Middle School Classroom Community Activities

A love meditation for children

Looking for a fun and creative way to help your students develop their Social Emotional Learning skills while promoting mindfulness? Look no further than our AVID Teacher's Mandala Coloring pages!

This downloadable PDF includes 8 unique mandalas, each featuring an inspirational quote to help motivate and inspire your students. Perfect for use in the classroom or at home, these mandalas provide a calming and reflective activity for students to color and share or use as inspiration to create their own mandalas with quotes.

By incorporating mindfulness into your curriculum, you'll be helping your students to reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall well-being.

*Save 30% with the AVID bundle!

*These resources are available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Fall | Autumn | Think Fast Game | Printable Activity | Freebie: Students and even staff will love this no-prep fall Think Fast game! Use it as an icebreaker after fall break for a brain break, morning meeting, fun Friday activity, or as a team building activity.

✨AVID Fall Bundle✨

✨ELA Fall Bundle✨

What's Included

Fall Think Fast Game: 1 PDF Printable

Directions

• A timer will be set for 1 minute total.

• Each answer is one point. Most points wins!

• Examples: 3 s’more ingredients, 3 NFL teams, 3 colors of apples

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Fall Roll a Story

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AVID Bundle

This AVID team-building card game is the perfect icebreaker for students who want to practice their public speaking skills in a fun and interactive way. Designed for use in a classroom or group setting, this card game challenges players to give a 1-minute speech about a topic using the card they draw. This engaging activity not only helps students build their public speaking confidence but also teaches them valuable skills in communication and creative thinking!

Whether you're a teacher looking to add a fun and interactive activity to your classroom curriculum, or a team leader looking to build team dynamics and improve communication skills, Fishbowl Speeches is the perfect choice!

Find this in:

Public Speaking Bundle

Public Speaking Card Game Bundle

AVID bundle

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How to Play Fishbowl Speeches

• Place the 25 different topics into a container and mix them up to ensure random selection.
• Ask a student to select a topic from the container and read it out loud.
• Allow 30 seconds for the student to brainstorm the content and delivery of their speech. Provide one minute for the student to present their answer to the question or topic.

What's Included

• Directions page
• 25 Topics
• blank cards to write your own words

Example topics

Persuade everyone in the class to give you a dollar

Should colleges use only SAT®/ACT® scores for admissions?

*This resource is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Summer | Think Fast Game | Printable Activity | Freebie: Students and even staff will love this no-prep Summer Think Fast game! Use it for after or before summer break as a brain break, morning meeting, fun Friday activity, or as a team building activity.

✨ELA End of Year Activities Bundle✨

✨AVID End of Year Activities Bundle✨

What's Included

Summer Think Fast Game: 1 PDF Printable

Directions

• A timer will be set for 1 minute total.

• Each answer is one point. Most points wins!

• Examples: 3 foods that are cold, 3 summer months, 3 things that rhyme with swim...

More Summer Resources

iPhone Class Memories

Summer Roll a Story

Start the school year with engaging collaboration and team building with this AVID back to school icebreaker! This resource is the perfect partner activity for public speaking practice! Students will meet with either an A or B partner OR find a partner with a matching color circle using their cards. They will then use the interview questions provided in the card to interview their partner and present them to the class!

⭐SAVE 30% with the AVID bundle!

⭐SAVE 30% with the Public Speaking Bundle!

What's Included:

• 8 Variations of cards with either an A or B and 1 of 4 different colored circles
• Each card comes with 3 interviewing partner questions

Entrance Card Directions:

• Pass out one of the cards to each student (note the letter A or B and small color circles on the front of each card)
• The following is written on each card:

- 3 things you want to share about yourself

- 2 words to describe you

- 1 favorite thing

• Instruct students to find a partner (a person who has the same letter or color circle on the back of their card).
• Have students answer the questions with their partner.
• Each student should write their partner's responses on a seperate piece of paper.
• Have each set of partners introduce each other to the class using the entrance cards.
• Do the activity again the same day or a different day but have students find a new partner using either the letter or colored circles (whichever was not used first)

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Enhance collaboration, writing and public speaking skills with Story Starters! This AVID resource provides engaging story starters that encourage students to finish a story and present it to their peers. This activity fosters collaboration and communication within small groups or whole class settings, while also providing a fun way to improve public speaking skills. Download the Google Slides digital resource today and see the positive impact it can have on your students' teamwork and confidence!

