Introduction

One of the essential skills for elementary students to learn is how to stay with the group. This skill helps children to develop a sense of belonging and promotes positive social interactions. By learning how to stay with the group, students can maintain focus, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships with their peers. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity that can help educators teach this vital skill, along with discussion questions and related skills.

No-Prep Activity

The “Freeze and Reflect” activity is a simple, no-prep activity that requires no materials. Here’s how it works:

1. Have the students form a circle or sit in a group.
2. Choose a student to start a story or a conversation.
3. As the story or conversation progresses, the educator will randomly call out “Freeze!”
4. When the students hear “Freeze!”, they must stop talking and remain still.
5. The educator then asks the students to reflect on their position in the group and whether they were actively participating and staying with the group.
6. Continue the activity, allowing the students to practice staying with the group and discussing their reflections.

This activity encourages students to be mindful of their presence in the group and promotes self-awareness and self-regulation.

Discussion Questions

After the activity, engage the students in a discussion with the following questions:

1. How did you feel when you were actively participating in the group?
2. What challenges did you face while trying to stay with the group?
3. How can you use the skills you practiced in this activity in other situations, such as during class or while playing with friends?
4. What strategies can you use to help you stay with the group when you find yourself getting distracted?
5. Why is it important to stay with the group and be aware of how your actions affect others?

Related Skills

Staying with the group is just one of many skills that contribute to a child’s social-emotional development. Other related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and responding appropriately.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve a common goal.
• Self-regulation: Managing one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations.
• Respect: Treating others with kindness and consideration.

Next Steps

Teaching students the skill of staying with the group is an essential part of their social-emotional growth. To access more resources and activities to help your students develop this and other vital skills, sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech. These sample materials offer a variety of engaging and practical tools to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey.