CIRCLE TIME

What is Circle Time?

Circle Time is a popular activity that’s used to help develop positive relationships between children. It aims to give them tools to engage with and listen to each other.

•    It’s often used as an opportunity to solve problems that are affecting the class, for example too much talking during lessons, or someone being picked on.

•    The whole class takes part in Circle Time at the same time,  usually led by their teacher, who sits in the circle with their pupils.

•    The circle encourages unity, respect, turn-taking and working  together towards a shared vision.

•    It also helps children work on five key skills, without which Circle Time doesn’t work: thinking, listening, looking, speaking and concentrating.

When is it used?

•  Ideally, it should take place every day, morning or last   between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on the children’s ages   and ability to concentrate because they tend to become   restless.

•  It’s usually led by a teacher, although sometimes older   children can be trained to run Circle Time for younger   children. That way they also learn to be responsible and   learn to become considerate towards others.

What happens during Circle Time?

•    Circle Time should not just be a time to chat; it needs a specific designed program to ensure all children have the opportunity to get involved in it.

•    There are rules for the circle time, and children are often involved in deciding what those rules should be.

 Common rules 

•  Putting hands up to speak, and not interrupting in between.
•  Taking turns to put your word.

•  Allowing children to ‘pass’ if they don’t want to speak.

•  Respecting all input from other children and 

     not letting anyone down.

•  Teachers will often put a Do Not Disturb  sign on the door 

     so their Circle Time isn’t interrupted.

•      During Circle Time, children should sit in a circle, either 

     on the floor or on chairs.

•      Their teacher is part of the circle, too, and while they will   direct the activities, they  should  aim to keep a low   profile, so children have a chance to speak up.

•  It can be any object like a large shell, a ball, a rubber, an   egg, a teddy, or anything interesting will be passed around   the circle.

•    When a child is holding the object, it’s their turn to speak.

•    Teachers will choose from a range of activities, such as co-   operative games, rounds, musical games, drama activities,   talking and listening exercises, story time, puppets and   masks.

    NOTE: Sometimes, an issue that’s affecting the class, school or a pupil is tackled;  

                     on other  occasions, there may be more general discussions around thoughts and                           feelings in the CIRCLE TIME.

   A typical Circle Time might follow the following format:

            Children are reminded of Circle Time rules. 

                                                              
Activity 1: Simon Says



This helps children start to listen, look and concentrate

           Activity 2: A musical game 

     The teacher might beat a drum or similar instrument, and             children march on the spot, imitating the beat:  

     Loud, soft, fast, slow etc. When the instrument stops, the           children stop too.

  Activity 3: Talking Teddy

     The teacher tells the class a short story about a boy who has       started at a new school and is having trouble making friends.       He feels lonely and sad. The children then pass the Talking         Ted   (or other object) around the circle, and say what makes       them feel sad. They can have their turn at the end of the           round if they want. This encourages them to talk about               their feelings and empathise with others.

        Activity 4: An imagination game

     The teacher has a magic wand, waves it, and says,

    ‘You are all elephants/dogs/tigers’ etc.

     The children do the sounds and actions in the circle. 

     The wand is then passed from child to child to try.

  Final activity: A calming down game

     The teacher tells the children to freeze on the spot, like 

     statues. The statues then slowly melt to the ground.

NOTE: Circle Time should be fun and light-hearted, and                          always ends on a positive note with an activity that 

    calms children down and gets them back into learning mode.

What are the benefits?

         Circle Time has many benefits for children as individuals and 

         their school.

         These are:

•   Improved speaking and listening skills
•   Increased self-esteem
•   A sense of community
•   An understanding of how their behaviour affects others
•   Improved emotional intelligence
•   Improved problem-solving skills
•   A sense of responsibility
•   Improved relationships between children, and between children and their teacher

    These benefits are neatly summed up by an extract from             one  primary school’s OFSTED report:

  'The Circle Time for each class enables children of all ages, to reflect on aspects of their         lives, to discuss moral and social issues, to express with confidence, their understanding of     right and wrong and their sense of justice.  Children learn to listen to others, to be                 tolerant of others viewpoints and to respect fellow children.'