Closing Circles K-6
$ 28.60
A strategy for bringing a peaceful end to the school day and preparing students to transition from school to home or after-school activities.
Like Morning Meeting, closing circle gives students and teachers a sense of calm, safety, and community.
Increase students’ feelings of belonging, significance, and fun by gathering daily for five to ten minutes for a brief activity or two before dismissal. Boost students’ confidence by discussing the day’s accomplishments or setting goals for the next.
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)
Circle of Hands
Looking for more elementary group activities and games? Check out the Responsive Classroom bookstore for easy-to-follow resources full of creative ideas to get your students moving and interacting together!
Explore these popular articles packed with practical tips, proven strategies, and engaging activity ideas to make the most of this reflective community-building time with your elementary students.
Six Tips for Great Closing Circles – A closing circle is a manageable way to peacefully wrap up the day and send students off feeling a sense of accomplishment and belonging. Here are six tips for getting the most out of closing circle at the end of the school day.
Ensuring a Smooth End to the School Day – The end of the school day can be a challenging, hectic time. Providing just a few minutes of reflection can be enormously beneficial for students and teachers alike. Learn more about using Closing Circle in your elementary or middle school classroom.
Closing Circle Idea: Maître d’ – Maître d’ is a closing circle activity idea you can do with K-6 students that helps them practice voicing an opinion and, for younger students, counting. Learn how to do this fun activity with your students.
Closing Circle Idea: Good-bye Cadence – End the school day on a high note with this structured group activity for elementary students.
Finding Time before Dismissal – It can be difficult to find time at the end of the day for a closing circle. Check out these strategies for efficiently managing end-of-day routines so you can close the day in a meaningful way.
Two Quick, Fun Class Celebrations – Closing circle is a great time to celebrate accomplishments. Here are two ideas for helping your students celebrate their successes.
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