Establishing Connections in a New Classroom Community

At the beginning of the school year, fostering a sense of belonging is one of the most important things a teacher can do to set the stage for positive learning experiences. At The Co-op School in Brooklyn, New York, third-grade students play a game called Circle of Sameness—an easygoing, low-stakes way to build classroom community by helping them discover what they have in common with their peers so they begin to form connections.

In this activity, students form a large circle. The teacher then offers a series of statements—like “Step into the center if you have a sibling” or “...if you like to cook.” With each prompt, students who relate step into the circle, showing shared experiences and sparking moments of recognition across the group.

The game can begin with simple prompts and gradually move to ones that make students feel special or reflect personal identity—like “Step into the circle if you speak more than one language” or “...if you help take care of someone.” Incorporating movement is also an option: Asking students to tiptoe, skip, or hop around the circle can break the ice a bit—and give them a chance to get some extra energy out.

And while, for the most part, the game is a silent one, students can follow up with each other at a later time, with the prompts serving as topics to chat about. “You like that too?” or “I didn’t know that about you!” set the stage for fresh conversations, new friendships, and deeper relationships.

As Child’s Play NY founder Jocelyn Greene explains, “[It helps] students feel connected. They feel like they have an opening to talk to each other. They feel they are part of a larger community and that they know new things about their peers.”

Games like Circle of Sameness create a foundation for learning by making space for students to express themselves, let others know a little more about them, and learn about their new classmates. And when students feel seen and included, they’re more ready to take risks, collaborate, and thrive—throughout the year.

To learn more about games that support learning, build classroom community, and develop social and emotional skills for students, check out the many articles that Child’s Play NY founder Jocelyn Greene has written for Edutopia.