Lesson Plan
Morning Meeting Magic: Hello, Day!
Students will actively participate in greeting each other, sharing thoughts, engaging in group activities, and reflecting on their learning to build a positive classroom community and enhance social-emotional skills.
Morning Meeting helps students develop crucial social-emotional skills, fosters a sense of belonging, and prepares them for academic learning. It creates a safe and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and heard, setting a positive tone for the entire school day.
Audience
1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive greetings, sharing, group activities, and a reflective cool-down.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Morning Meeting Slide Deck, Morning Meeting Script, Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards, and Morning Meeting Cool Down Ticket
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the entire Morning Meeting Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Morning Meeting Slide Deck, Morning Meeting Script, Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards, and Morning Meeting Cool Down Ticket.
- Ensure projector or whiteboard is set up and ready.
- Print or prepare any physical sharing activity cards if not using the digital slide deck prompts.
- Print or prepare the cool-down tickets.
Step 1
Warm Welcome & Greeting (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display Slide 2: Warm Welcome!.
- Lead students in a fun, interactive greeting (e.g., 'Hello, Neighbor!' where students greet a peer with a specific action like a wave or high-five).
- Encourage eye contact and genuine smiles.
- Refer to the Morning Meeting Script for specific phrasing.
Step 2
Share Time (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Display Slide 3: Share Time!.
- Introduce the sharing topic using a prompt from the Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards (e.g., 'Share one thing you're excited about today.').
- Model sharing first.
- Students take turns sharing. Encourage active listening and positive comments from peers.
- Remind students about respectful listening using cues from the Morning Meeting Script.
Step 3
Group Activity (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Display Slide 4: Group Activity!.
- Lead a short, engaging group activity (e.g., 'Would You Rather?' questions, a quick 'Simon Says' variation, or a cooperative movement game).
- The activity should promote teamwork and positive interaction.
- Refer to the Morning Meeting Script for activity instructions and prompts. Consider an activity from the Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards that encourages movement or collaboration.
Step 4
Cool Down & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display Slide 5: Cool Down!.
- Distribute the Morning Meeting Cool Down Ticket.
- Ask students to quickly draw or write one thing they enjoyed or learned during Morning Meeting.
- Collect tickets as an exit slip.
- End with a positive closing statement, preparing students for the next part of their day.
use Lenny to create lessons.
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Slide Deck
Morning Meeting Magic: Hello, Day!
Let's start our day with connection and fun!
Welcome students warmly. Briefly explain what Morning Meeting is if it's the first time, or remind them of its purpose: to connect, share, and get ready for a great day!
Warm Welcome!
Say hello to a friend with a smile and a greeting!
Lead the interactive greeting. Encourage students to look at each other and say hello. Remind them of the specific greeting you've chosen for the day (e.g., high-five, wave).
Share Time!
What are you excited about today?
Introduce the sharing topic clearly. Model your own answer first. Remind students to listen respectfully and to keep their shares concise. Use a prompt from the Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards.
Group Activity!
Let's play and learn together!
Explain the group activity. Ensure all students understand the rules. Encourage participation and teamwork. This slide will announce the activity from the Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards.
Cool Down & Wrap-Up
Reflect on our meeting: one thing you enjoyed or learned.
(On your cool-down ticket!)
Explain the cool-down task. Distribute the Morning Meeting Cool Down Ticket. Collect the tickets as students finish. Give a positive closing statement for Morning Meeting.
Script
Morning Meeting Script
Warm Welcome & Greeting (5 minutes)
(Teacher displays Slide 2: Warm Welcome! and stands at the door or front of the room.)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our Morning Meeting. I'm so happy to see all of your bright faces today. Let's start our day by connecting with a friend! When I say 'go,' please find a partner near you and give them a friendly wave and say, 'Good morning, friend!' Ready? Go!"
(Allow students to greet each other. Circulate and observe, offering gentle reminders for eye contact and kind greetings. Bring them back together.)
Teacher: "Wonderful greetings, everyone! I saw so many kind smiles and waves. It's so important to start our day by acknowledging each other and feeling connected. Please find your spot in our meeting circle."
Share Time (10 minutes)
*(Teacher displays Slide 3: Share Time!.)
Teacher: "Now it's time for Share Time, one of my favorite parts of Morning Meeting! Today, I'd love for each of you to share one thing you're excited about today. It could be something happening at school, something you'll do after school, or even something small like eating a yummy snack!"
