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How Warm Is Our School?

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Lesson Plan

Climate Check Blueprint

Students will assess our classroom’s warmth through self-expression and peer feedback, then collaboratively plan actions to enhance positive interactions and inclusion.

A supportive school climate boosts student well-being, strengthens relationships, and creates an inclusive learning environment where everyone feels valued.

Audience

5th Grade Class

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Self-assessment plus group sharing activities.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Emoji Entry Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet students and hand out Emoji Entry Prompts
  • Ask each student to pick an emoji that shows how they feel about school today
  • Have students place their emoji on the entry board as they settle in

Step 2

Warmth Meter Check

10 minutes

  • Display Warmth Meter Slides
  • Explain the 1–5 scale for rating our school’s positive climate
  • Invite students to rate our class climate anonymously (e.g., using sticky notes)
  • Tally and share the aggregated results with the class

Step 3

Friendly Feedback Circles

20 minutes

  • Form groups of 4–5 students in circles
  • Provide each student a turn to share one positive observation about a classmate
  • Encourage active listening and expressions of gratitude
  • Circulate and note standout examples to share later

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Action Steps

10 minutes

  • Review key insights from the warmth meter and feedback circles
  • Facilitate a class brainstorm to identify 2–3 concrete actions to boost our classroom warmth
  • Record agreed-upon actions on the board and assign student volunteers to champion each
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Slide Deck

Warmth Meter Check

Let’s find out how warm and supportive our classroom feels today!

Welcome students! Explain that today we'll check how warm and supportive our classroom feels—in other words, our classroom climate. Emphasize that honest ratings help us improve.

Why Measure Classroom Warmth?

A warm classroom boosts kindness, teamwork, and learning. Your voice matters in making our class a great place!

Point out that a positive classroom climate helps everyone feel safe, respected, and ready to learn. Share a quick personal example of when a kind classroom helped you.

Our Warmth Scale

1: Chilly – We don’t feel connected
2: Cool – Some friendships but could be warmer
3: Mild – Friendly most of the time
4: Warm – We show kindness and support
5: Toasty – We’re caring, inclusive, and encouraging

Review each level on the 1–5 scale. Optionally, display simple emojis next to each number or draw a thermometer on the board.

How to Rate Our Classroom

  1. Grab a sticky note.
  2. Write the number (1–5) that matches how you feel.
  3. Place it on the Warmth Meter poster.

Explain each step slowly and model placing a sticky note on an imaginary poster. Remind students their votes are anonymous.

Next Steps

Once we tally our ratings, we’ll move into Friendly Feedback Circles to share positives and plan actions to boost our warmth!

Collect the data and tally the results. Prepare to discuss afterward: What surprised us? How can we warm things up even more?

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Activity

Friendly Feedback Circles Activity Guide

Objective:
Students will practice giving and receiving positive, specific feedback in small groups to strengthen peer relationships and foster a kinder, more inclusive classroom climate.

Materials:

  • Notecards or sticky notes for each student
  • Pens or pencils
  • Timer or clock

Teacher Prep (5 minutes):

  • Arrange desks or chairs into circles of 4–5 students.
  • Distribute one notecard or sticky note and a pen/pencil to each student.

Instructions (20 minutes total)

  1. Form Circles (2 minutes)
    • Invite students to move into their prearranged circles of 4–5.
  2. Share Positive Observations (12 minutes)
    • In each circle, students take turns sharing one specific, positive observation about a classmate.
    • Encourage statements like: “I appreciate how Mia helps me understand reading homework” rather than just “You’re nice.”
    • After sharing, the recipient silently writes a quick “thank you” or draws a happy emoji on their notecard.
  3. Reflect & Capture (6 minutes)
    • Bring the whole class back together.
    • Ask students to reflect silently on how it felt to give and to receive feedback.
    • On the back of their notecard, they jot down one word or short phrase that captures that feeling.
    • Collect notecards (optional) to display anonymously on a “Classroom Kindness Wall.”

Guiding Questions for Discussion & Wrap-Up

  • How did it feel to receive a positive comment from a classmate?


  • What strengths did you notice about your peers during this activity?


  • How can we use these positive qualities to make our class even warmer and more supportive?





After this activity, transition to brainstorming concrete actions together (see Wrap-Up & Action Steps in the Climate Check Blueprint).

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Warm Up

Emoji Entry Warm-Up

Purpose:
Kick off class by checking in on students’ feelings about school today.

Materials:

  • Emoji Entry slip for each student
  • Entry board or chart paper divided into emoji sections

Instructions for Students:

  1. Look at the emojis below.
  2. Circle the one that best shows how you feel about school today.

😀 😃 🙂 😐 😞

  1. On the lines below, write one word or a short phrase explaining your choice.






  1. When you’re done, place your slip on the entry board under your chosen emoji.

Teacher Cues for Collection:

  • Greet each student at the door and hand out the slips as they come in.
  • Remind them to circle and write before placing on the board.
  • Quickly glance at responses to gauge overall mood and plan support as needed.
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