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Connection Quest

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Lesson Plan

Connection Quest

Students will introduce themselves and share a fun fact via a quick ball-toss activity, then play Two Truths and a Lie, and reflect on new connections made.

A simple, low-prep icebreaker helps students learn names and feel comfortable quickly, laying the groundwork for trust, communication, and empathy.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Quick, student-centered sharing and reflection.

Materials

  • Soft Ball or Beanbag, - Connection Quest Reflection Sheet, - Timer or Stopwatch, - Name Tags or Sticky Labels and Markers, and - Chart Paper and Markers (Optional)

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Copy Connection Quest Reflection Sheet for each student
  • Arrange chairs in a circle or horseshoe layout
  • Gather soft ball or beanbag, timer/stopwatch, name tags, markers, and (optional) chart paper

Step 1

Welcome & Overview

5 minutes

  • Greet students warmly as they enter and invite them to place name tags
  • Introduce the lesson’s goal: building connections and getting to know one another
  • Highlight how trust and communication support classroom success

Step 2

Icebreaker: Name & Share Ball Toss

10 minutes

  • Have students stand or sit in a circle
  • Teacher holds the soft ball or beanbag and models: says their name and shares one fun fact (e.g., favorite hobby or color)
  • Toss the ball to a peer; the catcher says their name and shares a fun fact
  • Continue until most or all students have had a turn or time is up

Step 3

Team-Building: Two Truths and a Lie

10 minutes

  • Ask students to think of two true statements and one false statement about themselves
  • Going around the circle, each student shares their three statements
  • Classmates guess which statement is the lie
  • Encourage brief follow-up questions to deepen understanding and interaction

Step 4

Reflection & Closing

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Connection Quest Reflection Sheet
  • Prompt students to write one new thing they learned about a classmate and how it made them feel
  • Invite a few volunteers to share their reflections aloud
  • Thank students for participating and preview next community-building activity
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Slide Deck

Connection Quest

Building Classroom Community for 7th Graders

Today we’ll get to know each other and have fun together!

Welcome students, introduce the lesson and explain the goal: building connections and trust among classmates.

Lesson Objectives

  • Participate in icebreaker and team-building activities
  • Learn classmates’ names and interests
  • Practice communication and active listening
  • Build trust and empathy within our class

Highlight each objective, emphasizing social-emotional skills.

Materials

Show materials and explain that everything is provided. Point out links to printed resources.

Icebreaker: Question Ball Toss

  1. Sit or stand in a circle.
  2. Teacher holds the stack of Icebreaker Question Cards.
  3. Toss the ball to a peer. The catcher draws a card, reads the question, and answers.
  4. That student tosses the ball to someone else.
  5. Continue until most have shared (10 minutes).

Explain rules clearly. Model one toss and answer to demonstrate.

Team-Building: Two Truths and a Lie

  1. Think of 2 true statements and 1 false statement about yourself.
  2. Share all three statements with the class.
  3. Classmates guess which is the lie.
  4. Invite quick follow-up questions (10 minutes).

Encourage creativity. Monitor time and keep the pace lively.

Reflection & Closing

  1. Hand out the Connection Quest Reflection Sheet.
  2. Write one new thing you learned about a classmate and how it made you feel.
  3. Invite a few volunteers to share.
  4. Thank everyone for participating (5 minutes).

Distribute reflection sheets and circulate to support students.

Next Steps

Great work today!

Next time, we’ll explore communication styles and practice solving challenges together.

See you then!

Preview next community-building session to build anticipation.

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Worksheet

Connection Quest Icebreaker Cards

Use these cards for a fun Question Ball Toss activity. Each student draws one card, reads it aloud, and shares their answer with the class.

  1. What’s your favorite hobby outside of school?


  2. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?


  3. What’s your favorite movie or TV show?


  4. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?


  5. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?


  6. What’s your favorite game to play (video, board, or sport)?


  7. Do you prefer cats or dogs? Explain your choice.


  8. What’s your favorite subject in school and why?


  9. What’s your favorite food or snack?


  10. What do you want to be when you grow up?


  11. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?


  12. What’s your favorite song or musician?


  13. Share one fun fact about yourself.


  14. What’s your favorite sport or physical activity?


  15. If you could invent something, what would you create?


  16. What’s your favorite season of the year and why?


  17. Do you play a musical instrument? If so, which one?


  18. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?


  19. What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend?


  20. If you had a time machine, would you travel to the past or the future? Why?


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Worksheet

Connection Quest Reflection Sheet

Name: ____________________________________


Date: _____________________________________

Instructions: Think about one new thing you learned about a classmate today and reflect on how it made you feel. Write your responses in the spaces provided.

  1. Classmate’s Name:




  2. Something new I learned about them:





  3. How did learning this make me feel?





  4. Why is building this kind of connection important?










  5. One way I can support or connect with this classmate in the future:










Optional Reflection: What did I enjoy most about today’s activities?




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