Bueller? Bueller? Online learning is reminiscent of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Where’s Waldo books. Your typically chatty staffers have gone silent in the era of Zoom calls. To bring back the discussion and classroom connections, we’re highlighting seven starter activities. Let the virtual bonding begin.
1. Tell me something boring about yourself. This idea was inspired by a Twitter post from University of South Carolina professor David DeWeil. DeWeil found the boring fact request was less stressful for students to summon up on the fly. The irony is you might find out some pretty interesting facts anyway.
2. The good & the bad. The old standard, this type of sharing pushes students to reveal a little of their day or week. Ultimately, the rest of the staff gets a little more insight into the person, and often relates or empathizes with the revelation. This type of questioning has also been dubbed Plus/Delta, Highlight/Low point, Smiles & Frowns, Popsicle/Poop-sicle, etc. Whatever you call it, it’s a cognitive way to find out what’s going on with your students and help them relate to each other.
3. Which version are you today? This is fun idea from one of our middle school teachers, Canyon Vista’s Missy Sharpe. Using Canva, Sharpe created an 8-photo compilation with various emotions. With a number associated with each emotion photo, students can rate how they are feeling that day. It’s a great barometer test in this stressful environment and a fun way for students to see the goofy side of you.
4. Show & Tell time. This elementary tradition works at all levels and in a virtual format! Have each staffer hold something dear to them and share why it’s important. You’ll get some funny responses and some introspective ones. Consider making it a pet-free activity so you can use that for another class starter. Another criteria idea: making it an object from a certain room in the house—bedroom, living room, kitchen.
5. What’s your creative type? This fun quiz from Adobe Create lets you discover your creative personality. A participant answer 15 questions and based on the responses, will receive one of eight creative designations: the Adventurer, Artist, Dreamer, Innovator, Maker, Producer, Thinker or Visionary. Note, the quiz does take some time to do so you might consider assigning it as homework and having students reveal their results at the start of the next class.
6. True Colors test. A popular personality profiling test from the ’70s, this quiz can help the staff utilize their best skills, learn more about each other and work in harmony. At our Jumpstart and Amplify events, the 2020 Black & Gold editors shared their true colors quiz they use with Rock Canyon yearbook staffers. Feel free to use their presentation, color cards and worksheet to administer the quiz to your staff.
7. Theme days. Spirit days and school go hand-in-hand. And they’re still possible in a virtual environment. Consider having a theme day once a week, allowing the yearbook staff to dress up accordingly. While virtual, the Alamo Heights yearbook staff chose a different theme each Fridays, including a Fancy Friday, when they wore tiaras and another where they donned PJs and messy hair.
Need more ideas? Check out our virtual bonding page on the new BalfourExchange site.