Classroom Survival Skills Grades 4–5

Topic:Bringing Materials to Class

Learning Intentions:We will be able to:

  1. Ask, “What materials do I need for this class?”
  2. Gather the materials together
  3. Ask, “Do I have everything I need?”
  4. Recheck materials and pack them up

Success Criteria:We know we’re successful when we can ask, “What materials do I need for this class?”, gather the materials together, ask “Do I have everything I need?” and recheck materials and pack them up.

Materials for Activity:An assortment of school supplies such as folders, notebooks, pencils, pens, paper, textbooks, and novels; a container and slips of paper with the names of class subjects on them

Standard Circle Setup:

  • Chairs in a circle
  • Centerpiece
  • 2–3 talking pieces (to allow selection)
  • Shared agreements (refer to your school PBIS expectations)

Teaching Procedure:

  • Welcome and names
  • Reminder:shared agreements (refer to your school PBIS expectations)
  • Begin with a mindful practice (see “Menu of Mindful Practices”).
  • Identify topic:BRINGING MATERIALS TO CLASS

Today we are going to learn a really important classroom skill. It’s called bringing materials to class.

  • Opening circle question/prompt:Give one idea why it is hard to get the right materials to the right class.
  • Explain need for skill (connect with PBIS when appropriate):
  • Bringing your materials to class is a way to be responsible.It is a way to demonstrate that you are ready to learn.
  • Teach learning intentions:
  • Ask yourself, “What materials do I need for this class?”Students may have to make a list of needed items, such as pencil, crayons, paper, or notebook.
  • Gather the materials together.Students should remember not to take things that aren’t needed—for example, toys.
  • Ask yourself, “Do I have everything I need?”
  • Recheck your materials and pack them up.
  • Success Criteria:We know we are successful when we canask “What materials do I need for this class?”,gather the materials together, ask “Do I have everything I need?” and recheck materials and pack them up.
  1. Modelexamples and non-examples of bringing materials to class:
  2. I am on my way to math class.I stop at my lockerand I ask myself, “What materials do I need for math?”I think, “My folder, some paper, my planner, textbook, and a pencil.”I get my folder and some paper, my planner, textbook, and a pencil out of my locker.I ask myself, “Do I have everything I need?”I double check my list and the materials in my hand and I see I have everything I need, so I head to class.
  3. Ask students: What did you notice about how I brought my materials to class?What could I have done differently?
  4. I am at my desk getting ready to go home.I ask myself, “What materials do I need for my homework tonight?”I think, “My planner, my math book, math folder, my novel, and my reading notebook.”I gather my math book, my folder, and my novel, but I can’t find my reading notebook or my planner.I ask myself, “Do I have everything I need?”I think, “Close enough.” I put my materials in my backpack and head out of school.
  5. Ask students: What did you notice about how I got my homework materials together?What could I have done differently?
  6. I am at my cubby in the morning getting my materials out of my backpack.I ask myself, “What do I need for class?”I think, “My homework, my planner, my folder, and my books.”I get them out of my backpack.I double check that I have my homework, my planner, my folder, and my books.I look in my backpack, and at the bottom I see two of my Lego guys. I think they would be fun to play with so I grab them, too, and go to my desk.
  7. Ask students: What did you notice about how I brought my materials to class?What could I have done differently?
  1. Provide students with examples and non-examples of bringing their materials to class such as:
  2. You are going to be late for recess, so you skip organizing your materials for the afternoon.You ask yourself, “Can I just go right to class?”You quickly put a pen in your pocket and stuff a notebook in your other pocket and head to recess.
  3. The teacher says, “It’s now time for reading and social studies.”You ask yourself, “What materials do I need for class?”You think, “I need the book we are reading, my planner, my reading and social studies notebooks, my folders, and a pencil.”You gather all of those things in a stack.You ask yourself, “Do I have everything I need.”You recheck your gathered materials to be sure you have everything.You do,so you head to class.
  4. You are getting ready to go to math and science class.You ask yourself, “What materials do I need for class?”You think, “I need my folder, my planner, my

textbooks and a notebook.”You gather those things and think, “Do I have everything I need?”You realize you left your DS in your locker and you wanted to your show it to your friend.So you grab that, too.

  1. Practice/Role Play 3x:Have each student describe a situation in which they might want to use this skill. Role play these situations, or use the scenariosabove. For a detailed model of how to use role play and give feedback, see Skillstreaming(McGinnis, Ellen, and Arnold Paul Goldstein.Skillstreaming in Early Childhood New Strategies and Perspectives for Teaching Prosocial Skills. Research Press, 2003).

Activity to Practice Skill:

Use the assorted school supplies to have students practice preparing what they would need to bring with them to class.Have them draw a slip of paper out of a container to identify what class or classes they should prepare for.

Closing Circle Question:When will you practice bringing your materials to class this week?

Milwaukee Public Schools Office of Academics June 2017