Once your students have greeted their peers, shared their thoughts on a topic, they are now energized and ready for the activity portion! Students LOVE this part because it likely always involves moving around and having the chance to be a little silly. Students see this part of the morning meeting as "game time" when they don't even realize that they are learning about each other, learning social skills, and practicing respectful communication. The activities can be games, a sing along, curriculum related games and/or activities. The activities can be done whole group, small group, or with partners!
Sample Activities
Categories
Choose a category, students have to name as many things that fit in that category as possible. You could do colors, food, sports teams, fruits, vegetables, etc.
Hot and Cold
This is a favorite with my students! You choose an object, show it to everyone, have one student close their eyes or leave the room while you hide the object somewhere in the classroom. The student rejoins the class and the rest of the class guides the chosen student to find the object by stating cool/cold when they are going in the wrong direction and warm/hot when they are getting closer.
Doggy Doggy Where's Your Bone
Another favorite! You choose an object and show it to all of your students. Pick one student to be the "doggy" and sit in the middle of the circle with their eyes covered. Give the object to a student will hide it behind their back or in their hands. Have the whole class say "Doggy Doggy where's your bone? Somebody took it when you weren't home!" The chosen student uncovers their eyes and has 3 guesses as to who stole their bone. The person with the object gets to be the next "doggy".
Secret Handshake
This is a perfect activity for partners! Students partner up and create a secret handshake with at least 3 movements. Encourage the students to be creative. You will be surprised how well the students will remember their handshakes and perform them throughout the day!
Math Rock-Paper-Scissors
This can be altered to fit your student's academic skill level in so many ways! Students play tradition rock-paper-scissors, except instead of displaying the normal options, they "shoot" a number using their fingers. The first person to add it, multiply it, subtract it, etc, wins!
What's the same?
This activity enables the entire class to become involved while practice adjectives and descriptive words. Choose 3-4 students who have something in common (hair color, eye color, types of shoes, clothing type, etc.). These 3-4 students stand in front of the entire class while the rest of the students have to guess what is the same about them.
Sentence on a string
With a ball of string or yarn begin a story with a sentence. Hold on to the end of the string and pass the ball to a student. That student adds another sentence, holds onto the string and continues to pass the ball until everyone has added to the story. If you have technology devices that can record, you can record the entire story and play it back after the activity so that everyone can listen to it again!
Any activity you can think of that requires the students to think, work collaboratively, become socially involved with everyone, and of course is fun, your students will love!
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