What are some quick, fun class celebrations?

Q & A with Responsive Classroom consulting teachers Dana Lynn Januszka and Kristen Vincent

Here are two of their ideas:

Give This Group a Hand

Students stand in a circle and chant:

We’re gonna give . . . this . . . group a hand.
We’re gonna give this group a hand. (Clap twice)
We’re gonna give . . . this . . . group a hand.
We’re gonna give this group a hand. (Clap twice)
So raise your hands up in the air, (Raise hands)
And pat your neighbor . . . right there. (Pat neighbors’ shoulders)

Listen to a recording of this chant by a 2nd grade class!

Circle of Hands

Each person puts their right hand into the middle of the circle and makes a fist with their thumb extended to the left.

Then, everyone connects hands: Each fist grasps the thumb of the person to the right.

Holding this circle of hands, the class chants, “We are a class that helps each other!” three times, then raises their hands into the air, breaking them apart.

Share your ideas for quick class celebrations on the Responsive Classroom Facebook page!
Tags: Movement