First Week Lesson Plans Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
First Week Launchpad
CKH Alignment • 50-60 Min Daily Standard Periods
Days 1 - 3
Highly Kinetic Pacing Flow: Each day MUST begin with a high-energy Movement Icebreaker, followed directly by a High-Low / Good Things connection block, before driving into Social Contract Work.
DAY 1
Landing & The Name Storm Circle
Focus: NAME LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT
00-08 M
Door Greeting (Engage): Fist-bump at threshold. Smile and say: "Welcome!"
08-23 M
Name Storm Circle Icebreaker [15 M Limit]: Students circle up. Everyone says their name in order. Introduce a soft ball. Tossing student calls out the target's name before tossing. Speed up, or add a second ball to increase concentration and movement!
23-38 M
High-Low/Good Things [15 M Limit]: Share a Good Thing OR a Peak (high) & Pit (low). Model with your own short share, then prompt 3-4 rapid student shares to transition into a calm reflective mood.
38-50 M
Social Contract Q1 Intro [12 M Limit]: Distribute Worksheets. Direct students to brainstorm and answer Q1: How do you want to be treated by me (your teacher)?
50-55 M
Daily Launch: Quote: "People don't care how much you know..." - T. Roosevelt
DAY 2
RPS Train & Questions 2 & 3
Focus: CLASS-WIDE SQUAD
00-08 M
Door Greeting: Greet students as they enter. Encourage them to stay standing.
08-23 M
RPS Train Icebreaker [15 M Limit]: Students duel in RPS. Loser hooks behind winner as a cheerleader train, chanting their name. Winners duel until two giant trains face off in a massive cheer clash! Great for building on Day 1 name learning.
23-38 M
High-Low/Good Things [15 M Limit]: Settle back in seats. Invite a student facilitator to lead, asking 4-5 classmates to share their high/low or good thing.
38-50 M
Questions 2 & 3 [12 M Limit]: In small groups, students brainstorm and record Q2: How do we treat each other? and Q3: How do you think I want to be treated?
50-55 M
Daily Launch: Quote: "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be..." - Goethe
DAY 3
Opinion Runs & Conflict Solves
Focus: OPINION SHARING
00-08 M
Door Greeting: Meet students at the door. Instruct them to stand in the center of the room.
08-23 M
"This or That Run" Icebreaker [15 M Limit]: Divide the room in half with tape. Shout out contrasting options: "Sweet or Savory!", "Early Bird or Night Owl!" Students must physically run to the side that represents them.
23-35 M
High-Low/Good Things [12 M Limit]: Move to desks. Rapid-fire student sharing of peaks and pits to transition from physical to emotional connection.
35-50 M
Conflict Q4 & Consolidation [15 M Limit]: Group work on Q4: How should we treat each other in conflict? Consolidate class keywords on the whiteboard. Appoint "Scribe" students.
50-55 M
Daily Launch: Quote: "Direct communication in conflict saves relationships."
CKH First-Week Lesson Plans Page 1 of 2
Teacher Resource
First Week Launchpad
CKH Alignment • 50-60 Min Daily Standard Periods
Days 4 - 5
DAY 4
Ratification and Commitment
Focus: EMPOWER
00-08 M
Door Greeting: Direct students to clear space for the silent alignment.
08-23 M
"Silent Birthday Sort" Icebreaker [15 M Limit]: Students must stand up and line up from January to December by their birthday day and month. The catch: they must do it completely silently! They have to use hand gestures and signs.
23-35 M
High-Low/Good Things [12 M Limit]: Move to desks. Quick student sharing.
35-50 M
Ratification Ceremony [15 M Limit]: Present finalized poster. Vote and sign the contract.
45-55 M
Daily Launch: Quote: "Commitment is what transforms a promise..." - A. Lincoln
DAY 5
Launching into the Year
Focus: EMPOWER & LAUNCH
00-08 M
Door Greeting: Warm welcome as students enter.
08-23 M
"Human Knot" Icebreaker [15 M Limit]: Small groups of 6-8 stand in a circle, put hands in the middle, and grab hands with two different people. Without letting go, they must physically untangle themselves to form a perfect circle!
23-35 M
High-Low/Good Things [12 M Limit]: Facilitate high-low sharing routine.
35-50 M
Affirmation Notes [15 M Limit]: Students write sincere encouraging notes using Page 2 templates.
50-55 M
Ultimate Launch: Stand in a circle and cheer to close the week!
EXCEL Routine Checklist for Educators
E - Engage Handshakes, greetings, open posture, physical smiles.
X - Explore "High-Low/Good Things", active listening, capturing hearts.
C - Communicate Interactive teaching, connection, sharing goals.
E/L - Empower/Launch Student contracts, responsibility, structured parting.
CKH First-Week Lesson Plans Page 2 of 2
Connection Cards Activity Kit Student Activity Resource
Connection Cards
Kinetic Icebreakers • Instructions: Cut along the dotted lines
Icebreakers
Teacher Tip: Print on cardstock, cut along the dotted borders, and hand out one card per small group of 3-4 students. Instruct groups to read and run these highly physical, kinetic icebreakers during the first 15 minutes of class.