*Check out the full version including 100 Story Starters HERE!

*Save 30% with this Public Speaking Bundle!

*Save 30% with this Public Speaking Card Game Bundle!

*Save over 30% with the AVID bundle!

Directions:

• Display the Google Slide Story Starter OR print them out so students have different stories to choose from.
• Students will complete the engaging story starter by writing for 3 minutes.
• Students can use the picture provided to help guide them in their stories, or choose to take a different route and be creative on their own.
• Students will be split into groups of 4-6.
• Each student will present their story to their small group while practicing public speaking skills.

What's Included:

• 3 Story Starter Prompts with Images
• 1 Directions Page

*This resources is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check our other Writing Resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Enhance team collaboration and communication with this AVID Partner Interview Introductions Form. This is a perfect icebreaker and team building activity where students have the opportunity to get to know each other while practicing public speaking skills. Simply print the Google Doc and give hard copies to students, or share the Google Doc with students electronically.

Interview introductions are a great way to break the ice with a new group of students. This excersize has them finding out about each other and then introducing the person they interviewed to the entire class or to smaller groups. It is a lot less threatening to talk about someone else rather than yourself!

⭐Save over 30% with the AVID bundle!⭐

⭐Save 30% with this Public Speaking Bundle!⭐

⭐Save 30% with this Public Speaking Card Game Bundle!⭐

Directions

• Divide your class into pairs.

• Each person interviews the other. The information gained forms a brief introduction speech they'll present to the class OR to smaller groups.

• Establish a time limit for the interviews. 10 minutes works well. Keep track of the time and call change at the halfway point, 5 minutes, to ensure both people get an opportunity to be interviewed and to interview.

• When students present the introduction may begin like this: "This is Mary and she was named after her mother..." and the students will go through each answer by presenting it like a speech.

*This resources is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out more Back-to-School resources**HERE!**

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Use this Valentine's Day-themed AVID speed philosophical chairs icebreaker team-building activity to promote debate through dialogue and public speaking in your classroom as well as get students in the Valentine's Day spirit! Students will not only learn what speed philosophical chairs is but they will enjoy some exciting dialogue through 5 fun debate topics.

For example, students will choose to agree or disagree with the statement, "Scientists should design robots that can feel emotions like love."

⭐AVID BUNDLE⭐

⭐Public Speaking Bundle⭐

⭐Speed Philosophical Chairs Bundle⭐

⭐Valentine's Day Bundle⭐

More Valentine's Day Resources

February Early Finisher Packet

Valentine's Day Coloring Pages

Directions:

1. A central statement will be announced to the class and you will define the two sides of the debate (Agree/Disagree).
2. Students move to the side of the room that they intend to defend.
3. An embedded timer will be set for 5 minutes, and the debate will start between the two groups.
4. Students attempt to keep contributions to less than 30 seconds each.
5. A new prompt is displayed and we start another round of quick debates.

What's Included:

• A teaching slide for "the why" of speed philosophical chairs
• A slide that includes the rules of engagement for students
• A slide for the steps of this speed philosophical chairs activity
• 5-speed philosophical chairs Christmas-themed debate statements
• A 5-minute silent timer embedded in each slide

*These resources are available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

AVID

Valentine's Day

Speed Philosophical Chairs

Public Speaking Resources

Collaboration Resources

Back to School | Think Fast Game | Printable Activity | Freebie: Students and even staff will love this no-prep Back to School Think Fast game! Use it as an icebreaker after summer break for a brain break, morning meeting, fun Friday activity, or as a team building activity.

✨AVID Back to School Bundle✨

✨ELA Back to School Bundle✨

What's Included

Back to School Think Fast Game: 1 PDF Printable

Directions

• A timer will be set for 1 minute total.

• Each answer is one point. Most points wins!

• Examples: 3 activities done over summer break, 3 book titles, 3 items found in a classroom

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Spring | Think Fast Game | Printable Activity | Freebie: Students and even staff will love this no-prep Spring Think Fast game! Use it for after or before spring break as a brain break, morning meeting, fun Friday activity, or as a team building activity.

