5 MINUTE CONNECTORS

Connecting through a screen can be a challenge, and yet we need to continually find fresh ways to build that sense of community throughout the year. We hope this helps!

EDIT: These are useful for any classroom learning scenario!

Curated by Sarah Landis

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tSLkN1yKjfWwDMwUMrRlcvHlcNkWMC1O8OQxAUYPilU/edit

Padlet ideas

Ideas from Christine Helmer

TVTIP ideas

Primary ideas

Olivia Aplin

Ideas from PUSD EdCamp

Brain Breaks From Buoy

Describe a monster in detail and have them draw it (quickly so it’s not an art contest)then have fun sharing the silly art with each other, have them share a bag with 5 things that tell something about them, create a jeopardy style game to test student knowledge about one another after the share, anything to get them smiling and comfortable, oh we also played Pictionary using the annotate tool on zoom so kids can practice using the tools. We used break out rooms to plan what kids would draw so they’d have practice going in and coming out of a break out room. If they have books you could do a scavenger hunt with the book-find a word that begins with the letter - or text features.

HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE

These slides are stand alone activities for you to use in your LIVE sessions. Just grab a slide, and go for it!

Bookmark this slide deck so you can quickly find a connector activity when you need it throughout the year. You will need to adapt for your grade level and specific students.

Build community and connectedness at the beginning, middle, or end of a LIVE classroom meeting … in just 5 minutes!

GETTING TO

KNOW MYSELF

AND OTHERS

Reminder: These can be used all year long. Relationships take time.

BIO BAG

Gather five (5) items around your house that best represent you.

Students ask questions to get to know classmate better. Practice speaking and listening.

One at a time, share them with the class (or small group). Maybe do one student a day?

Guess who?

Idea from Sabrina Caulfield

DIGITAL ALL ABOUT ME

It will take longer to get to know each other this year, since we are building relationships virtually.

This activity will not only help young learners get to know themselves, but also their classmates.

Idea from Meredith Morgan

CAMERA ON IF ...

Turn your camera on when the statement applies to you …

This is a great game to help students feel comfortable coming on camera briefly, while also seeing what commonalities students share! Make connections!

Idea from Tina Wagner

WATCH. WONDER.

#1 Watch this video

about puppies and kittens meeting each other for the first time.

#2 Ask your students,

“I wonder … what are some ways that we can get to know each other?”

Idea from Sarah Landis

IDENTITY SLIDES

Identity matters! Create a collaborative space for students to share who they are! Each child gets an individual slide to share all the parts of their life they wish. This can be done separately, and then compiled together; or with older students each one can work on the same slide deck with open share settings.

TITLE SLIDE

Click here to

make a copy!

PUSD teacher examples

STAND UP or SIT DOWN

This game can be adapted for ANY age group.

HERE is a version designed for Kindergarten.

Practice listening with this fast-paced game to get kids out of their seats!

(Could be adapted for content areas, too. Maybe a review game?)

Idea from Beth Patock

WHAT’S YOUR JAM?

Pose these questions to individual students, in a shared slide deck, in a 1:1 conference, or even in the chat.

You might even look for commonalities among students to build partnerships for future learning projects!

Vocabulary - anthem, nostalgic

Build a playlist of student choices

5 Ways to Build Relationships article here

MOVE YOUR MARKER

Pose a question. Use Google Drawing to

have students participate!

Sample

Idea from Scott Padway

Move your marker-vacation

Move your marker-Video Games

Move your marker-pets

Move your marker-sports

Move your marker-food

Move your marker-blank template

SHARE A TALENT

View Brad Montague video about Rodney, the bird

Discuss and share your own talents with your classmates (in the chat, in a breakout group, on a collaborative doc, in Google Classroom, etc.

Full

Lesson

HERE

Click here

to access questions

More here

Would You Rather

THIS OR THAT?

Idea from Kim Calton + Laura Stange

An adaptation for world language students … respond in different language!

VIRTUAL SHOW AND TELL

Use this slide deck to host a virtual show and tell.

Can be done slowly over time, or as a longer activity. Maybe for Fun Friday?

Idea from Meredith Morgan

SHOW AND SHARE

This is an invitation to share a new learning or something happening at home.

This can be digital - use one time or collect over time. sample slide deck

Of course this can be non-digital, also. Just a sharing check-in if you wish!

Idea from Kathleen Whitworth

LEARNER PROFILE

Which of these traits best describes you? Which would you like to develop this year?

Create your own learner profile sketch!

POETRY WRITING: COLLABORATIVE SLIDE DECK

Click HERE to access the sample autobiopoem slide deck.