DAY 1
Name Loop Challenge
A fast-paced verbal & physical connection game.
Your Rules:
1. Stand in a circle. Introduce yourselves in order.
2. Toss a soft ball across the circle. You MUST loudly call out the person's name BEFORE you throw it to them!
3. If successful, speed up or introduce a second ball to increase the panic and laughter!
✨ Challenge: Complete 20 passes in a row without a drop!
DAY 2
RPS Train Showdown
A high-energy class-wide bonding game!
Your Rules:
1. Play Rock-Paper-Scissors with a partner.
2. If you lose, you immediately join the winner's "cheerleader train" (place hands on shoulders and chant their name).
3. Winners walk together to find another winner and duel. The final 2 giant trains face off!
✨ Challenge: Be the loudest cheerleader in the train!
DAY 3
This or That Run
Physically running to express your preferences.
Your Rules:
1. Stand in the center divider line of the room.
2. The teacher shouts two options (e.g., "Sweet or Savory!", "Cats or Dogs!").
3. Immediately run or hop to the side that represents you.
✨ Challenge: Be ready to defend your choice in 3 seconds!
DAY 4
Silent Birthday Sort
Silent moving alignment to show group cohesion.
Your Rules:
1. Everyone must stand up and line up from January 1 to December 31.
2. You must do this completely silently!
3. Use hand gestures, signs, and fingers to represent your birthday and find your exact spot.
✨ Challenge: Complete the lineup in under 4 minutes!
Vibe Check Community Resources Page 1 of 2
Student Activity Resource
Daily Peer Affirmations
Spread Positive Vibes • Fill out and cut along the lines
Affirmations
How to write a Great Affirmation: Keep it Positive, Specific, and Action-oriented. Avoid generic "you're cool" messages. Focus on how their actions, kindness, or voice helped you or others in the room!
Social Contract Worksheet Kit Student Activity Sheet
Class Social Contract
Co-designing our classroom culture & expectations
Name:
Date: Period:
What is a Social Contract? It is an agreement we make about how we will treat each other so that everyone feels safe, respected, and successful in this room.
Question 1
How do you want to be treated by me (your teacher)?
Question 2
How do you want to be treated by each other?
Co-Creating Our Classroom Community Page 1 of 2
Student Activity Sheet
Class Social Contract
Co-designing our classroom culture & expectations
Part 2
Question 3
How do you think I (your teacher) want to be treated by you?
Question 4
How should we treat each other when there is conflict?
Ratification and Commitment Statement
By signing below, I certify that I actively participated in creating this contract. I promise to do my absolute best to live by these values every day and to support my teammates in doing the same.
Student Signature:
Teacher Signature:
Co-Creating Our Classroom Community Page 2 of 2
Contract Canvas Slides Welcome Home | Classroom Onboarding
Vibe Check
Let's co-create a space where everyone is respected, supported, and ready to win.
First Week Launchpad Slide 1 of 12
Day 1 Daily Routine Launch
Name Loop & High-Low
1. Name Loop Challenge [15 M Limit]
We circle up, introduce ourselves, and toss a ball across. Call out their name before throwing!
2. High-Low / Good Things [15 M Limit]
Share one Good Thing on your mind, OR a peak (high) and pit (low) from your last 24 hours.
Reflective Prompt
"What is one positive thing on your mind, or a high and low from your last 24 hours?"
EXCEL: Explore Routine Slide 2 of 12
Day 1 Social Contract Brainstorm
Day 1: Social Contract Question 1
Let's co-create our agreement today. Grab Page 1 of your worksheet and brainstorm:
Question 1
How do you want to be treated by me (your teacher)?
Think about: tone of voice, fairness, flexibility, support during mistakes, and direct communication.
EXCEL: Co-Creating Rules Slide 3 of 12
Day 2 Daily Routine
RPS Train & High-Low
1. RPS Train Icebreaker [15 M Limit]
Duel in RPS. Loser joins winner's cheerleader train, chanting their name. Giant showdown at the end!
2. Daily High-Low [15 M Limit]
Sit with your tables. Share your peaks and pits with your teammates to build connection.
Reflective Prompt
"What is one positive thing on your mind, or a high and low from your last 24 hours?"
EXCEL: Settle & Support Slide 4 of 12
Day 2 Social Contract Brainstorm
Day 2: Social Contract Questions 2 & 3
Work with your table group to discuss and record answers for these next two critical foundations:
Question 2
How do you want to be treated by each other?
Think about: group projects, listening to opinions, classroom humor, and teasing.
Question 3
How do you think I want to be treated?
Think about: class attention, honesty, hard work, and direct communication.
EXCEL: Co-Creating Rules Slide 5 of 12
Day 3 Daily Routine
This or That Run & High-Low
1. This or That Run [15 M Limit]
Stand at the center tape line. The teacher shouts two options. Rapidly run/hop to the side that represents you!
