Lesson Plan

New Student Integration Guide

Students will actively participate in relationship-building activities to foster a sense of belonging and quickly form connections within their classroom.

Building strong relationships early helps create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, reducing anxiety for new students and enhancing overall group cohesion.

Audience

9th - 12th Grade

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Through structured activities and guided discussions.

Materials

Getting to Know You Slide Deck, and - Welcome Circle Prompts Discussion Guide

Prep

Review Materials & Setup

10 minutes

Review the Getting to Know You Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
- Review the Welcome Circle Prompts Discussion Guide and select prompts appropriate for your group.
- Arrange seating in a circle to facilitate discussion and group interaction.
- Ensure projector/screen is set up for the slide deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Icebreaker (5 minutes)

5 minutes

Begin with a quick icebreaker activity to loosen up the group. (e.g., "Two Truths and a Lie" – students share two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and the group guesses the lie).
- Introduce the purpose of the session: to help new students feel welcome and for everyone to get to know each other better.

Step 2

Getting to Know You Activity (10 minutes)

10 minutes

Present the Getting to Know You Slide Deck.
- Go through the slides, prompting students to share their responses to the questions presented.
- Encourage active listening and follow-up questions from peers. (e.g., "That's an interesting hobby, tell us more!")

Step 3

Welcome Circle Discussion (8 minutes)

8 minutes

Transition to the Welcome Circle Prompts Discussion Guide.
- Facilitate a discussion using the prompts to encourage deeper sharing and connection.
- Ensure all students have an opportunity to speak and be heard, especially new members.

Step 4

Wrap-Up: Next Steps (2 minutes)

2 minutes

Thank everyone for participating.
- Briefly reiterate the importance of welcoming new members and continuing to build relationships.
- Mention any upcoming group activities or next steps.

Slide Deck

Getting to Know You!

Let's build connections and make everyone feel at home!

Welcome the students and introduce the purpose of this slide deck: to help everyone get to know each other, especially new members. Explain that the goal is to create a comfortable and connected group environment.

A Little About Me...

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Read the prompt aloud. Give students a moment to think. Call on students to share, encouraging them to elaborate slightly. Remind them that there are no wrong answers and to be open to learning about their peers.

My Favorite Things

What's one hobby or activity you love doing in your free time?

Read the prompt. After a few students share, ask if anyone shares a similar interest or if anything surprised them about a peer's response. This encourages interaction beyond just individual sharing.

Connecting with Others

What's one thing that helps you feel comfortable and connected in a new group?

This question helps gauge comfort levels and provides insights into students' social preferences. Encourage honesty and respect different comfort levels. This also provides an opportunity to emphasize the value of group support.

Discussion

Welcome Circle Prompts

Objective:

To facilitate deeper connection and create a supportive environment for new and existing group members.

Guidelines:

Listen actively and respectfully to everyone.
Share openly, but only what you are comfortable with.
Be mindful of time so everyone gets a chance to speak.

Discussion Prompts:

If you could give one piece of advice to someone new starting in a group, what would it be?
What is something you are looking forward to achieving or experiencing with this group?
Share a time when someone made you feel truly welcome or supported. What did they do?
What's one positive quality you believe you bring to a group?
(Optional) Is there anything specific you hope to learn from your peers in this group?

Welcome Wagon

Tracy David