow as the year progresses.