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What Makes a Community?

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Lesson Plan

What Makes a Community?

Students will be able to define 'community' and identify one thing they value in their classroom community.

Understanding community helps students feel connected, fosters a positive classroom environment, and develops their ability to contribute to a group.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and reflective sharing.

Materials

Google Slides or Projector, Community Slide Deck, and Get to Know You Prompts

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Opening Circle Prompt

3 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Welcome, everyone! Let's start our lesson today by thinking about what makes us feel connected to others. In our opening circle, I want each of you to share one word that comes to mind when you think about a group of people who support each other. No need to explain, just one word!"
Allow each student to share one word.

Step 2

Define 'Community'

5 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Great words, everyone! Now, let's look at our Community Slide Deck."
Display Slide 2: "What is a Community?"
"Based on the words you just shared, what do you think a community is? Turn and talk to a partner for one minute to brainstorm a definition. Think about what elements are essential to a community."
After one minute, bring the class back together.
"Who would like to share their group's definition or key ideas?"
Facilitate a brief class discussion, guiding students to a shared understanding that a community is a group of people with shared interests, values, or goals, often in a particular place.
Display Slide 3: "Key Elements of a Community"
"Let's highlight some key elements: belonging, shared values, and mutual support. How do these connect to your definitions?"

Step 3

Partner Share: What I Value

5 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Now that we have a good understanding of what a community is, let's think about our own classroom community. I'm going to give you some Get to Know You Prompts. With your partner, take a few minutes to discuss one thing you value about our classroom community. What makes our classroom a community you feel a part of?"
Distribute or display the Get to Know You Prompts. Circulate and listen to student discussions, providing guidance as needed.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Closing Circle Reflection

2 minutes

Teacher Script:
"Excellent discussions, everyone. As we wrap up today, let's quickly go around the circle one last time. I want each of you to share one word that describes how you feel about our classroom community after today's discussion."
Allow each student to share one word. Collect the Get to Know You Prompts if they were on paper.

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Slide Deck

What Makes a Community?

Exploring connection and belonging.

Greet students and prepare to start with the opening circle activity. This slide serves as a visual for the lesson title.

What is a Community?

Discuss with a partner: What do you think a community is?

Think about:

  • Shared interests?
  • Common goals?
  • Feeling of belonging?

Prompt students to turn and talk with a partner to define 'community' based on their initial word share. Facilitate a brief class discussion afterwards.

Key Elements of a Community

  • Belonging: Feeling accepted and safe.
  • Shared Values: Common beliefs or principles.
  • Mutual Support: Helping and caring for each other.

Introduce the key elements of a community. Ask students how these elements relate to their earlier definitions.

Our Classroom Community

With your partner, discuss one thing you value about our classroom community.

Refer to your Get to Know You Prompts for ideas!

Explain the partner share activity using the 'Get to Know You Prompts'. Emphasize reflecting on their classroom community.

Reflecting on Our Community

One word to describe how you feel about our classroom community today.

This slide provides a visual for the closing reflection. Ask students for one word to describe their feelings about the classroom community.

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Discussion

Get to Know You Prompts: Our Classroom Community

Take turns with your partner discussing one thing you value about our classroom community. Think about what makes our classroom a special place where you feel connected.

Here are some ideas to get you started, but feel free to share anything that comes to mind:

  • What makes you feel safe and welcome in our classroom?





  • What is something unique about our class that you appreciate?





  • How do we show support for each other in this classroom?





  • What is a shared activity or tradition in our class that you enjoy?





  • Describe a time when you felt a strong sense of belonging in our classroom.





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