Session 1 Connection Prompts Worksheet

Instructions: In your small group of 3–4 students, take turns asking and answering each question. Use the sentence starters to help you. Write your partner’s answer on the lines below.

1. What is your favorite food from home?

   Sentence starter: My favorite food is ___ because ___.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What hobby did you enjoy before moving here?

   Sentence starter: I enjoyed ___ before moving because ___.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Name one tradition your family celebrates.

   Sentence starter: *My family celebrates ___ every year. It is important because ___. *
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. What language(s) do you speak at home?

   Sentence starter: *At home, I speak ___ with ___. *
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. What is one thing you like about your new school?

   Sentence starter: *I like ___ at my new school because ___. *
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. What is one goal or dream you have for the future?

   Sentence starter: *My goal/dream is to ___ so that ___. *
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Now share:

• After everyone answers, discuss one thing you learned about a classmate.
• Write one interesting fact you discovered:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Warm-Up: Icebreaker Ball Toss

• Have students stand in a circle (or sit if needed) so everyone can see each other.
• Show the soft ball and explain the steps:
  1. Teacher holds the ball first and says: "My name is ___, and I like ___."
  2. Teacher gently tosses the ball to a student.
  3. When a student catches the ball, they say: "My name is ___, and I like ___."
  4. That student then tosses the ball to a classmate who has not yet spoken.
• Continue until every student has had a turn.

Teacher Tips:

• Model the sentence clearly with simple words and gestures.
• Use visual cue cards with the sentence frame: "My name is ___, and I like ___." if needed.
• Provide positive feedback: "Great job, [name]!" to build confidence.
• If students struggle, allow them to state just their name and point to a picture of something they like.

Cool Down: Reflection Exit Slip

Time: 3 minutes

1. Distribute one index card (or slip of paper) to each student.

2. Ask students to complete the sentence:

   “Today, I connected with someone by _________.”

   Sentence starter: Today, I connected with someone by ___ because ___.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. When finished, students hand their slips to the teacher as they leave.

4. Teacher reads responses to learn who connected, how, and to help shape next session’s small groups.

Session 2 Cultural Comparison Worksheet

Instructions: Work in pairs. Read each tradition type. In the second column, write about a tradition you had in your home country. In the third column, write about a similar or new tradition you see in your new community. Use simple words and drawings if you need.

Now discuss:

1. What is one similarity between your home tradition and the new tradition?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one difference you noticed?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Share one new tradition you want to try. Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Session 2 Cultural Bingo

Instructions:

1. Give each student one bingo card.
2. Students mingle and ask classmates questions to match each square.
3. When a classmate fits a square, write that person’s name in the box.
4. The first student to get 4 in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) calls “Bingo!” and shares one signature with the class.

| Celebrates New Year with music | Knows a cultural proverb | Listened to folk music | Participated in a parade |
| _____________________________ | ___________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ |

| Had a traditional tea | Uses a special greeting | Attended a cultural exhibit | Made a holiday craft |
| _____________________________ | ___________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ |

| Seen a cultural play | Tried a traditional dessert | Visited a cultural museum | Has a family holiday custom |
| _____________________________ | ___________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ |

Warm-Up: Photo Gallery

• Project or display 4–5 images of cultural traditions (e.g., festival dance, special meal, traditional dress).

• Give each student a sticky note and a marker.

• Ask students to look at one image, write:

  1. What they see.
  2. What they think the tradition might be.

  Sentence frames (write on board):

  • I see ___. I think it is a ___ tradition.

• After 1–2 minutes, have students pair up and share their notes.

• Teacher brings the class back together, shows each image again, and names the tradition.

Teacher Tips:

• Model one example: “I see a woman dancing in colorful clothes. I think it is a festival dance.”
• Use simple vocabulary and point to visuals as you introduce new words.
• Encourage students to use the sentence frame but accept single words or drawings if they need support.

Cool Down: Reflection Exit Slip

Time: 2 minutes

1. Distribute one index card to each student.

2. Ask students to complete the sentence:

   “One new cultural practice I learned today is ________.”

   Sentence starter: One new cultural practice I learned today is ___ because ___.

3. When finished, students hand their cards to the teacher as they leave.
4. Teacher reviews responses to plan the next session.

Session 3 Community Resource Map Handout

Instructions:

1. Label each letter on the map with the correct place name from the word bank.
2. Circle three places you want to visit.
3. For each circled place, write one sentence: “I will visit the ___ to ___.”

A. _______

B. _______

C. _______

D. _______

E. _______


Word Bank: library, clinic, community center, post office, park

Write Sentences

1. I will visit __________ to __________.
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. I will visit __________ to __________.
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. I will visit __________ to __________.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Session 3 Resource Match Cards

Instructions: Print and cut the cards below on the dotted lines. Shuffle the cards and distribute all cards evenly among pairs. Students work together to match each picture card with its correct name and description card. When finished, review matches as a class and practice saying: “This is the ___.”

