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​Circle time is a safe, inclusive 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. Think 

morning meetings, kindness activities, sharing, listening, communicating, singing & rhyming, read-alouds, retelling, movement, and interactive academic lessons! 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).

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Fun Circle Time Activities​

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   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 ​

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   Finger Plays & 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

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• Songs: alphabet, 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 or Choral Read: sentences or passage, read in different fun voices & pitches

  • 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

  • guided breathing, 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

    • KWLs: "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​​

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