The first week of school is more than just a fresh start — it's a powerful opportunity to set the tone for the entire year. Imagine a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and valued from day one. By integrating STEM and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into your opening activities, you can create an environment where collaboration, empathy, and respect become the norm, laying the groundwork for a thriving, inclusive community.
One effective way to achieve this is through the "A Place for Everyone" project. This activity begins with students creating a "Character Cube," where they identify and represent their unique traits—such as talents, interests, challenges, and dreams. This SEL-focused task encourages self-awareness and sharing.
The project then progresses into the STEM aspect, where students use these traits to design and build a structure that supports the diverse needs of their group members. For example, how might a space accommodate a student who loves vibrant colors, another who excels in math, one facing language challenges, and a future veterinarian? This collaborative design challenge fosters critical thinking, empathy, and teamwork.
This highly engaging collaborative design challenge fosters critical thinking, self-awareness, empathy, and teamwork. It sets the class culture and tone for the entire year. This project is ideal for any class and any age, it's even a huge hit with teachers to kickstart a Professional Development day.
How do you build community and inclusivity in your classroom using 3DuxDesign during the first week? Share your strategies and favorite activities and we will highlight them in our next post!
Check out our latest Professional Development!