--- CUT HERE ---

Picture Cards (5 cards)

1. [Picture of a library building]
   --- CUT HERE ---
2. [Picture of a medical clinic or doctor]
   --- CUT HERE ---
3. [Picture of a community center building with people meeting]
   --- CUT HERE ---
4. [Picture of a post office with mailboxes]
   --- CUT HERE ---
5. [Picture of a park with trees and benches]
   --- CUT HERE ---

--- CUT HERE ---

Description Cards (5 cards)

A. library: Place to borrow books and study.
--- CUT HERE ---
B. clinic: Place to see a doctor when you are sick or need health care.
--- CUT HERE ---
C. community center: Place for community events, classes, and meetings.
--- CUT HERE ---
D. post office: Place to send and receive mail and packages.
--- CUT HERE ---
E. park: Place to play, walk, and enjoy nature.
--- CUT HERE ---

How to Play:

1. Lay all cards face-down on the table.
2. On your turn, flip one picture card and one description card.
3. If they match (e.g., the library picture with the library description), keep the pair and say: “This is the library.”
4. If they do not match, turn them back over.
5. Continue until all matches are made.
6. Review each resource by having one student hold the picture and say a sentence: “This is the ____. I go there to ___.”

Teacher Tip: Provide sentence frames on the board:

• “This is the ____. I go there to ___.”
• Encourage correct pronunciation of resource names.

I've added the scavenger bingo cards for Session 3. Students can now practice asking about and sharing community resource visits during their mingling game. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!

Session 4 Belonging Action Plan Worksheet

Instructions: Use this worksheet to create a clear plan. Write two classmates you will connect with, one school activity you will join, and one community resource or tradition you will explore. For each, include what you will do and when.

Sentence starter: “My plan to ___ is to ___ by ___.”

1. Classmate Connections

a. Classmate 1: ____________________________
My plan to connect with _______________________ is to _______________________ by _______________.

b. Classmate 2: ____________________________
My plan to connect with _______________________ is to _______________________ by _______________.

2. School Activity

I will join ____________________________ because ________________________________.

Steps to take: ________________________________________________________________
Deadline: ___________________

3. Community Resource or Tradition

I will explore ____________________________ to ________________________________.

Steps to take: ________________________________________________________________
Deadline: ___________________

Reflection

What will help you follow your plan?

Session 4 Belonging Bingo

Instructions:

1. Give each student one Bingo card.
2. Students mingle and ask classmates if they have done the actions listed.
3. When a classmate answers yes, write that person’s name in the box.
4. The first student to get four in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) calls “Bingo!” and shares one action they completed with the class.

| Go to a school event | Practice English outside class | Help a classmate | Attend a community event |
| ____________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ | _____________________________|

| Introduce yourself to a neighbor | Use a community resource | Present a hobby in class | Ask a question in class |
| ____________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ | _____________________________|

| Bring a cultural item to share | Volunteer at school | Visit a park or community center | Give someone positive feedback |
| ____________________________ | ____________________________ | _____________________________ | ____________________________ |

Warm-Up: Resource Vocabulary Gallery

• Display 6–8 pictures of local places (e.g., library, post office, clinic, community center, park, grocery store) on the board or projector.
• Give each student a sticky note and a marker.
• Ask students to look at each picture and write their guess for the place name next to it using the sentence frame:
  • I think this is a ___.
• After 2–3 minutes, have students place their sticky notes under each picture.
• Reveal the correct place names and review as a class. Say each place aloud and ask students to repeat: “This is the ___.”.

Teacher Tips:

• Model one example clearly: “I think this is a library.”
• Use simple pronunciation and gestures to support understanding.
• Encourage one-word answers if full sentences are challenging.
• Point to visuals and repeat new vocabulary multiple times.

Session 3 Resource Scavenger Bingo

Instructions:

1. Give each student one bingo card.
2. Students mingle and ask classmates: “Have you ever…?” and name the resource.
3. If the classmate answers yes, write that person’s name in the square.
4. The first student to get four in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) calls “Bingo!” and shares one square with the class.

Teacher Tip: Provide sentence frames on the board:

• “Have you ever visited the ___?”
• “Yes, I have. I went to ___ to ___.”

Encourage students to speak in full sentences if they can, and accept short answers otherwise.

Warm-Up: Reflection Gallery

• Post two large chart papers or areas on the board with these prompts:
  1. “My favorite moment was ___”
  2. “I felt connected when ___”
• Give each student two sticky notes and a marker.
• On the first sticky note, students write their favorite moment from our sessions. On the second, they write when they felt most connected.
• Students place their notes under the matching prompt on the charts.
• Teacher reads aloud 2–3 responses and invites volunteers to share more details: “Can you tell us more about that moment?”

Teacher Tips:

• Model an example response yourself:
  “My favorite moment was mapping my home country on the world map. I felt connected when I met someone from a neighboring country.”
• Encourage simple sentences; students may draw a picture if words are challenging.
• Point to the prompts as you explain to support comprehension.