First Five – 5 days – 5 minutes
Get started with activities that build connection, help students see the relevance of school, and create a future vision
Starting a class or group with a focus on “Why”
Five simple activities to help students feel seen, connect with others, recognize their strengths, understand why school matters, and begin thinking about their future.
5 days – 5 min – 5 activities
The first few days of school create a unique opportunity. Before students become focused on assignments, grades, routines, and expectations, teachers can establish something even more
foundational:
Each activity is designed to take approximately five minutes at the beginning of class during the first five days of school.
The Student’s Progression
Notice
Connect
Strenghten
Discover Why
Envision
The Teacher’s Progression
Recognition > Connection > Growth > Relevance > Vision
– Five minutes can be enough to notice a student.
– Five minutes can strengthen a connection.
– Five minutes can remind someone that support is available.
– Five minutes can help a student find another reason to engage.
Five minutes can show students that their voice matters.
That’s the idea behind the First Five.
Quick Summary of the First Five
Strategy 1 – NOTICE
Notice Me
Students respond to a few quick, low-pressure prompts that help the educator learn something meaningful about what helps them feel comfortable, engaged, and successful at school. Students can respond through movement rather than having to explain their answers publicly, allowing the educator to notice patterns across the group.
The goal is not to diagnose students or ask them to disclose personal challenges. It is simply to communicate:
“I want to understand what helps you succeed.”
Foundational message: You matter here.
Who you are matters here.
Helps strengthen:
Connection • Attendance
Community Schools alignment:
Integrated Student Supports
Strategy 2 — CONNECT
Who’s Got Your Back?
Students consider several common situations—needing help with school, needing someone to listen, needing help solving a problem, or needing encouragement—and identify people they could turn to for support.
The activity helps normalize help-seeking and reminds students that support can come from many places: teachers, counselors, social workers, coaches, community school staff, family members, peers, and other trusted adults.
The goal is to help students understand:
Having support is a strength—not something you have to wait until there is a crisis to use.
Foundational message:
You don’t have to handle everything alone.
Helps strengthen:
Resilience • Behavior • Attendance
Community Schools alignment:
Integrated Student Supports
Strategy 3 — STRENGTHEN
Find the Common Ground
Students respond to several simple prompts by moving to different parts of the room. Once there, they make a few quick connections with students who chose the same response.
Questions can explore interests, ways students like to connect with others, favorite parts of school, and experiences that help them feel comfortable in a group.
There is no pressure to have a long conversation or disclose anything personal. The goal is simply to help students repeatedly experience:
“There are people here I have something in common with.”
Foundational message:
We’re stronger when we’re connected.
Helps strengthen:
Connection • Behavior • Attendance
Community Schools alignment:
Active Family & Community Engagement • Collaborative Practices
DAY 4 — DISCOVER THE WHY
What’s Worth Showing Up For?
What’s Worth Showing Up For?
Students think about what makes school worth engaging in for them and move toward one of four broad categories:
People • Opportunities • Goals • Things I Enjoy
They may think about friends, a trusted adult, sports, clubs, a future goal, a favorite class, an activity, or simply something they enjoy being part of.
The point is not to convince every student to love school.
It is to help students begin identifying something worth connecting to—because connection and relevance can give students another reason to keep showing up.
Foundational message:
We’re stronger when we’re connected.
Helps strengthen:
Connection • Behavior • Attendance
Community Schools alignment:
Active Family & Community Engagement • Collaborative Practices
Strategy 5 — ENVISION
Make It Better
Students move to one of four areas representing something they would like to strengthen in their classroom or school:
More Welcoming • More Helpful • More Interesting • More Connected
Once there, students think of one small thing that could make that area better.
They then have an opportunity to contribute an idea about something students themselves could do.
This shifts students from thinking only about what adults should provide to recognizing:
“I am part of this community too, and I can contribute to making it better.”