Circle Time
Circle time is a safe, sacred space. It is a great way to start the school day, or any lesson, and creates a sense of community and collaboration for any learning - from read-alouds to interactive whole-group lessons to kindness activities. Utilizing consistent and thoughtful circle time routines and activities can create a dynamic and nurturing learning environment in your classroom. Purchase a round/oval rug to make circle time experiences more meaningful and productive. You can even assign students specific circle spots! ​Find cute carpet markers on Amazon.

​​

*Check out The Morning Meeting Book (Kriete & Davis).

​

Fun Circle Time Activities​

​

   Greetings

​

• Proper eye contact & tone when speaking!

• Props: pass a stuffie, thematic prop, balls, bean bags, *friendship flower

• Hands: handshake, pinkie shake, high-five, tap hands, knuckle bump, link elbows

• Gestures: salute, peace sign, wave, hug

• Spider Web: pass ball of yarn gently across the circle & each person continues to hold onto their strand of yarn 

• Paper Airplane: gently toss paper airplane around the circle until each person has had a turn

• Say "Hello" in Different Languages

• Give a Special Greeting: "have a great day, be kind today, work hard today"

• Name Songs ​

​

Songs (click for the link)

​

• Finger Plays: seasonal or thematic rhymes & songs (also increases fine motor skills)​

  • The Music Scientist

  • Songs for Teaching

  • The Kiboomers

​​

• Songs: ABCs, counting, colors, shapes, movement, etc.

  • ​KidsTV123

  • Scratch Garden

  • The Singing Walrus

  • Have Fun Teaching

  • Jack Hartmann Kids Music​​​​

 

Morning Message

​

• Relate to current reading skills/theme & post on the teacher whiteboard/smart-board. Mix up the format daily. ​

  • Echo Read or Choral Read: sentences or passage

  • Sentence Stems: complete these with a focus on specific vocabulary words

  • Spelling Champs: find letters, words, & hfw or tricky words with pointer, marker, or highlighter tape

  • "Fix It" Sentence: (e.g. the DOgc an ru.n)​

 

Movement Activities

​

• Yoga, stretching, crossing mid-line with right-left movements

  • Salamander Yoga Videos

• Cardio/yoga mats, exercise stations, balancing

• Specific Movements: 

  • Show A Move (e.g. like walking in mud, bouncing like popcorn)

  • Move As If (e.g. you are a robot or a dinosaur)​

• GoNoodle videos include:

  • brainercise, breathe, guided dance, stretch, workouts, etc.

 

​Engagement Activities

​

• Primary Teaching Easel: for any/all circle time activities - I can't imagine circle time without it!

• Popsicle Sticks: "fair sticks" to draw students' names randomly

  • *The Teacher Tool Kit​

• Mindfulness: for self-awareness, concentration, emotional understanding, coping, empathy

  • *Happier Human​

• Fun Circle Time Games

  • *Early Impact Learning​

• Interactive Academic Lessons​​

  • Songs: fingerplays, ABC songs, counting songs, videos

  • Sorting:

    • Hula Hoops: sorting & venn diagram activities

    • Pocket Chart Venn Diagrams: for compare & contrast, classification

    • KWL: "what I know, what I wonder, what I learned" for specific topics & themes

    • Target Maps & Brainstorms: for specific topics & themes

  • Read-Alouds: with retelling activities

  • Phonemic Awareness & Phonics Games:

    • I Spy: first sounds

    • ​Silent Observation: arrange objects in middle of circle & allow 1 full minute of silence before asking students what they notice, using specific language, such as "I see."

    • Mystery Bag/ Box: relate to current reading lessons

    • Props/Picture Cards: pass around the circle & students take turns talking in complete sentences to describe prop/picture card

    • Sight Word Games: give a sentence, spell with motion, sort & count the letters

    • White-Board Writing: letters & words with dry-erase paddles

  • Calendar: use for a variety of counting & pattern activities

  • Counting: count with charts, count forwards & backwards, count in a whisper voice or in different pitches

  • Science Experiments

    • *We are Teachers​​​

  • All About Me Q&As: use critical thinking questions 

  • Think, Pair, Share: offer unique topics/questions, & props

  • Partner & Team Games: matching games, staring contest, mirror image, rock-paper-scissors​​

​​