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Belonging Matters

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Lesson Plan

Belonging Blueprint Plan

By the end of this lesson, students will identify at least three strategies to foster belonging and collaboratively create a class mural representing their commitment to an inclusive classroom.

Fostering belonging boosts student engagement, reduces isolation, and builds a supportive classroom community where every 5th grader feels valued and connected.

Audience

5th Grade Class

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Hands-on group work paired with reflective sharing.

Materials

Welcome Mat Slides, Team Mural Template, Shout-Out Circle Cards, Chart Paper, Colored Markers, and Sticky Notes

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Set the Stage

5 minutes

  • Greet students at the door and invite them to take their seats.
  • Display the lesson objective on the board: “Identify ways to foster belonging and create an inclusive class mural.”
  • Ask: “What does belonging mean to you?” Conduct a quick think-pair-share, then invite a few pairs to share highlights.

Step 2

Icebreaker: Welcome Mat

10 minutes

  • Project the Welcome Mat Slides.
  • Slide 1 defines belonging and its benefits.
  • Slide 2 prompts each student to write their name on a sticky note and one thing they contribute to our class community.
  • Students place their sticky notes on a large poster titled “Our Class Welcome Mat.”

Step 3

Group Activity: Team Mural Creation

20 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 4–5.
  • Distribute one Team Mural Template per group along with Chart Paper and Colored Markers.
  • Groups brainstorm at least three concrete actions or habits that help everyone feel they belong.
  • On the mural template, students illustrate and label each strategy; use Sticky Notes to add extra ideas or personal commitments.
  • Encourage creativity—draw, color, and decorate to make it inviting.

Step 4

Gallery Walk & Reflection

8 minutes

  • Have groups tape their murals around the classroom walls.
  • Students walk around silently, reviewing each mural and leaving positive comments or questions on sticky notes next to the artworks.
  • After the walk, invite a few students to share one comment they left or saw that resonated with them.

Step 5

Cool-Down: Shout-Out Circle

7 minutes

  • Bring students into a circle on the floor.
  • Pass around the Shout-Out Circle Cards.
  • Each student draws a card with a prompt (e.g., “Name someone who helped you feel included today and why.”)
  • The drawer gives a shout-out aloud in response to the prompt, then passes to the next person.
  • Close by summarizing the key belonging strategies and celebrating the class community with a group cheer.
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Slide Deck

What Is Belonging?

Belonging means feeling accepted, valued, and safe as part of a group.

Benefits of belonging:
• Boosts confidence and motivation
• Sparks creativity and collaboration
• Reduces feelings of isolation
• Builds a stronger, happier classroom community

Introduce the concept of belonging. Emphasize why it matters for our classroom community. Invite brief student responses or examples after showing the slide.

Our Class Welcome Mat

  1. Write your name on a sticky note.
  2. Add one thing you contribute to our class community.
  3. Place your note on the poster titled “Our Class Welcome Mat.”

Let’s see all the ways we make this classroom a place where everyone belongs!

Hand out sticky notes and markers. Instruct students to write their name and one way they contribute to our class culture. Afterward, have them place the notes on our large “Class Welcome Mat” poster.

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Activity

Team Mural Template (#team-mural-creation)

Working with your group, use this template to plan and create your class mural that shows strategies for belonging.

  1. Brainstorm at least three strategies that help everyone feel they belong. For each strategy, complete the prompts below:

Strategy #1: ________________________________
Why it helps: ________________________________

Strategy #2: ________________________________
Why it helps: ________________________________

Strategy #3: ________________________________
Why it helps: ________________________________







  1. Illustrate and label your strategies. Use the space below to draw, color, and decorate each idea so everyone understands your action steps.

[Draw or Sketch Here]













  1. Personal Commitments & Extras:
  • During the activity, add extra ideas or personal commitments on sticky notes.
  • Stick them around your mural to show how each of you will help foster belonging.

Let’s make this mural big, bright, and full of ideas that help every classmate feel at home!

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Cool Down

Shout-Out Circle Activity Guide

Instructions:

  1. Arrange students in a circle on the floor or in chairs.
  2. Shuffle the cards and place them face-down in the center.
  3. Students take turns drawing one card, reading the prompt aloud, and giving a shout-out in response.
  4. After sharing, the student passes the remaining deck to the next person.
  5. Continue until everyone has had a turn or time runs out.
  6. Close by celebrating how many positive moments and acts of belonging were shared today!

Prompts (Shout-Out Cards):

  • Name someone who helped you feel included today and explain how.
  • Share one thing you appreciate about our class community.
  • Tell us a way you will help a classmate feel at home tomorrow.
  • Give a compliment to someone who shared a creative idea today.
  • Recognize someone for showing kindness during our group work.
  • Name someone who made you smile or laugh today and why.
  • Acknowledge a classmate who listened carefully when you spoke.
  • Share one thing you noticed someone did to make our classroom feel safe.
  • Call out someone who tried something new or took a risk today.
  • Appreciate a peer who cheered you on or offered help.
  • Highlight someone who added a thoughtful idea to our mural.
  • Thank a friend who made you feel supported during the lesson.
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