Greetings
The greetings in this section are designed for a class size of thirty or fewer
students with movable desks which can be rearranged into different formations.
Instructors who teach large classes with more than thirty students, or in a
lecture hall, should skip to the next section.
1. “I’m Glad You Are Here”
Sit in a circle. (or stand)
The leader turns to the person on his/her left, shakes hands and says, "Hi
(name), I'm glad you're here." The other person responds, "Thank you, (name)."
That person then turns to the person on his/her left and does the same. All
watch while the handshake goes around the circle.
2. “I am Glad You are Here” 2
Sit in a circle. (or stand)
The leader turns to the person on his/her left, shakes hands and says, "Hi,
(name), I'm glad you are here." That person says "Thank you, (name)" and then
turns to the person on his/her left to do the same. Meanwhile the leader turns
to the person on his/her right and does the same. The greeting is finished
quickly when the handshakes meet half way.
3. “Give Me Five”
As the class stands/sits in a circle, the leader holds out an open palm of the
hand to the person on his/her left and says, "Give me five, (name)." That person
says, "Hey, (name)" and gently slaps the other student's palm.
4. “Give Me Five” 2
As the class stands/sits in a circle, the leader turns to the person on his/her
left and says, "Give me five, (name)." That person gently slaps it and says
"Hey, (name)." That person turns to the person on his/her left and does the
same. The leader then turns to the person on his/her right and does the same.
The "high five" meets half way around the circle. Going in both directions takes
less time.
5. Bonjour
As the class stands or sits in a circle the greeting is passed by the leader
with a handshake and a French phrase, "Bonjour, (name), Comment alez vous au
jour duis?" Students have a choice of responses: "Tres bien, merci, (name). Tres
mal au jour duis, (name). Bien, merci, (name)."
6. Ola
Students sit/stand in a circle. The leader passes the greeting in Spanish: "Ola,
(name)."
Use as many different languages as students and the teacher know.
7. Roll the Ball
Sit on the floor in a circle. Use a ball. The leader says a person's name and
then rolls the ball to that person. That person says someone else’s name and
rolls the ball to that person. No repeats allowed.
8. Toss the Ball
Students stand in a circle. The leader says, "When you have the ball, you will
look at another person, say his or her name, and then gently (with a nice arch)
toss the ball to that person. When that person catches it, he/she looks at
someone else, says that person's name and then tosses it. No one can be named
twice. Remember to whom you passed it because we will repeat the pattern." When
all have gotten it say, "Do you remember to whom you threw it? Let's do it
again, repeating our pattern." After the second time say, "Now let's see how
fast we can do it," and repeat the pattern again.
9. Two Balls
Stand in a circle. The leader says, "Today we will use two balls. First let's
make a pattern with ball number one." When this is completed, begin ball number
two until the second pattern is completed. The second ball should go to a
different person. Then the leader begins ball number one, asking everyone to
repeat that pattern. When that ball is going smoothly, the leader adds ball
number two with which the second pattern is repeated. The balls need to look
distinctly different either by color, size or type. (Koosh ball, bean bag, nerf
ball).
10. Three Balls
Stand in a circle. Say "Today we will use three balls. Each ball should be
thrown to a different person. Remember to say the person's name before you throw
it, and to throw each ball to a different person." The pattern for ball number
one is completed first, followed by the pattern for ball number two, then ball
number three. After each has been done separately, ball number one is started
again. When it is going smoothly, the leader adds ball number two, then later
ball number three. (All three balls need to look different).
11. Umbrella
Pin a name tag to each person's back. The name tag should have the student's
correct name on it. (A mailing label will do). Ask everyone to get up and greet
each other by name. No one can say his or her own name. If someone uses the
wrong name or doesn't know, he or she says, "Would you do an umbrella, please?"
An "umbrella" consists of putting a finger on one's own head and twirling
around. This gives the greeter a chance to read the name tag. You may want to
ask students to keep track of the number of umbrellas they needed. Those who
needed none get a prize. "Who had to do the most umbrellas?"
12. Web
Sit in a circle on the floor. Use a ball of strong yarn. Say "Today we will
create a web. Hold the piece of yarn in one hand (and don't let go) and be ready
to roll the ball of yarn with the other hand. Before you roll it, say that
person's name." Then begin. Hold the end in one hand, say someone's name, and
roll the ball of yarn to that person. When everyone is holding onto the yarn,
discuss patterns, shapes, angles. (square, triangle, parallelogram, trapezoid,
rhombus, rectangle, acute angle, right angle, obtuse angle, complementary
angles, supplementary angles, right triangle, equilateral triangle, isosceles
triangle, scalene triangle, hexagon, octagon, quadrilateral, pentagon) Have
everyone stand up holding onto the yarn. Ask all to let go and one person
re-winds the yarn.
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