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The way you start your day sets the tone for everything that follows—and the same is true for your classroom. Morning meetings are a perfect time to build community and prepare students for a successful day of learning. But how do you keep these meetings fresh, engaging, and meaningful? The answer lies in a mix of morning meeting activities and morning meeting questions for kids that spark connection, creativity, and collaboration. In this blog, you’ll find ideas to help you design morning meetings that your students will look forward to every day.

How to Plan Morning Meeting Activities and Questions

Since a morning meeting is a dedicated time at the start of the day where students and teachers come together, they help students transition into the school day by creating a welcoming and predictable routine. They also provide opportunities for mindfulness, academic readiness, and celebrating individuality, ensuring students feel emotionally and mentally prepared to learn. Ultimately, morning meetings lay the foundation for a positive and productive environment.

Before you start designing morning meeting activities and questions, take the following into account:

Identify Your Goals

First, ask yourself what you want to achieve with your morning meeting. Are you focusing on building community, promoting social-emotional learning, or preparing students academically? Your goals will guide the types of activities you choose.

Know Your Students

Next, consider your students’ ages, interests, and personalities. What do they enjoy? What challenges do they face? Then tailor activities to their developmental level and preferences. For younger students, try incorporating movement and visuals. While older students might enjoy deeper discussions or creative problem-solving.

Keep it Simple

Morning meeting activities and questions should be low-prep and easy to implement. Shoot for options that require minimal materials and can be done in 10-15 minutes.

Be Flexible

Morning meetings should also adapt to the needs of your class. If an activity isn’t working, don’t be afraid to switch it up. Pay attention to your students’ energy levels and adjust accordingly. Some days might call for more movement, while others might need calm reflection.

Leverage Resources

Finally, draw inspiration from books, websites, or other educators. You can adapt morning activities and questions from team-building guides, curricula, or even party games.

Examples of Morning Meeting Activities

Now that we’ve broken down the art of the morning meeting activity, let’s take a look at a variety of examples.

Icebreakers and Community Builders

Starting the day with a sense of connection and belonging is essential for creating a positive and inclusive classroom. Icebreakers and community-building activities are perfect for this. These activities encourage communication, collaboration, and empathy.

1. Two truths and a lie: Share two true facts and one lie about yourself; students guess the lie.
2. Matches: Prepare pairs of cards with matching items. For example, you could use famous duos like peanut butter and jelly or concepts like synonyms. Hand out one card to each student and have them find their “match” without talking. Once paired, they share something about themselves.
3. Compliment circle: Each student gives a compliment to the person next to them.
4. Name game: Everyone shares their name and an adjective or animal that starts with the same letter. Alternatively, you could use one of the other many types of name games.
5. Find someone who: Students find classmates who match specific criteria. For example, “Find someone who’s wearing the same kind of shoes as you.” After they’ve found a partner, they can start a discussion about how their day is going.
6. Morning greetings: Offer a few different greetings such as handshake, high-five, or fist bump for students to choose from. Then they can greet everyone in the room.
7. Classmate interviews: Pair students to interview each other and share what they learned.
8. Group juggle: Toss a ball or soft object around the circle while saying each other’s names.
9. Bucket fillers: Share ways to “fill someone’s bucket” (spread kindness) today. Then have everyone fill the buckets of the classmates around them.
10. Class cheer: Create a unique cheer or chant for the class.

Movement and Energy Boosters – Morning Meeting Activities

Mornings can sometimes feel slow, but a little movement can go a long way in waking up the body and mind. These activities are perfect for shaking off any lingering drowsiness, improving focus, and adding fun to your morning routine.

1. Stretching session: Lead the class in simple stretches or yoga poses.
2. Dance break: Play a school-appropriate song and let students dance freely.
3. Simon says: A classic game to get students moving and laughing.
4. Minute to win it: Quick physical challenges. For example, have them try to balance a marker on their elbow for one minute.
5. Follow the leader: One student leads the class in movements and everyone copies.
6. Silent speedball: Toss a ball around the circle without talking.
7. The wave: Create a “wave” around the circle using hand motions.
8. Animal walks: Pretend to move like different animals. For example, ask them to crab walk or frog jump.
9. Freeze dance: Dance until the music stops, then freeze in place.
10. Jumping jack challenge: Count how many jumping jacks the class can do together.

Creative and Reflective Activities

Creative and reflective activities provide students with an opportunity to express themselves, explore their thoughts and feelings, and connect with their peers. They also offer a chance to slow down, focus, and approach the day with intention.

1. Morning journal prompt: Write or draw about a given topic. For example,”What makes you happy?”
2. Quote of the day: Share a quote and discuss its meaning.
3. Story starters: Begin a story and let each student add a sentence.
4. Dream share: Everyone shares something they dreamed about or a goal they have.
5. Gratitude circle: Each student shares one thing they’re grateful for.
6. Draw your mood: Students how they’re feeling today.
7. Word of the day: Introduce a new word and challenge students to use it.
8. Finish the sentence: Provide a sentence starter. For example, “If I could travel anywhere…”
9. Class poem: Collaborate to write a poem as a group.
10. Mindful minute: Practice a minute of silence or guided breathing.

Games and Brain Teasers

Who doesn’t love a good challenge? Games and brain teasers are a fantastic way to kick off the day with a mix of excitement and mental stimulation. These activities are designed to get students solving problems, and working together.

