ES Community Meetings by Lindsey Hagen

Community Circle Check-in

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Start meetings with participants sitting in a circle. Each person shares a brief response to a prompt (e.g., 'What's one highlight from your week?' or 'Share a challenge you're facing'). Use a talking piece to ensure one speaker at a time. This builds connection and sets a collaborative tone.

Time: 15-20 minutes
Setup: Circle arrangement of chairs
Materials: Talking piece (optional)

Issue Mapping

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Participants work in small groups to create visual maps of community issues or concerns. Groups identify main challenges, root causes, and potential solutions. Each group presents their map to the larger community, fostering collaborative problem-solving.

Time: 45 minutes
Materials: Large paper, markers, sticky notes
Group size: 4-5 per group

Solution Gallery Walk

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Participants post proposed solutions to community challenges on wall spaces. Everyone walks around with sticky notes, adding comments, questions, and building on others' ideas. Conclude with a group discussion of the most promising solutions.

Time: 30-40 minutes
Materials: Poster paper, markers, sticky notes

Consensus Building Workshop

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Present a community issue and have participants position themselves on a spectrum (agree to disagree). Facilitate discussions between those with different viewpoints, aiming to find common ground. Document points of agreement and action steps.

Time: 40 minutes
Setup: Open space for movement
Materials: Tape for creating spectrum line

Community Asset Mapping

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Groups create digital or physical maps of community resources, skills, and assets. Include categories like human resources, physical spaces, organizations, and opportunities. Use this to identify strengths and gaps in community resources.

Time: 50 minutes
Materials: Large papers or digital mapping tools
Group size: 3-4 per group

Role-Play Scenarios

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Present common community challenges through role-play scenarios. Participants act out different perspectives and work together to find solutions. Debrief after each scenario to discuss insights and learning points.

Time: 45 minutes
Setup: Space for small group performances
Group size: 4-6 per scenario

Community Vision Board

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Collectively create a vision board for the community's future. Use images, words, and drawings to represent shared goals and aspirations. This serves as a visual reminder of the community's direction and can guide future decisions.

Time: 60 minutes
Materials: Large board, magazines, markers, glue, scissors

Anonymous Feedback Box

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:46 UTC

Set up a structured activity where participants write anonymous feedback, concerns, or suggestions. Sort these into themes and discuss solutions as a group. This helps address sensitive issues while maintaining privacy.

Time: 30 minutes
Materials: Paper slips, box/container, whiteboard for categorizing

Progress Timeline

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:47 UTC

Create a visual timeline of community achievements and challenges. Use this to reflect on past experiences and plan future actions. Include both celebrations and areas for improvement.

Time: 40 minutes
Materials: Long paper roll, markers, sticky notes
Setup: Wall space for timeline display

Community Action Planning

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:48 UTC

Using a structured template, groups develop detailed action plans for specific community initiatives. Include goals, timeline, resources needed, and responsibility assignments. Share plans with the larger group for feedback and coordination.

Time: 60 minutes
Materials: Action plan templates, pens
Group size: 4-5 per group

Appreciation Circle

hagenl4 — 2025-08-05 07:48:48 UTC

End meetings with a structured appreciation activity. Participants share specific appreciations for others' contributions to the community. This builds positive relationships and acknowledges individual efforts.

Time: 15-20 minutes
Setup: Circle arrangement
Format: Each person shares one appreciation

Group Sharing Activities

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 06:54:21 UTC

Here are some examples of morning meeting group activities. They are separated into sharing activities, SEL games, and activities with academic connections.

Time: 10 - 20 minutes

Materials: Varied based on activities

Closing Circle Routine

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 06:57:13 UTC

(1:01) High School Closing Circle Routine - Easily to add as is or adapt for younger grades.

Student-Led Activities

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 06:58:41 UTC

A few great examples of how to involve students in leading different aspects of your community meeting.

Activities to Build Communities

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:05:24 UTC

Here are 13 examples of activities that can be used to help build community, trust, and relationships within your class.

Discussion Starters

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:07:31 UTC

Relationship Building Circle Questions

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:08:59 UTC

From the Center for Restorative Justice. Be sure to choose ahead of time to ensure that they are age and developmentally appropriate.

Morning Meetings

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:13:32 UTC

(4:54) From a school in USA using Responsive Classroom and includes segments from G1 and G3, including ways to show how students are involved in leading aspects on the meeting.

Community Meetings

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:15:35 UTC

(6:33) From a school in USA, includes examples from elementary and middle school classes with activities to help support empathy development.

G1 Morning Meeting Example

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:21:10 UTC

(9:25) From a school in the USA showcasing the morning routine of a 1st grade classroom

Morning Meeting at KIS

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:24:11 UTC

(9:08) From KIS, examples of morning meetings following Responsive Classroom

Community Circle Example

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:26:09 UTC

Example of a community circle in grade 5, with some focus on establishing circle norms.

How to Have Restorative Conversations

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:27:36 UTC

Some good examples of how to have restorative conversations for conflict resolution.

Building a Belonging Classroom

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:29:42 UTC

(4:17) Includes examples from kinder classroom and HS classrooms that help to show different types of community activities that can be incorporated.

Restorative Community Circles Example

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:32:09 UTC

(4:04) Overview of restorative community building circles to help support classroom management. This teacher focuses on mindfulness, check-ins, and norms during circles.

Circles Example

hagenl4 — 2025-08-06 07:34:44 UTC

(5:24) Example from a middle school in USA, including with adult meetings. This school does things in a structured and interesting way.