✨AVID Spring Bundle✨

✨ELA Spring Bundle✨

What's Included

Spring Think Fast Game: 1 PDF Printable

Directions

• A timer will be set for 1 minute total.

• Each answer is one point. Most points wins!

• Examples: 3 things you’d find in an Easter egg, 3 things you wouldn’t do during spring, 3 outdoor water activities...

More Spring Resources

After Spring Break Bottle Flip

AVID | Think Fast Game | Printable Activity | Freebie: Students and even staff will love this AVID Think Fast game! Use it as an icebreaker during back to school or for a brain break, morning meeting, fun Friday activity, or as a team building activity.

Get more with AVID bundles

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✨AVID Team Building Bundle✨

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AVID Early Finisher Packets

Costa Bundle

Partner Activities Bundle

Decor Bundle

Speed Philosophical Chairs Bundle
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What's Included

AVID Think Fast Game: 1 PDF Printable

Directions

• A timer will be set for 1 minute total.

• Each answer is one point. Most points wins!

• Examples: 3 things that go on a TRF, 3 names of AVID classmates, 3 tools for staying organized

Giving students plenty of public speaking practice is important, but thinking of fun topics takes time! This is an activity with this sample 5 fun and engaging speech topics for your students to practice those very important college and career readiness skills! Get the full version HERE. :)

Directions

• Share expectations of respectful debating
• Organize students into small groups or create one large circle
• Read the debate prompt out loud
• Students choose a side and think of at least one reason why they chose that side
• When students have at least one reason they hold up a thumb
• Choose a student to begin the debate

What's Included

• 1 directions slide
• 1 expectations slide for students
• 1 optional points slide
• 5 debate topis with agreeing/disagreeing chart and sentence starters

Click HERE to see our other public speaking resources!

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources!

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool

This Google Slides digital resource game is the perfect reset activity to help students build community and welcome them back to school from winter break! Use this Four Corner activity for an icebreaker, community-building activity, brain break activity or Fun Friday activity. Four Corners is the perfect virtual or in person icebreaker game that will help get those after winter break chatters out! Students will read the statement and choose a corner that best relates to them!

❄️**After Winter Break Bundle**❄️

❄️**Winter Bundle**❄️

❄️**Team Building Bundle**❄️

Directions:

• Step 1: Place A, B, C, D labels on each corner of the room.
• Step 2: Show a slide and read the statement out loud.
• Step 3: Students pick their corner based on their answer.
• Step 4: Let's chat about everyone's choices, then zoom to the next slide!

What's Included:

• Directions Slide
• 5 Four Corner Statements with Multiple Choice Answers
• A, B, C, D Printable Classroom Labels

Winter Resources

Team Building

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool.

Communication is the key to developing strong leaders of society! It allows us to form connections, influence decisions, and motivate change! This public speaking game will allow students to practice important skills needed to be successful in their futures. Great for AVID, counseling, college and career, speech, or just used as a fun brain break in any class!

Get the 30-Second Speech Bundle HERE!

Get 25 more speech topics HERE!

✨Public Speaking Bundle✨

✨AVID Bundle✨

✨AVID Team Building Bundle✨

What's Included:

• 1 directions pages
• 1 optional points slide
• 5 topics with silent 30 second prep timers
• 5 thirty second speech timer slides

Directions:

• Put students into groups or breakout rooms of 4-6 students
• Go over the directions with students:
• Wait for the impromptu topic to show up on the screen (ex: tell your group 3 different ways to eat an oreo)
• Decide who in the group will start and that student will have 30 seconds to prepare for their speech after the topic is revealed
• After 30 seconds the student will present their topic for 30 seconds

Optional Points:

• Secretly give points/take away points from group members on a small whiteboard or notebook paper
• Groups can earn by: Focusing on good voice, being creative with their responses, eye contact, posture, using an opening/closing statement, and making good points for your topic
• Groups can lose points by: being a poor audience member, having poor posture, not using good voice, not using eye contact, using filler words: like, um, so, okay, yeah, kinda…

More 30-second speeches...

Summer-Themed

Click HERE for 25 more 30 second speech topics!

