Free October Writing Prompts and Team Building Questions

This October freebie is multi use.  You can use it to help strengthen your classroom community, build oral communication skills, or as October writing prompts.

Teachers tend to spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year on team building and ice breaker activities, knowing that having a positive classroom environment is essential for learning.  Once the attention turns to academics, however, fostering a safe environment in your 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th grade classroom can sometimes be pushed aside.

Focusing on team building and relationships throughout the entire school year is important, however.  As the school year progresses, your students will begin to form cliques.  You will get new students.  Some students might bully others.  All sorts of things will happen that will change your classroom dynamic. Taking time to focus on team building all year long is essential.

Fortunately, there are ways to prioritize a positive classroom environment while at the same time practicing different academic skills.

You can get this freebie here - but read on for ideas and tips on using this in your classroom!

Facilitating positive conversations amongst students is one of my favorite ways to team build throughout the school year.  When students are able to talk with each other and find commonalities, relationships strengthen.

These free October team builder conversation cards and writing prompts are a fun, no prep way to do this.  They have October themed questions that will help students talk to each other in a safe, fun way.

These cards can be used in a huge variety of ways.

• Morning Meetings - choose 1 card to discuss every morning with your students during your morning meeting.  You can use the printable cards or the digital version (for use with Google Slides).
• Partners – One person reads a card, then their partner answers the question. Then, students switch roles.
• Small Group – 1 person reads a question card, and then the rest of the group answers. Switch roles.
• Whole Class – Use questions during your morning meeting or other whole group time. Ask one question a day and have students share out answers.
• Mix and Match/Stand Up-Hand Up-Pair Up – Each student gets a question card. Students walk around the classroom and find a partner.  Partners ask and answer each other’s questions, swap cards, and then find a new partner.  (You might like this tip for partnering students up.)
• Writing Prompts - Easily use these questions as October writing prompts with the writing pages included in this freebie.

These cards give students the chance to practice reading, speaking, and listening in a fun, safe environment.

You can download these cards for free at my TPT store here.  If this resource is useful for you, then follow me on TPT to get updates about new freebies and sales!