File>Make a Copy

and create your own class edition!

*by Sarah Landis

*Will take longer than 5 minutes… maybe students create beforehand and read a few during a LIVE video conference.

Click HERE to access this instructional slide.

VIRTUAL LOCKER

3 … 2 … 1 ...

This is a great way to connect in class, virtually, or both.

Click HERE to access the detailed directions!

Idea from Kim Ortiz

LET’S

CHECK

IN

TYPES OF CHECK-INS article by John Spencer

BRADY BUNCH WAVE

Sometimes all we need is to be seen, and feel part of a community.

Go into Grid View.

Everyone look around and do a good ol’ fashioned Brady Bunch hello/wave to one another. Can you really see your friends and classmates?

That’s all. That’s the activity.

Use the chat or polling feature to check in on students’ feelings. You can show the options like this. Choose an image that best represents how you’re feeling about ________.

(new school year, this assignment, etc.)

SELECT AN IMAGE

Use the Inside Out emotional zones as a way to check in with students. You can then view the live data from the Google form to discuss strategies with students. Might you add one more neutral/positive emotion to the form in addition to joy?

Take the Emotional Zone Check-In

Click here to make a copy of the form

INSIDE OUT

WEATHER CHECK-IN

Using the poll feature, or chat, invite students to share how they

are feeling, using a weather word. Some examples listed above.

sunny

stormy

cloudy

TK-3rd grade

ARTIFACT SHARE

Find something in your work space that puts a smile on your face.

Hold it up. Share it!

*Idea from Kim Ortiz

SELF CARE CHECK-IN

Refer to this self-care menu

to facilitate a check-in.

What have you done this week to take care of yourself?

Which of these options come easy for you?

What would you like to do in the next day or so?

*Self-care menu created by Sarah Viles, Vintage Hills

FEELING GIFFY

Click HERE to choose a

gif to show how you’re feeling at the end of this awesome session together.

This could be used in the middle of a lesson, also.

1

2

3

4

Connector - which meme best represents how you’re feeling - choose one and share in the chat which #

WHAT DO YOU MEME?

Click HERE to access the collection of meme check-in’s.

This could be used in the middle or at the end of a lesson.

*Curated by Kim Vogue

THE BLOB TREE

How do you feel today?

Select a blob that best represents your current state.

Click HERE to submit,

and learn more!

ANSWER GARDEN

Answer Garden is a free web tool.

You can pose a question or prompt to the class.

Students can quickly add a word or phrase as a response. You can collectively gather thinking and ideas within minutes!

SAMPLE

PEAKS AND VALLEYS

Share a peak (high) and a valley (low) from the last week.

It’s ok to be honest.

How can I help with your valleys?

GRATITUDE SHARE

This is my favorite on “Thankful Thursday,” but can be done on any day of the week!

Share something you are feeling grateful for today - right now! Gratitude comes in all sizes...

Small (breakfast)

Medium (support from a classmate)

Large (family)

HOW ARE YOU?

Use the annotate feature in Zoom to show how you are feeling today.

What word might you use to label the expression?

MOODS

Share a color word (or emoji) to describe how you’re feeling.

That will help us see your feelings, but not make students feel too vulnerable.

Create a ‘theme-based’ reflection like this one. You can adapt anyway you want! Kids can even jot their partner’s responses - practice listening! Students can share in ...

Chat

Breakout groups

Jot in a notebook or on Google Doc prior to meeting

WHAT’S BUZZING?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Sample prompts

FOLLOW A MONTHLY CALENDAR

Use a calendar like this to give you daily tips and ideas on how to support learners! The calendar dates are often links with details! Click HERE.

Maybe students can work in teams to create a calendar?

SEL CALENDAR

Use a calendar like this to give you daily tips and ideas on how to support learners! The calendar dates are often links with details!

Click HERE for a sample.

Maybe students can work in teams to create a calendar?

NATIONAL DAY OF ...

Have fun thinking about the day of the year! These can be silly connections, or meaningful, depending on how students connect personally.

Access the daily calendar here.

WONDER WEDNESDAYS

Host a midweek pick me up by asking your students, “What do you wonder?”

Then, support curiosity and wonder with one of the resources below:

Wonderopolis

Wonder Sparks

The Kids Should See This

CLOSURE!

What are you THINKING?

What are you FEELING?

What will you DO?

FOR FUN

(because that is important, too)

GUESS THE LYRIC

Play a song that most students would recognize. They have to enter in the next word/phrase of the lyrics into the chat. Who i