Lesson Plan
Where Do We Belong? Lesson Plan
Students will identify and articulate personal experiences of belonging, share with peers, and collaboratively define characteristics of a supportive community.
Building empathy and a positive classroom culture helps students feel valued and connected, improving social skills and creating a supportive learning environment.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided reflection and collaborative discussion.
Materials
- Chart Paper and Markers, - Belonging Reflection Worksheet, - Sticky Notes (2–3 per Student), and - Whiteboard and Dry-Erase Markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print enough copies of the Belonging Reflection Worksheet for each student
- Gather chart paper and markers for recording responses
- Ensure sticky notes and whiteboard markers are available
- Arrange seating in a circle or semicircle for group discussion
Step 1
Introduction to Belonging
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle and introduce the concept of belonging
- Ask: “What does belonging mean to you?” List student responses on chart paper
- Share a brief personal anecdote about a time you felt you belonged to model openness
Step 2
Individual Reflection
10 minutes
- Distribute the Belonging Reflection Worksheet
- Instruct students to write about a time they felt they belonged and why
- Encourage them to include emotions, people involved, and setting details
Step 3
Pair Sharing
5 minutes
- Have students pair up and exchange their completed worksheets
- Provide each pair with sticky notes to jot down 2–3 keywords from their partner’s story
- Encourage active listening by having each student ask one follow-up question
Step 4
Class Discussion and Community Definition
10 minutes
- Invite pairs to share their keywords; record them on the whiteboard
- Facilitate a discussion on common themes (e.g., support, acceptance)
- Collaboratively draft a classroom definition of “belonging” based on student input
- Conclude by summarizing how the classroom community can support each student’s sense of belonging
Slide Deck
Where Do We Belong?
• Grade 5 • Tier 1 Social-Emotional Lesson • 30 Minutes
Today we’ll learn about belonging and how we each make our classroom a community.
Welcome students and introduce yourself. Explain that today we’ll explore what it means to belong and how we build a strong classroom community. Use an inviting tone.
What Is Belonging?
• What does “belonging” mean to you?
• Think of a time you felt safe, accepted, and included.
Please share one word or phrase that comes to mind.
Quickly define belonging in your own words. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share. Record key words on chart paper as students speak.
Individual Reflection
- Take out your Belonging Reflection Worksheet.
- Write about a time you felt you belonged:
– Who was there?
– What happened?
– How did it make you feel?
You have 10 minutes.
Distribute the worksheets now. Remind students to include details: who, where, and how they felt.
Pair Sharing
- Exchange your worksheet with your partner.
- Write 2–3 keywords from their story on sticky notes.
- Ask one follow-up question to learn more.
You have 5 minutes.
Pair students up. Model how to jot keywords on sticky notes. Circulate and support active listening.
Class Collection of Keywords
Let’s review the words you wrote:
• Support • Acceptance • Safety • Friendship • Trust
(Write new words as students share.)
Collect sticky notes and stick them on the whiteboard under “Keywords.” Group similar words together.
Defining Our Community
Based on our keywords, let’s finish this sentence:
“Belonging in our classroom means _______________.”
(Type student contributions and craft a final definition.)
Facilitate discussion connecting the keywords. Guide students to agree on a classroom definition.
Our Classroom Promise
“Belonging means feeling safe, accepted, and supported by everyone here.”
• We listen respectfully.
• We include each other.
• We help one another grow.
Summarize the definition and commit to supporting each other. Encourage students to reference this definition throughout the year.
Worksheet
Belonging Reflection Worksheet
Name: ________________________ Date: _______________
Directions
Think about times when you have felt safe, accepted, and included. Use the prompts below to reflect on your experiences of belonging.
1. What does “belonging” mean to you?
Write your own definition in a sentence or two.
2. Describe a time when you felt you belonged.
Be sure to include:
- Who was there?
- What happened?
- How did it make you feel?
3. What 2–3 things helped you feel that belonging?
For example, people’s words or actions, the place you were in, or something you did.
4. How might someone else learn from your experience and feel that they belong?
Think of at least one idea you could share with a classmate.
5. What is one thing you can do this week to help someone in our class feel like they belong?
When you have finished, pair up with a classmate to share your reflections. Use sticky notes to jot down keywords you hear from your partner’s story, and be ready to discuss them in our group.
Activity
Belonging Keywords Activity
Objective:
Students will analyze and categorize the keywords gathered during Pair Sharing, exploring how each theme (e.g., support, acceptance, safety) contributes to a sense of belonging in our classroom community.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials:
- Sticky notes with student-generated keywords (already on the whiteboard)
- Whiteboard or large chart paper
- Dry-erase or chart markers
Steps
- Review the Keywords (2 minutes)
• Teacher points to the sticky notes on the board and reads aloud each keyword or phrase.
• Ask students to listen for words that seem similar or connected. - Grouping and Categorizing (4 minutes)
• Draw 3–4 large circles on the whiteboard, labeling each with a theme (e.g., Support, Acceptance, Safety, Trust, Friendship).
• Invite volunteers to come up and place each sticky note inside the circle they feel fits best.
• As a class, confirm or adjust groupings—ask: “Why does this word belong here?” - Reflection Discussion (3 minutes)
• Facilitate a quick whole-class conversation using these prompts:- “Which category had the most keywords? What does that tell us about what we value?”
- “How do these themes help everyone feel like they belong?”
• Encourage students to build on one another’s ideas.
- Action Sticky Note (1 minute)
• Ask each student to write, on a fresh sticky note, one thing they can do this week to strengthen one of our themes (e.g., show support, practice acceptance).
• Have them post their notes under the corresponding category.
Follow-Up:
Keep this keyword chart visible in the room. Revisit it during morning meetings or when class agreements need refreshing to reinforce our shared understanding of belonging.
Cool Down
Belonging Quick Exit Ticket
Name: ________________________ Date: _______________
- What is one word that describes how you feel about belonging in our classroom today?
- What is one thing you learned today about what helps someone feel like they belong?
- What is one action you will take this week to help a classmate feel included?
- How connected did you feel to our class community today? (Circle one) 1 2 3 4 5