Getting to Know You
Although it’s nearly the middle of September and you’ve probably been in school a few weeks now, it’s never too late to take your students outside for your favorite “get to know you” game or song.
Playing games, singing songs and having fun are great ways to build your classroom community. Go outside to build community! The change of location is refreshing!
My students and I have been singing the “Hello” song.
I adapted Lisa Murphy’s “Good Morning” song to become our “Hello” song because sometimes it’s no longer morning when the children come outside.
We sit together at our meeting place to sing our song.
Just as Lisa demonstrates, we clap while singing. Some of my young students can clap OR sing, but not both at the same time. It’s really cute. It will be fun to see when they are able to do both.
Our lyrics are:
Hello (child’s name),
Hello (child’s name),
Hello (child’s name),
We’re glad that you are here!
Who’s next?
I was so surprised at the huge smiles that appeared on some of the children’s faces when we sang their names. Other children became shy and covered their faces, but they enjoyed the song and felt welcomed because they would raise their hands again to be “next” the following day.
At the end of the day, when it’s time to go home, we often sing:
Good-bye (child’s name),
Good-bye (child’s name),
Good-bye (child’s name),
It was fun to play with you!
So find a new “Get to Know You” game or song or adapt one of your current favorites and take your students outside for some LEARNING and FUN!
