Lesson Plan
Day 1 Plan
Students will introduce themselves and engage in the Two Truths and a Lie icebreaker to build name recognition, community, and communication skills in a fun, supportive setting.
Starting with low-stakes introductions and a collaborative guessing game helps students feel seen, remembered, and connected. This sets a positive tone for teamwork, trust, and engagement throughout the year.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials and Room
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome and Seating
5 minutes
Step 2
Quick Introductions
10 minutes
Step 3
Two Truths and a Lie Icebreaker
15 minutes
Slide Deck
Welcome Back to School!
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Welcome & Seating (5 min)
2. Quick Introductions (10 min)
3. Two Truths & a Lie (15 min)
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Day 2 Plan
Students will engage in a Human Bingo icebreaker to meet classmates, discover shared interests, and build community through movement and conversation.
Moving beyond sit-and-listen activities, Human Bingo encourages students to talk with many classmates, fostering connections, breaking down social barriers, and boosting confidence in a fun, active way.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Bingo Materials and Space
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Distribution
5 minutes
Step 2
Mingling & Finding Matches
15 minutes
Step 3
Debrief & Reflection
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Day 2: Human Bingo
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Distribution (5 min)
2. Mingling & Finding Matches (15 min)
3. Debrief & Reflection (10 min)
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Day 3 Plan
Students will collaborate in teams to build the tallest free-standing tower using spaghetti sticks and marshmallows, developing teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Hands-on engineering challenges foster collaboration and creative thinking, helping students practice communication and planning in a fun, low-stakes environment.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials and Teams
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Rules
5 minutes
Step 2
Planning Phase
5 minutes
Step 3
Build Phase
15 minutes
Step 4
Reflection & Measurement
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Day 3: Team Tower Challenge
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Rules (5 min)
2. Planning Phase (5 min)
3. Build Phase (15 min)
4. Reflection & Measurement (5 min)
Lesson Plan
Day 4 Plan
Students will collaboratively create a story by contributing sentences in a round-robin format using prompt cards, practicing active listening, creativity, and teamwork.
This collaborative storytelling activity encourages students to build on peer ideas, practice active listening, and foster a shared sense of creativity and community.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Story Prompt Cards and Seating
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Story Rules
5 minutes
Step 2
Brainstorm & Prompt Selection
5 minutes
Step 3
Round-Robin Story Creation
15 minutes
Step 4
Debrief & Reflection
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Day 4: Collaborative Story Circle
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Story Rules (5 min)
2. Brainstorm & Prompt Selection (5 min)
3. Round-Robin Story Creation (15 min)
4. Debrief & Reflection (5 min)
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Day 5 Plan
Students will share personal insights using color-coded M&Ms prompts and finish with a compliment chain to foster empathy, listening, and positivity in our classroom community.
Candy-based prompts make self-disclosure fun and low-stakes, while sharing and receiving compliments builds trust, respect, and a positive classroom culture.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Candy Prompt Materials and Seating
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Explanation
5 minutes
Step 2
M&M Sharing Activity
15 minutes
Step 3
Compliment Chain
8 minutes
Step 4
Reflection & Closing
2 minutes
Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students in grades 5–8 will learn each other’s names through an interactive name game and collaboratively establish class agreements to set positive norms for our classroom.
Building name recognition fosters community and trust across multiple grade levels, while co-creating class agreements empowers students, promotes respect, and sets clear expectations from day one.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials and Space
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
Step 2
Name Game Activity
15 minutes
Step 3
Class Agreement Brainstorm
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Session 1: Welcome & Class Agreements
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Welcome & Warm-Up (5 min)
2. Name Game Activity (15 min)
3. Class Agreement Brainstorm (10 min)
Closing & What’s Next
Script
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will engage in a Human Bingo icebreaker to meet classmates in grades 5–8, discover shared interests, and build community through movement and conversation.
Human Bingo gets students moving and talking with many peers, breaking social barriers, boosting confidence, and fostering new connections in a fun, active way across grade levels.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Bingo Materials and Space
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Distribution
5 minutes
Step 2
Mingling & Finding Matches
15 minutes
Step 3
Debrief & Reflection
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Session 2: Human Bingo
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Distribution (5 min)
2. Mingling & Finding Matches (15 min)
3. Debrief & Reflection (10 min)
Closing & What’s Next
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Students in grades 5–8 will collaborate in small teams to design and build the tallest free-standing tower using spaghetti, marshmallows, and tape, practicing teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.
Hands-on engineering challenges foster collaboration, communication, and creative thinking across grades 5–8 in a fun, low-stakes environment, strengthening classroom community.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials and Teams
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Rules
5 minutes
Step 2
Planning Phase
5 minutes
Step 3
Build Phase
15 minutes
Step 4
Reflection & Measurement
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Session 3: Team Tower Challenge
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Rules (5 min)
2. Planning Phase (5 min)
3. Build Phase (15 min)
4. Reflection & Measurement (5 min)
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Students in grades 5–8 will quickly connect with multiple peers through a Speed-Friending version of Two Truths and a Lie, practicing sharing, guessing, and active listening to deepen classroom rapport across grade levels.
This fast-paced activity encourages 5th–8th graders to learn surprising facts about many classmates, practice conversation skills, and build a sense of community in a low-stakes, fun format.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Cards and Seating
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Modeling
5 minutes
Step 2
Speed-Friending Conversations
15 minutes
Step 3
Debrief & Reflection
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Session 4: Speed-Friending Two Truths & a Lie
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Modeling (5 min)
2. Speed-Friending Conversations (15 min)
3. Debrief & Reflection (10 min)
Closing & What’s Next
Lesson Plan
Session 5 Lesson Plan
Students in grades 5–8 will share personal insights using color-coded M&Ms prompts and complete a compliment chain to foster empathy, active listening, and positivity.
Candy-based prompts make self-disclosure fun and low-stakes for mixed 5th–8th graders, while sharing and receiving compliments builds trust, respect, and a positive multi-grade classroom culture.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Candy Prompt Materials and Seating
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Explanation
5 minutes
Step 2
M&M Sharing Activity
15 minutes
Step 3
Compliment Chain
8 minutes
Step 4
Reflection & Closing
2 minutes
Slide Deck
Session 5: M&M Color Prompts & Compliment Chain
Today’s Objectives
Materials & Setup
1. Introduction & Explanation (5 min)
2. M&M Sharing Activity (15 min)
3. Compliment Chain (8 min)
4. Reflection & Closing (2 min)
