Building a Learning Community!

The first three days of school are FULL of getting to know you activities that allow us to start off the year strong and pave the way for building real, lasting relationships with and between kids! Those three days also allow us to introduce different routines and structures in a fun and engaging way. One tool that we will use frequently this year is a CIRCLE MAP. These can be used in many ways, but we introduced them as a way to learn about each other. A circle map has a small circle in the center of the paper, with a larger circle around it. The topic we are focusing on goes in the small circle and the students write words associated with the topic all around it. We started with ourselves. We wrote our names in the center circle and wrote words or drew pictures that describe us all around it. 

                    

               

Once we finished the circles, we used the structure "Swap Talk" to introduce our classmates to one another. It was AWESOME to see the kids building relationships through commonalities using a tool that will become a staple in the classroom! 

                                    

After using this thinking tool as a getting to know you activity, we adopted it as an academic tool! We started out our science time by brainstorming and listing as many things about science as possible. 

After creating a list independently, we got up and moving using a structure called "Give One, Get One" to fill our circle maps! Boy, we already know a lot about science! 

These thinking maps are important because it allows students to have a structured space for brainstorming and defining topics across disciplines and grade levels! Be on the lookout for more thinking maps at Goodrich this year!