Echo Chant Game

Objective: Reinforce classroom expectations through a fast-paced, engaging call-and-response chant using visual prompts.

Materials Needed:

• Three visual prompt cards (each card shows one expectation: • Use kind words • Listen with our ears • Keep our hands to ourselves)
• Open floor space so students can see the teacher and cards clearly

Game Setup (2 minutes):

1. Display or hold up the three expectation cards in view of the class.
2. Explain that when you show a card and say its phrase, students will echo it back as loudly and quickly as they can.
3. Tell students you’ll speed up or switch volume (whisper → normal → loud) to make it more exciting.

How to Play (5 minutes):

1. Round 1 – Slow Echo:
   • Show “Use kind words” card. Say: “We use kind words!”
   • Students echo: “We use kind words!”
   • Repeat twice more.
2. Round 2 – Speed It Up:
   • Quickly flip through each card: “We listen with our ears!” …echo… “We keep our hands to ourselves!” …echo…
   • After each full cycle, increase the speed.
3. Round 3 – Volume Challenge:
   • Whisper the expectation phrase; students whisper echo.
   • Say it normally; students echo normally.
   • Shout it; students shout echo.
4. Final Round – Mixed Moves:
   • Randomly hold up cards in fast order (e.g., hands → ears → kind words → ears → hands) and vary your volume.
   • Students must watch and echo immediately.

Tips & Differentiation:

• For learners who need extra processing time, show the card one second before you speak.
• Pair ELL students with buddies who model gestures (cupping hand to ear for listening, heart shape for kind words).
• If students finish early or need a movement break, have them stand up and do a quick body shake before echoing the next phrase.

Extension Opportunities:

• Invite a student “Echo Leader” to hold the cards and call the next expectation.
• Challenge the class to create a new expectation chant (e.g., “We raise our hand!”) and add a fourth card for variety.

Reflection (as a class, 1 minute):

• Ask: “Which chant was your favorite? Why?”
• Reinforce that the more we practice, the better we’ll remember our rules all day long!

Call and Response Warm-Up

Objective: Get voices and attention ready with a fun, silly echo routine.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials: None (just open space and eager ears!)

Instructions:

1. Silly Phrase Echo
   Teacher calls out a playful phrase (e.g., “Purple monkey!”) and students echo it back exactly.
   
   
2. Volume Switch-Up
   Repeat the same phrase at different volumes—whisper, normal, and shout—and have students mirror each level.
   
   
3. Rhythm Stretch
   Teacher stretches words (“Baa-naa-naa!”) or speeds them up (“Banana?! Bananas?! BANANAS!”), and students echo with matching pace and energy.
   
   
4. Add a Gesture
   Teacher claps or stomps, then says the phrase; students clap/stomp and echo in sync.

Tips & Differentiation:

• For students needing extra processing time, show a thumbs-up cue before speaking each phrase.
• Pair ELL students with a buddy who can model pronunciation and gestures.
• To extend, invite a volunteer “Call Leader” to choose the next silly phrase or volume level.

My Promises Poster

Today we learned our classroom expectations. Let’s make a poster showing how you’ll keep each promise!

1. I promise to use kind words

Trace and say this promise:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !_ _ _ _

Draw a picture of you using kind words with a friend:

2. I promise to listen carefully

Trace and say this promise:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !_ _ _ _

Draw a picture of you listening to your teacher or classmate:

3. I promise to keep my hands to myself

Trace and say this promise:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !_ _ _ _

Draw a picture of you showing personal space and keeping hands to yourself:

My Name: ____________________________

Date: _______________________________