Click HERE to see our other public speaking resources!

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources!

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool

This back to school would you rather game is a great get to know you activity for the first week of school! Perfect as an icebreaker activity, debate, speech class, morning meeting activity, brain break, discussion starters, writing prompts or debate prompts. This is great for middle and high school students!

Get 30 more slides HERE :)

⭐Year Long Seasonal & Holidays Growing Bundle⭐

✨Save 30% with the Back to School Mega Activity Bundle!✨

✨Save 30% with the Would You Rather Bundle!✨

What's included:

• 3 would you rather slides
• 1 directions slide

Would You Rather Examples:

• Would you rather never have homework again OR have an extra hour of sleep every day
• always know the right answer OR always be able to make everyone laugh

More Back to School Resources...

Finish the Story

Four Corners

Dicebreakers

Find Someone Who & Stand Up

Table Talk

Gibberish

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool

Four Corners Game Signs - For Icebreakers and Brain Breaks: These printable Four Corners Game Signs are perfect for interactive icebreakers and brain breaks. They also work for any content or grade level! Simply pose a question and have your students choose a corner for debate or open dialogue. OR use one of our four corner games to increase engagement!

⭐Seasonal & Holiday Games for Secondary⭐

⭐Seasonal & Holiday Games for Primary⭐

What's Included:

• 4 four corner signs: strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree
• A, B, C, D
• 2 Color Options
• Black and White

Four Corner Games...

Back to School

Career Clusters

Click HERE to see our other four corner resources!

Welcome students back from spring break by allowing them to share some of their spring break experiences through this 2 truths and a lie freebie activity! This printable is great for morning meetings, team building, fun Fridays, brain breaks and more!

✨After Spring Break Bundle✨

✨Spring Bundle✨

✨AVID Bundle✨

More After Spring Break Resources

Activity Packet

Stand Up Sit Down

Find Someone Who

More Spring Resources

Finish the Story

Would You Rather

What's Included

One PDF Printable worksheet

Directions

• Print a page for each student.
• Students will write their name and add 2 truths and 1 lie about their spring break.
• Take up papers and shuffle them.
• Throughout the day or week pull a paper and share the students name along with their two truths and one lie.
• Allow students to try to guess the lie.
• Optional: Put students into teams and give points to teams that guess correctly.

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool.

Get ready for an after fall break reset with this no-prep four corners game! Use this digital game for an icebreaker, brain break activity, after Thanksgiving break activity, or classroom autumn activity in your middle school and high school classes. This is the perfect game to get those after fall break chatters out! Students will read the statement and choose a corner that best relates to them!

✨Save 30% with our After Fall Break Game Bundle!✨

✨Save 30% with our Fall Icebreaker Games Bundle!✨

What's Included:

• Directions Slide
• 5 Four Corner Statements with Multiple Choice Answers
• A, B, C, D Printable Classroom Labels

Directions:

• Step 1: Place A, B, C, D labels on each corner of the room.
• Step 2: Show a slide and read the statement out loud.
• Step 3: Students pick their corner based on their answer.
• Step 4: Let's chat about everyone's choices, then zoom to the next slide!

Some examples included:

• Being on fall break made me feel...
• Over fall break I spent most of my time...
• The best part of going back to school is...

More After Fall Break Resources:

Find Someone Who

Stand Up Sit Down

More Fall Resources:

Fall Would You Rather

Fall Stand Up Sit Down

Fall Finish the Story

Thanksgiving Would You Rather

More After Break Resources:

After Winter Break Game Bundle

After Spring Break Game Bundle

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool.

AVID students can use this back to school scavenger hunt to get to know their school and the AVID support team! This printable worksheet is perfect for a first week of school team building icebreaker activity and works for both middle and high school AVID students.

⭐AVID Back to School Bundle!⭐

✨AVID Mega Bundle✨

✨AVID Team Building Bundle✨

✨AVID Public Speaking Bundle✨

✨AVID Writing Bundle✨

What's Included

1 PDF partner selfie scavenger hunt in color

1 PDF partner selfie scavenger hunt in black and white

More AVID back to school resources...

WICOR Choice Board

Drawing Challenge

30 Second Speeches

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