Lesson Plan
Welcome Wave Lesson Plan
Students and staff will build trust and emotional awareness by sharing and mirroring emotions through a collaborative “wave” movement activity.
This icebreaker fosters connection, empathy, and a positive classroom climate by encouraging participants to express and recognize emotions together.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Express and mirror emotions via a shared wave.
Materials
- Emotion Spectrum Cards, - Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts, - Wave Coordination Poster, and - Timer or Stopwatch
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut the Emotion Spectrum Cards.
- Print and display the Wave Coordination Poster at the front of the room.
- Review the Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts to guide the debrief.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Invite students and staff to form a circle or U-shape.
- Explain: “We’ll build community by sharing how we feel and passing that feeling as a ‘wave’ around the group.”
- Point out guidelines on the Wave Coordination Poster: respect, active listening, and supportive mirroring.
Step 2
Collaborative Wave Activity
15 minutes
- Hand out one Emotion Spectrum Card to each person.
- Model one turn: state your name, read your emotion, then perform a body wave that embodies that feeling (e.g., a slow, gentle wave for calm).
- The next person “catches” the wave by mirroring the motion, states their name and emotion, then performs their wave.
- Continue around until everyone has shared and caught the wave.
- Use a timer to keep pacing (about 30–45 seconds per turn).
Step 3
Group Reflection
10 minutes
- Regroup in the circle and distribute the Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts.
- In pairs or small groups, discuss two prompts (e.g., “How did expressing an emotion through movement feel?” or “What did you notice when someone mirrored your wave?”).
- Invite volunteers to share insights with the whole group.
- Summarize key takeaways: emotional awareness, trust, and community building.
Slide Deck
Welcome Wave
A fun, interactive SEL back-to-school icebreaker that brings 8th graders and staff together to build trust, empathy, and positive classroom climate.
Welcome everyone! Introduce yourself and set a warm, inclusive tone. Explain that we’ll use movement and emotion sharing to build community.
Objectives
• Build trust and emotional awareness
• Foster empathy and supportive connections
• Practice expressing and mirroring emotions through movement
Read through each objective and ask participants to nod or give a thumbs-up if they agree these goals are important.
Materials
• Emotion Spectrum Cards
• Wave Coordination Poster
• Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts
• Timer or stopwatch
Show physical samples or photos of each item as you mention it.
Preparation (10 min)
- Print and cut the Emotion Spectrum Cards.
- Display the Wave Coordination Poster at the front.
- Review the Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts.
Explain that set-up takes about 10 minutes and demonstrate where you’ll display the poster.
1. Introduction (5 min)
• Form a circle or U-shape.
• Explain: “We’ll share how we feel and pass that feeling as a ‘wave’ around the group.”
• Highlight guidelines on the poster: respect, attentive listening, supportive mirroring.
Invite everyone to arrange chairs in a circle or U-shape. Emphasize respect and active listening.
2. Collaborative Wave Activity (15 min)
• Hand each person an Emotion Spectrum Card.
• Model: state your name and emotion, then perform a body wave matching that feeling.
• Next person “catches” and mirrors it, states their name/emotion, then waves.
• Continue around until everyone has participated (≈30–45 seconds per person).
Model one round yourself. Keep the group moving and use the timer for pacing.
3. Group Reflection (10 min)
• Distribute Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts.
• In pairs or small groups, discuss two prompts (e.g., “How did movement help you express emotion?”).
• Invite volunteers to share insights.
• Summarize: emotional awareness, trust, community.
Hand out reflection prompts and circulate to support pairs/groups. Keep the energy positive.
Reflection Prompts
• How did it feel to express emotion through movement?
• What did you notice when someone mirrored your wave?
• Which emotion wave surprised or resonated with you most?
• How can we use this awareness in our daily interactions?
Encourage open, honest sharing. Use these prompts in future check-ins if helpful.
Thank You!
Let’s carry this connection and empathy into our year together. Ready for an amazing 8th grade year!
Close the session by reinforcing positive energy and next steps for classroom community.
Worksheet
Emotion Spectrum Cards
Use these cards to express and share how you’re feeling during the Welcome Wave activity. Each card has an emotion word and a simple icon to help represent the feeling. Choose one that matches your current mood!
Calm 😌
Content 🙂
Happy 😊
Excited 😃
Surprised 😲
Curious 🤔
Nervous 😬
Anxious 😟
Sad 😢
Angry 😠
Worksheet
Welcome Wave Reflection Prompts
Use these prompts to guide your discussion and individual reflection after the Welcome Wave activity. In your small groups, choose two or three prompts to discuss. Then write your personal response in the space provided.
- How did it feel to express an emotion through movement?
- What did you notice when someone mirrored your wave?
- Which emotion wave surprised or resonated with you most? Why?
- How can you use this emotional awareness in your daily interactions at school?
- What did you learn about your classmates—or about yourself—through this activity?
- How might this activity help our class build trust and work together more effectively?
Worksheet
Wave Coordination Poster
Guidelines for a Successful Welcome Wave
- Respect
Honor each person’s emotion and personal space. - Active Listening
Focus on the speaker—maintain eye contact and be fully present. - Supportive Mirroring
“Catch” the wave by reflecting both the emotion and the body movement. - Pacing
Keep each turn between 30–45 seconds so everyone gets a chance. - One Voice at a Time
Wait until the current wave finishes before you share yours. - Positive Energy
Encourage and uplift one another—bring your best wave!