Starting a new school year is the perfect time to build a strong classroom community. One fantastic way to do this is by using the book “Our Class is a Family” by Shannon Olsen. This book beautifully illustrates the concepts of classroom community, acceptance, kindness, and respect, making it an ideal read-aloud for back-to-school. A particularly impactful activity to pair with this book is creating an “Our Class is a Family” anchor chart together as a class.
After reading “Our Class Is a Family,” engage your students in a discussion about how they want their classroom to feel, look, and sound. This discussion is the foundation for your “Our Class is a Family” anchor chart. Title the chart something inviting like “Our Classroom Promise” or “Our Classroom Family.” As students share their ideas, write them down on the anchor chart. This collaborative process ensures student ownership and understanding of classroom expectations. For an extra layer of commitment, have students sign the anchor chart. Display this chart prominently throughout the year as a visual reminder of their agreements and the family-like atmosphere you are cultivating.
Classroom anchor chart titled Our Classroom Promise
To further reinforce the “classroom family” theme, extend the lesson with a writing and craft activity. Have students create self-portraits on house-shaped crafts and write their names at the bottom. These adorable houses can be used to create a bulletin board display, perhaps with the heading “Our Classroom Family.” Alternatively, display these student-created houses alongside your “Our Classroom Promise” anchor chart, visually linking individual students to the collective classroom family agreement.
Student-created house crafts for classroom bulletin board
For additional activities that reinforce positive classroom behaviors, consider a color-by-code activity. These activities typically involve coloring pictures based on a code related to “yes” and “no” actions within a classroom family, such as kind actions versus unkind actions. These are simple and effective for solidifying the principles discussed in “Our Class is a Family.”
Color by code activity example for classroom behavior
Color by code activity sheet close up
Another engaging craft is the “Pinky Promise Craft.” In this activity, students are paired with accountability buddies. These buddies support each other in upholding the classroom promises. Students create handprint crafts, intertwining the pinky fingers to symbolize their promise to each other and to the classroom family. These crafts serve as a tangible reminder of their commitment to a caring and supportive classroom environment.
Pinky promise hand craft for classroom community
Incorporating “Our Class is a Family” and creating a collaborative anchor chart are powerful first steps in building a positive and inclusive classroom community. These activities, along with the supplemental crafts, provide a holistic approach to fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect right from the start of the school year. Explore resources for “Our Class is a Family” activities to find materials that can enhance your back-to-school lessons and create a strong classroom family.
