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Where Do We Belong?

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Lesson Plan

Where Do We Belong Lesson Plan

Students will define belonging and explore how their unique qualities help them contribute to a welcoming classroom community through discussion, collaborative activity, and personal reflection.

A strong sense of belonging builds empathy, self-awareness, and positive peer relationships. When students feel valued and connected, they’re more engaged, confident, and supportive of one another.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, interactive activity, and personal reflection.

Materials

Chart Paper, Colored Markers, Sticky Notes, Pencils, and Belonging Reflection Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials and Room

10 minutes

  • Gather Chart Paper, Colored Markers, Sticky Notes, and Pencils
  • Print one copy of Belonging Reflection Worksheet for each student
  • Pre-draw a large circle titled “Our Classroom Circle” on Chart Paper
  • Arrange student desks in an open circle to facilitate discussion

Step 1

Introduction and Discussion

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and introduce the concept of belonging: “Belonging means feeling accepted and valued in our classroom community.”
  • Ask volunteers to share times they felt they belonged at home, school, or in a group.
  • Record key phrases on the board (e.g., kindness, help, respect) to build a shared definition.

Step 2

Belonging Web Activity

10 minutes

  • Display the pre-drawn “Our Classroom Circle” on Chart Paper.
  • Invite a student to place a Sticky Note in the center with one word that makes them feel they belong (e.g., “friendship,” “helping”).
  • Continue around the circle, having each student add a note and briefly explain their choice.
  • Connect similar ideas with lines to create a visual “belonging web.”

Step 3

Partner Share

7 minutes

  • Pair students and have them discuss:
    • One personal quality that makes them unique
    • One way they contribute to our classroom community
  • Circulate and prompt pairs to use “I statements” (e.g., “I help others when…”).

Step 4

Personal Reflection

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Belonging Reflection Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to complete sections:
    1. My unique quality
    2. How it helps me belong here
    3. One action I will take to help others feel they belong
  • Invite volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
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Slide Deck

Where Do We Belong?

Exploring Belonging in Our Classroom Community

Welcome students! Introduce today’s topic: “Where Do We Belong?” Say: “Today we’re going to learn about belonging—what it means and how each of us helps make our classroom a welcoming place.”

Our Learning Goals

  • Define belonging
  • Discover what makes each of us unique
  • Practice ways to make everyone feel they belong

Read each goal aloud and explain briefly.

  • Define belonging: what it means to feel accepted.
  • Discover what makes each of us unique.
  • Practice ways to help everyone feel they belong.

What Does Belonging Mean?

Belonging means feeling accepted and valued in our classroom community.

Ask: “What words come to mind when you hear ‘belonging’?” Jot student responses on the board. Reinforce the definition.

Times We’ve Belonged

Think of a time you felt you belonged at home, school, or in a group.
Be ready to share!

Prompt students to think quietly for 20 seconds, then invite 2–3 volunteers to share times they felt they belonged at home, school, or with friends.

Belonging Web Activity

  1. Look at our big circle on chart paper
  2. Add a sticky note with one word that makes you feel you belong
  3. Explain your word and we’ll draw lines to connect similar ideas

Bring attention to the chart paper with the big circle. Model placing a sticky note with your own word and line. Then invite students one by one.

Partner Share

Turn to a partner and talk about:

  • A personal quality that makes you unique
  • A way you help our classroom community

Explain partner expectations. After 1 minute, ring a bell or signal to switch. Encourage use of “I statements.”

Personal Reflection

Complete the worksheet:

  1. My unique quality
  2. How it helps me belong here
  3. One action I will take to help others feel they belong

Hand out the Belonging Reflection Worksheet. Walk through each section so students know what to write.

Sharing Our Reflections

Who would like to share something from their worksheet?

Invite volunteers to stand or raise their hand and share one thing they wrote. Celebrate each contribution.

Why Belonging Matters

  • Builds empathy and self-awareness
  • Strengthens friendships
  • Creates a supportive classroom

Summarize student ideas and link back to our classroom community. Emphasize why belonging matters.

Thank You!

Remember, each of you makes our classroom a place where everyone belongs.

Thank students for their openness. Encourage them to remember today’s ideas and keep making everyone feel welcome.

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Worksheet

Belonging Reflection Worksheet

Think about what makes you unique and how you help our classroom feel welcoming. Complete each prompt below.

1. My unique quality is:




2. This quality helps me belong here by:







3. One action I will take to help others feel they belong is:







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