1. Riddles: Share a riddle and let students guess the answer.
2. 20 questions: One student thinks of an object, and others ask yes/no questions to guess it.
3. Charades: Act out a word or phrase without speaking.
4. Pictionary: Draw a picture and have classmates guess what it is.
5. Scavenger hunt: Find items around the classroom or share items from backpacks.
6. Memory game: Show a tray of objects, then hide it and see who remembers the most.
7. Alphabet game: Take turns naming items in a category in alphabetical order. For example, the category could be “animals.”
8. Guess the sound: Play a and have students guess what it is.
9. Math challenge: Solve a quick math problem or puzzle as a group.
10. Word chain: Say a word, and the next person says a word that starts with the last letter.

Teamwork and Collaboration – Morning Meeting Activities

Teamwork makes the dream work. These activities not only build a sense of unity and trust within the classroom but also help students develop important life skills like problem-solving, leadership, and empathy.

1. Human knot: Students stand in a circle, grab hands, and work together to untangle.
2. Visual storytelling: Each student draws part of an illustration. Then, the class writes a story based on the drawing they created together.
3. Class puzzle: Work together to complete a puzzle.
4. Silent line-up: Arrange themselves in alphabetical order without talking.
5. Team charades: Act out a word or phrase as a team for others to guess.
6. Pass the hoop: Hold hands and pass a hula hoop around the circle without breaking the chain.
7. Class mural: Create a collaborative drawing or painting.
8. Building challenge: Use blocks or materials to build something as a team. You can either plan out the build first or just improvise as you go.
9. Group count: Count to 20 as a class without two people speaking at the same time.
10. Class goals: Set a daily or weekly goal as a group and track progress.

Morning Meeting Questions for Kids

On days when you don’t have time for activities, morning meeting questions are a quick and easy alternative. Questions encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences, helping them to build their social and communication skills. As you brainstorm, consider the following:

• Keep it relevant: Tie questions to current events, seasons, or topics your class is studying.
• Mix it up: Alternate between lighthearted, fun questions and deeper, reflective ones.
• Encourage inclusivity: Choose questions that all students can answer, regardless of their background or experiences.
• Promote creativity: Include that allow for imaginative responses.
• Align with goals: Use questions that reinforce social-emotional learning, classroom values, or academic skills.
• Ask for input: Let students suggest questions they’d like to discuss.

Examples of Morning Meeting Questions

Now that we’ve broken down the art of the morning meeting question, let’s take a look at a variety of examples.

Fun and Lighthearted Morning Meeting Questions for Kids

1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
2. What’s your favorite breakfast food?
3. If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you choose?
4. What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen?
5. If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be?
6. What’s your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
7. If you could visit any planet, where would you go?
8. What’s the best joke you’ve ever heard?
9. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
10. What’s your favorite thing to do after school?

Reflective and Thoughtful Questions

1. What’s something you’re really good at?
2. What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week?
3. How do you show kindness to others?
4. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome recently?
5. What’s something you’re curious about?
6. How do you handle it when something doesn’t go your way?
7. What’s a goal you’re working on right now?
8. Who is someone you admire and why?
9. What’s something you’re grateful for today?
10. How do you like to help others?

Creative and Imaginative Morning Meeting Questions for Kids

1. If you could design your dream house, what would it look like?
2. What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
3. If you could create a new flavor of ice cream, what would it be?
4. What would you do if you were the principal for a day?
5. If you could write a book, what would it be about?
6. What’s the most magical place you can imagine?
7. If you could talk to animals, what would you ask them?
8. What would you do if you found a treasure chest?
9. If you could time travel, where and when would you go?
10. What’s the coolest invention you can think of?

Teamwork and Community-building Morning Meeting Questions

1. What’s one way we can make our classroom a better place?
2. How can we help someone who’s having a bad day?
3. What’s something you appreciate about the person next to you?
4. How can we work together to solve problems in our class?
5. What’s one thing we can do as a team to help our school?
6. How do you like to celebrate someone’s success?
7. What’s a rule or tradition we should have in our classroom?
8. How can we make sure everyone feels included?
9. What’s a fun project we could do together as a class?
10. How do you like to show teamwork during group activities?

Seasonal and Thematic Morning Meeting Questions

1. What’s your favorite thing about this season?
2. If you could create a new holiday tradition, what would it be?
3. What’s your from this school year so far?
4. What’s something you’re excited to learn about this month?
5. How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
6. What’s your favorite outdoor activity in the summer?
7. What’s the best gift you’ve ever given or received?
8. How do you like to stay cozy in the winter?
9. What’s your favorite thing about springtime?
10. What’s a new skill you’d like to learn this year?

If you’re looking for different types of questions, try would you rather questions for kids. Or if you’re hoping for more play-based questions, you could also try truth or dare questions for kids.

Final Thoughts – Morning Meeting Questions and Activities

In conclusion, morning meetings are more than just a routine. They’re also an opportunity to create a classroom culture rooted in connection, kindness, and curiosity. By incorporating a variety of morning meeting activities and morning meeting questions, you can engage your students, build a strong sense of community, and set the stage for a productive and joyful day. So, take these ideas and adapt them to your classroom. Then watch as your mornings become a highlight of the day for both you and your students.

Additional Resources – Morning Meeting Activities

• 30 Writing Activities for Preschoolers & Kindergarten
• 60 Team-Building Activities for Kids & Middle/High School Students
• 124 Good Icebreaker Questions for Students/Adults
• 131 Amazing Riddles for Kids with Answers