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Classroom Vibes

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Lesson Plan

Class Vibe Boost Lesson Plan

Students will explore the elements of a positive classroom culture, practice respect and collaboration through a team-building activity, and reflect on ways to foster inclusion in their learning community.

A supportive, inclusive classroom climate boosts student engagement, builds trust, and lays the foundation for academic and social success in 7th grade.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, team-building, and reflective journaling.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Culture

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and explain today’s focus: building a positive class vibe.
  • Ask: “What does a positive classroom feel like to you?” and record keywords on the whiteboard.
  • Summarize common themes (respect, teamwork, inclusion).

Step 2

Group Discussion

7 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups of 3–4.
  • Provide each group with chart paper and sticky notes.
  • Prompt groups to list behaviors that foster respect, collaboration, and inclusion.
  • Have each group share one key behavior; record on the whiteboard.

Step 3

Team-Building Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute Team-Building Prompt Cards to each group.
  • Instruct groups to choose a card and complete the quick challenge together (e.g., build a tower, solve a puzzle).
  • Emphasize cooperation, communication, and supporting one another.
  • After 5 minutes, debrief: “What helped you work well together?”

Step 4

Reflective Journaling

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Reflection Journal Worksheet.
  • Ask students to individually answer: “Which strategy will I practice to improve our class vibe?” and “How will I hold myself accountable?”
  • Circulate and support students as they write.

Step 5

Class Commitments & Closure

3 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share one commitment from their journal.
  • As a class, agree on two or three core commitments and write them on chart paper.
  • Display commitments in the classroom and remind students you’ll revisit them regularly.
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Lesson Plan

Classroom Vibes Plan

Students will identify and co-create behaviors that foster respect, collaboration, and inclusion in our classroom, engage in a team-building challenge to practice these behaviors, and commit to actionable strategies to sustain a positive class culture.

A supportive, inclusive classroom climate boosts student engagement, builds trust, and lays the foundation for academic and social success in 7th grade.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, team-building, and reflective journaling.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Culture

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and explain today’s focus: building a positive class vibe.
  • Ask: “What does a positive classroom feel like to you?” and record keywords on the whiteboard.
  • Summarize common themes (respect, teamwork, inclusion).

Step 2

Group Discussion

7 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups of 3–4.
  • Provide each group with chart paper and sticky notes.
  • Prompt groups to list behaviors that foster respect, collaboration, and inclusion.
  • Have each group share one key behavior; record on the whiteboard.

Step 3

Team-Building Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute Team-Building Prompt Cards to each group.
  • Instruct groups to choose a card and complete the quick challenge together (e.g., build a tower, solve a puzzle).
  • Emphasize cooperation, communication, and supporting one another.
  • After 5 minutes, debrief: “What helped you work well together?”

Step 4

Reflective Journaling

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Reflection Journal Worksheet.
  • Ask students to answer: “Which strategy will I practice to improve our class vibe?” and “How will I hold myself accountable?”
  • Circulate and support students as they write.

Step 5

Class Commitments & Closure

3 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share one commitment from their journal.
  • As a class, agree on two or three core commitments and write them on chart paper.
  • Display commitments in the classroom and remind students you’ll revisit them regularly.
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Slide Deck

Classroom Vibes: Building a Positive Culture

Today’s Focus:
• What makes our classroom feel safe, respectful, and fun?
• How we’ll work together to co-create class commitments.

Welcome students to today’s lesson: Classroom Vibes. Introduce yourself and explain that over the next 30 minutes we’ll explore how to create a positive culture and climate in our classroom.

Objectives & Why It Matters

By the end of this lesson, students will:

  1. Identify behaviors that foster respect, collaboration, and inclusion.
  2. Practice those behaviors in a team-building challenge.
  3. Commit to strategies for sustaining a positive class vibe.

Explain lesson objectives and why building a positive environment matters.

What Does a Positive Classroom Feel Like?

• Take 1 minute to think quietly.
• Share one word or phrase that captures the feeling.
• I’ll record your ideas on our word cloud.

Pose the warm-up question. Encourage all voices and record keywords on the board.

Group Discussion: Brainstorm Behaviors

In your groups:

  1. List behaviors that show respect, teamwork, and inclusion.
  2. Write each behavior on its own sticky note.
  3. Place notes on the chart paper.

Divide students into groups of 3–4 and distribute chart paper and sticky notes.

Share & Compare

• Each group shares one behavior.
• I’ll record and group similar ideas.
• Notice common themes across groups.

Invite each group to share one standout behavior. Add those to the class list on the board.

Team-Building Activity Instructions

  1. Choose a prompt card from your group’s stack.
  2. Complete the quick challenge as a team (e.g., build a tower, solve a puzzle).
  3. Focus on communication and helping each other.

Introduce the team-building activity and emphasize cooperation.

Sample Prompt Cards

• Build the tallest spaghetti-and-marshmallow tower in 5 minutes.
• Solve a 5-piece jigsaw puzzle together.
• Create a group cheer that highlights teamwork.

Show examples of prompt cards and encourage creativity.

Debrief: What Worked Well?

Discuss:
• What helped your group succeed?
• How did you communicate or support each other?
• Which behaviors from our brainstorm did you use?

Debrief the activity with the whole class.

Reflective Journaling

In your journal, answer:

  1. Which strategy will I practice to improve our class vibe?
  2. How will I hold myself accountable?

Write quietly for 5 minutes.

Hand out Reflection Journal Worksheets and guide students through prompts.

Class Commitments & Closure

• Volunteers share one commitment from their journal.
• As a class, agree on 2–3 core commitments.
• Display them in the room and revisit regularly.

Close the lesson by selecting core commitments and explaining that you’ll revisit them during the year.

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Activity

Team-Building Prompt Cards

Use these quick challenges to practice cooperation, communication, and creative problem-solving in 5 minutes or less. Print and cut each card so groups can draw a prompt at random.

  1. Marshmallow Tower
    Build the tallest free-standing tower using only uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows.


  2. Mini Jigsaw Puzzle
    Complete a 5-piece jigsaw puzzle together as fast as you can.


  3. Group Cheers
    Create and perform a 30-second cheer that highlights how your team works best together.


  4. Lava Crossing
    Cross an imaginary lava river using only three sheets of paper—no touching the floor!


  5. Hula Hoop Pass
    Hold hands in a circle and pass a hula hoop all the way around without breaking your grip.


  6. Human Knot
    Stand in a tight circle, grab two different teammates’ hands, and work together to untangle into a circle without letting go.


  7. Silent Sorting
    Without speaking, arrange numbered index cards (1–10) in order. Use gestures only!


  8. Paper Raft
    Design a “raft” from one sheet of paper that can hold a small toy (or marker) for at least 10 seconds.


  9. Team Portrait
    Use only body positions (no props) to recreate a famous painting or scene. Have one member take a photo as proof.


  10. Mystery Riddle
    Solve a short riddle read by the teacher, then explain your group’s thinking process to the class.


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Worksheet

Reflection Journal Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________

  1. Which strategy will I practice to improve our class vibe?






  2. Why is this strategy important to me?






  3. How will I hold myself accountable for practicing this strategy?






  4. What obstacles might I face, and how will I overcome them?






  5. Who can I turn to for support as I work on this?






  6. How will I celebrate or recognize my progress?






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lenny