Browse lesson plans

Creating community in the classroom: Part 1 (setting goals )

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community. Group goal-setting, brainstorming, peer feedback, group decision-making, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure are used to create a safe, supportive environment for learning in the classroom.

In Part 1, students are introduced to the goal-setting process. They will practice the first step of the process as they set individual and class behavioral goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Creating community in the classroom: Part 2 (cooperative planning)

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community through use of group goal-setting, decision-making, brainstorming, peer feedback, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure. The lessons will help students create and maintain a supportive environment for learning. Part 1 focused on goal-setting process and practice. In Part 2, students will apply knowledge of the goal-setting process by cooperatively creating a plan to work on group goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Creating community in the classroom: Part 3 (monitoring progress)

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community through use of group goal-setting, decision-making, brainstorming, peer feedback, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure. The lessons will help students create and maintain a supportive environment for learning. Part 1 focused on goal-setting process and practice. In Part 2, students applied knowledge of the goal-setting process and cooperatively created a plan to work on short-term group goals. In part 3, students will monitor the effects of their plan by determining whether short term goals are being achieved.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Creating community in the classroom: Part 4 (rewarding improvement)

The fourth lesson in a series on improving classroom learning climate, this lesson provides an opportunity to evaluate student progress and to provide positive reinforcement for improvements in behavior. Using a one to ten continuum, students will subjectively evaluate class progress on the ten adjectives listed as class climate goals. After this process, students will publicly recognize those classmates who have helped the class improve or who have personally improved.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Fact versus opinion: Maintaining self-esteem

Distinguishing between fact and opinion is important for students to understand. This lesson uses many interesting and concrete examples to help students tell the difference between the two.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 Guidance)

By Scott Ertl.

Goals, goals, goals

Students will be introduced to the benefits of goal-setting and the steps in the goal setting process. A group activity with a ball will give students practice in all steps of the process and an opportunity to see the benefits of setting goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Resources on the web

Content Knowledge: a Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education

Benchmarks and standards for many curriculum areas; lessons aligned with national standards. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: The Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)

It's My Life

Learn more about emotions, friendships, life decisions, money and other issues of interest to young people approaching independence. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: PBS