How to Create a Virtual Classroom Community

How to Create a Virtual Classroom Community

by Abby Phillips

While your students are learning virtually, maintaining community within your classroom is so important. Ensure your students are connecting with you and one another. Here are tips to build classroom community while learning from a distance.

Take a Twist on Student Introductions:

Take a creative twist on student introductions! Have students make “Me” bags to decorate. Each student should find and fill their bags with 5 items that describe themselves. Take time for each student to present and explain to the class why they chose those items.

If students do not have access to the resources for “ME” bags, have them design a virtual “All about Me” poster. Once they are completed, print them out to hang in your classroom!

Introduce Morning Meeting:

Begin each day with “Morning Meeting” that will engage and excite your students for the day. Each meeting should include 5 aspects: message, greeting, reading, sharing, and an activity.

Create Class Jobs:

Keep students involved in the classroom while teaching responsibility. Choose virtual jobs for students to participate in from a distance. Here are some great options:

• Time Keeper– Have a student give you a heads up on when to wrap up each lesson.

• Note Taker– Choose a student to write notes during lessons for any students who are absent from class.

• Greeter– Have a student log in to class early and greet each student as they enter the classroom each day.

• Audio Tech– Designate a student to inform you of any audio issues during class.

• Weather Reporter– Have this student give a weather report to the class each morning.

• Brain Break- Select a student to lead a class brain break each day. They may choose to lead a meditation or tell a joke.

Start Pen-pals:

Help keep your students connected and pair them up with one another for pen-pals! Have students complete pen-pal writing prompts each week to send to one another. Students may send letters virtually or via mail.

Writing Prompts:

• What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

• Who is your hero and why?

• What is your biggest goal in life?

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

• Write about the best vacation you ever had.

• You have been invited to have lunch with someone from history. What foods do you eat and what topics do you discuss?

• Tell your pen pal about a time you felt very happy. What or who made you feel that way?

Host Virtual Spirit Days:

Keep your classroom exciting with virtual spirit days! Have your students dress up for designated spirit days throughout the year. Here are some virtual favorites:

• Pajama Day

• Crazy Hair Day

• Color Day

• Hat Day

• Sports Day

• Decades Day

Have Students Take a Scavenger Hunt:

Have students put their explorer hat on and take a scavenger hunt. Students will locate various items inside their homes. Pair students up with one another to delegate the needed items for added fun!

• Clean Sock

• Dryer Sheet

• Brown Shoe

• Pencil

• A Book

• Piece of Fruit

• Soap

• Single Square of Toilet Paper

• Leaf

• Scented Candle

Explore on Virtual Field Trips:

Are you unable to venture out in-person with your class? Don’t worry! Take advantage of the many virtual field trips available online! Here are some of my favorites:

• GA Aquarium: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/booking/virtual-field-trips/

• Zoo Atlanta: https://zooatlanta.org/learn/at-home/virtual-zoo-tours/

• Ellis Island: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/webcast.htm

• Smithsonian: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour

• Mars: https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

Popcorn Read:

This activity will leave your classroom poppin’! Read aloud a book each day and let students “popcorn read.” Begin by reading the first passage and choose a student to follow. Once a student finishes their passage, they may choose the next person to read aloud. You cannot get butter than that!