"I'll go first to show you. I am excited about teaching you all about [mention today's subject] later today!"
"Remember our listening rules: when a friend is sharing, we look at them, we listen with our ears, and we keep our bodies calm and still. When your friend is done sharing, you can give them a quiet 'thank you' nod or a silent clap. Who would like to share first?"
(Facilitate sharing, ensuring everyone who wants to share gets a turn. Offer gentle prompts if a student is stuck, like, "Is there anything fun happening in art today?" or "What's one thing you're looking forward to during playtime?")
Teacher: "Thank you all for sharing your excitement with us today! It's wonderful to hear what makes you happy and what you're looking forward to."
Group Activity (10 minutes)
*(Teacher displays Slide 4: Group Activity!.)
Teacher: "Alright, it's time for our Group Activity! Today we are going to play a quick game of 'Would You Rather?' This helps us think and have some fun together! I'll give you two choices, and you'll quietly show me your answer by [explain a non-verbal cue, e.g., 'raising one finger for choice A and two fingers for choice B']. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what you would rather do!"
"First question: Would you rather... eat pizza for every meal (show one finger) or eat ice cream for every meal (show two fingers)?"
*(Allow time for students to respond. Comment on responses. Repeat with 2-3 more questions, varying them to be silly or thought-provoking. Examples can be found on the Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards.)
Teacher: "That was fun! Thanks for sharing your choices and having some laughs. It's great to see how we all have different ideas and opinions, and that's okay!"
Cool Down & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
*(Teacher displays Slide 5: Cool Down!.)
Teacher: "To wrap up our Morning Meeting, we're going to do a quick Cool Down activity. I'm going to hand out these Morning Meeting Cool Down Tickets."
(Distribute tickets.)
Teacher: "On your ticket, I want you to draw or write one thing you enjoyed or learned during our Morning Meeting today. It could be something a friend shared, the game we played, or how you felt connected to our class. Take about two minutes to do that quietly."
(Allow time for students to complete tickets.)
Teacher: "Alright, everyone, as you finish up, please bring your Cool Down Ticket to me. Thank you for a wonderful Morning Meeting! You all did a fantastic job greeting, sharing, playing, and reflecting. I feel so ready for a great day with all of you. Let's get ready for [next activity]!"
Activity
Morning Meeting Sharing Activity Cards
These cards provide prompts for both 'Share Time' and 'Group Activity' segments of your Morning Meeting. Choose one or two per day to keep things fresh and engaging!
Share Time Prompts (Choose 1 per day)
-
One thing I'm excited about today is...
- Follow-up: Why are you excited about that?
-
My favorite animal is...
- Follow-up: What makes that animal special to you?
-
If I could have any superpower, it would be...
- Follow-up: How would you use your superpower?
-
One kind thing I can do for someone today is...
- Follow-up: Who might you do that for?
-
My favorite season is...
- Follow-up: What do you like to do in that season?
-
Something that makes me laugh is...
- Follow-up: Can you describe it briefly?
Group Activity Ideas (Choose 1 per day)
Would You Rather... (Interactive, Non-Verbal Choices)
(Teacher reads a prompt, students show choice A with one finger, choice B with two fingers)
- ...eat pizza for every meal or ice cream for every meal?
- ...have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
- ...be able to fly or be able to breathe underwater?
- ...have super strength or super speed?
- ...always wear your pajamas or always wear a fancy outfit?
Quick Movement Games
-
Simon Says: Play a quick round of Simon Says with 3-5 commands. Focus on following directions and movement.
-
Mirror Me: Students partner up. One student makes a slow movement, and the other mirrors it. Switch roles after 30 seconds.
-
Stand Up/Sit Down If...: Teacher gives prompts, and students stand up if it applies to them, then sit back down. E.g., "Stand up if you ate breakfast this morning!", "Stand up if you like to read!", "Stand up if you have a pet!"
Collaborative Story Start
- Round Robin Story: Start a story with one sentence (e.g., "One sunny morning, a tiny squirrel found a mysterious sparkling acorn..."). Go around the circle, with each student adding one sentence to continue the story.
Worksheet
Morning Meeting Cool Down Ticket
Name: _________________________
One thing I enjoyed or learned during our Morning Meeting today was...
(You can draw a picture or write a few words.)