What is a simple way to build classroom community?
Start with a fun fact of the day!
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Classroom Bonding Through a Fun Fact of the Day
You want your class to have a sense of unity and identity.
This does not happen automatically.
You can build this community with a series of small, intentional acts.
One such act is reading a fun fact of the day.
Fun facts take only seconds to share, but by incorporating something engaging and unique into your routine, your class will feel more connected with you and one another.
Where do you find these fun facts?
You can find a list of amazing and entertaining fun facts (one for every day of the school year) right here.
How a Fun Fact of the Day Can Help Build Classroom Community
How can something so small as a fun fact of the day yield such a big result?
Here’s how:
Shared Experience
Classroom community happens when the students feel connected to you and to one another.
This bonding happens through shared experience.
By reading a fun fact of the day, your class is doing something different from other classrooms.
Together, your jaws are dropping when you learn that some penguins weigh over 80 pounds.
You’re all puzzling together over the fact that each dog’s nose is as unique as a fingerprint.
These fun facts will become part of your class memory, like inside jokes, and you’ll build that all-important classroom community.
The Power of Laughter
Some fun facts are…well…funny!
A class that laughs together is a class that feels relaxed and safe with one another.
You can chuckle over the original name for doughnuts (“olykoeks”–now does that sound appetizing?).
You’ll smile when you learn that in the 1600s, an old female cat was called a ‘Grimalkin’ (and so were old, grumpy women).
Your students will laugh when they learn that Beaux Bridge, Louisiana loves crawfish so much that they elect a Crawfish Queen!
Morning Routine
A morning routine can set the tone for the day.
Why not add a dash of fun with a fun fact of the day?
It’s a quick, easy way to add a dose of wonder and laughter into your day.
There is another benefit: having a predictable routine helps students feel settled and relaxed.
It’s an ideal way to start building a positive classroom environment.
The Fun Class
Your class will develop its own identity during the year, so why not insure that it’s a positive identity?
By starting the day with a fun fact, you can begin to develop a classroom identity as “the fun class.” This doesn’t mean that you can’t be serious and get work done when needed, but it does mean that you know how to laugh together and relax at the appropriate times.
Build Classroom Community with a Fun Fact of the Day
When you have to implement a new teaching strategy, it can take hours of research and preparation.
Not so with a fun fact of the day.
Reading a fun fact of the day takes literally seconds, so why not try it?
Over time, this small act can help foster a sense of community and connection within your class.
Find some fun Animal Fun Facts of the Day HERE!