Understanding and appreciating unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds is essential for creating a supportive classroom environment where everyone feels valued. When students develop social awareness, they learn to recognize similarities they share with peers while also celebrating their differences.

This fun, interactive bingo activity helps students practice important social skills like asking questions, active listening, and showing genuine interest in others. As students move around the room discovering new things about their classmates, they naturally build connections that can lead to stronger friendships, better collaboration, and a more inclusive classroom community.

Mini-Lesson: Meet Up BINGO

Preparation Steps

1. Print enough “Meet Up Bingo” cards for each student.
2. Review the squares on the bingo card to ensure they align with your class’s interests and experiences.
3. If necessary, modify squares to be more inclusive of your student population using the blank template.
4. Prepare reflection questions for the end of the activity.

Instructions for grades K-2:

1. Model the Process: Demonstrate how to politely ask a classmate a question from the bingo card. Example: “Do you like to draw?”
2. Students walk around with their bingo cards, finding classmates who match the descriptions.
3. When they find a match, they color in or mark the square.
4. Students can fill in 3 or 5 squares horizontally, diagonally or vertically to win.
5. If students need help reading the squares, they can ask the teacher.
6. Students can work in pairs or small groups instead of moving independently.

Instructions for grades 3-5:

1. Hand out bingo cards, one to each student.
2. Students walk around with their bingo cards, finding classmates who match the descriptions.
3. Students can write their classmate’s name in the square when they find a match.
4. Students can fill in 5 squares horizontally, diagonally or vertically to win.
5. If students need help reading the squares, they can ask the teacher.
6. Students must include at least one person they don’t usually talk to.

More Ways To Play:

• For older students, ask them to try to find different classmates for each square.
• Follow-Up Questions: Students could ask a follow-up question to learn more. Example: “What museum did you visit?”
• Bonus Challenge: Try different ways to get a BINGO. Examples: Fill in the four corners, create an X, or fill in all the squares to win a special prize.
• Sharing Insights: At the end, students share one thing they learned about a classmate.

Reflection Questions

After completing the activity:

• What was something new you learned about a classmate?
• Did anything surprise you?
• How did it feel to learn these things about each other?
• Why is it important to learn about our classmates?

Closing

This activity not only helps students discover shared experiences and interests but also fosters a sense of belonging and appreciation for differences. By engaging in meaningful conversations, students enhance their social awareness and build stronger classroom connections. Encouraging students to continue these conversations beyond the activity helps cultivate an inclusive and empathetic learning environment.