Getting started each school morning with a regular routine is beneficial in the classroom, providing stability and structure to the beginning of each day. In our lower elementary classroom we use a morning circle to kick off the day. (In upper elementary we called them “morning meetings.”)

The children come to circle and we begin with a simple right/left activity for practice with that concept and to get moving. Everyone stands up, repeats after the teacher, and moves the hand or foot accordingly with the words spoken. “This is my left hand. This is my left foot. This is my right hand. This is my right foot. Left hand, left foot, right hand, right foot. Right hand, over my heart, ready to start.” And then we say the pledge of allegiance.

Following that, together as a group we say a morning poem (see photo below) with simple hand gestures to go along with it. We do it three times – once with regular voices, the second time with whisper voices, and the third time silently, just mouthing the words. The children really seem to enjoy the “silent” version. 🙂

Morning poem for a Lower Elementary class

We then do a few brain gym exercises, such as the ones found here.

To end the circle, we discuss any announcements, share an interesting story from a student or two, and discuss the morning journal topic.

So far, this series of activities in our morning circle seems to be working for our Lower Elementary group, although we’re flexible and willing to change it in the future if need be.

Do you have other activities as part of your morning circle?