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What Is Circle Time?
• Circle time is an opportunity for children to
talk about their thoughts, feelings and any
issues that are worrying them (show puppets)
What are the benefits?
Why do we do it?
• Circle time enables teachers to listen to
what the children think
• Builds children’s self esteem
• Teaches children to listen to each other
• Teaches children to respect each other
What are the rules?
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Be clear at the start of the lesson of the circle time rules
Listen to each other
Respect each other
Feel safe to say how you feel without being judged by anyone
Only one person should speak at once - the talking object helps this rule
You can "pass" if you don’t want to speak about something
What is circle time about?
• Circle time could be about anything
• It can cross link with any subject .For example it could cross
link with History
• A Reception/Year 1 class could pass round a teachers very
old teddy bear. What do we think about this teddy bear?
Where is it from? How old is it? Why do you think that? Do
you have a teddy bear? Is it old? How does your teddy make
you feel? Why do people have teddy bears?
• This is a good way to assess the children’s knowledge of past
and present tense and also talk about feelings/what makes us
feel safe and comfortable- are all children lucky enough to
have a teddy bear?
• Questions can open up the discussion to cross link with
different areas PSHE/Geography/History and many more.
Class Issues
• Circle time can also be used to address issues within a class such
as behaviour in the playground/friendships.
• Circle time is a good opportunity for children to try to come up
with solutions to the problem without the teacher.
Why a Circle?
• What’s so special about a circle?
• Everyone can clearly see and hear everyone else.
• There is no front or back, no beginning or end, no ‘best’ or ‘worst’ position – everyone is in
an equally good place to take part in the activities, including the teacher.
• Children see this as ‘fair’ and it helps teachers to work on the idea of equal respect for
everyone, an attitude that is developed through circle time.
• When a class first starts to have circle time, the teacher will explain the rules clearly and keep
reminding the children of them. However, as time goes by, the teacher will begin to be less of
a ‘leader’ in the circle and aims to eventually take part in the same way as all the children.
Circle time activities
The activities in a typical circle time include :
• Short ‘rounds’ where children complete a phrase such as ‘Something I have really enjoyed this
week is…’
• Debates on issues such as animal rights and children’s TV
• Discussions about good and not so good things going on in the classroom
• Activities to sort out a problem such as bullying
games to develop trust and help children to work together
games to improve children’s listening skills , drama , sharing ideas,
celebrating good things
that have happened , opportunities for children to share thoughts and feelings in a carefully
managed way
• Trying different ways to relax.
What skills does it teach
children?
• Listening
• Talking- extending their vocabulary especially
children with EAL.
• Respect
• Self confidence-Putting your opinion forward
• Problem solving skills
Circle time allows children to say what they really
think
• Often, in a class lesson, children say what they think the teacher is hoping
they will say, rather than what they really think. In other words, they’re used
to trying to get it ‘right’
• Circle time is different – it’s what the child really thinks that is most
important. This makes the children value circle time, which also helps to
make it work. Circle time builds a shared sense of value for everyone in the
group and a sensitivity towards other people that is not always easy to find
time for in a busy school day.
Now its your turn!
• Warm up activity with string
• Pass teddy around
• I like to……
• Because…..