Fun and engaging interview a friend worksheets to foster inclusiveness and build your classroom community during the first week back to school!
Conducting an interview can be a fun and insightful way to help your students learn more about each other during the first week of school.
Allowing them to understand others’ experiences, build empathy, and foster friendships.
Interviewing a friend can be an enjoyable activity that promotes meaningful connections and builds classroom community.
How To Conduct An Interview A Friend Classroom Activity
1. Pair Students:
Before diving into the interview process, pairing your students is important.
Consider pairing students who have not spent a lot of time together. This will help students get to know each other better, building a rapport.
Alternatively, you can also pair students who are friends and enjoy each other company. Doing this will allow students to share more as they feel quite comfortable with someone they spend a lot of time with.
Either way, works well! You get to decide!
2. Preparing for the Interview:
It’s helpful to prepare some questions in advance to make the most out of the interview.
Think about the aspects of your student’s life that you believe other students will find intriguing or want to know more about.
Focus on open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses and foster meaningful conversation.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- What is something new you would like to learn?
- Do you have any hobbies? Why do you enjoy doing these activities?
- What is your favorite video game? Tell me more about it!
- Describe yourself in three words. Why did you use these words to describe yourself?
- Where would you like to live when you grow up? Why did you choose this location?
- How do you handle challenges and setbacks in your academic journey?
Alternatively, you could grab my grab and go interview a friend resource saving yourself time.
SHOP INTERVIEW A FRIEND WORKSHEETS
3. The Interview Process:
Once you have prepared your questions or downloaded and printed the interview a friend worksheets – have students sit next to each other and begin to conduct the interview.
Remind students to be attentive, respectful, and genuinely interested in their friend’s responses.
Active listening is key to making the interview a successful and rewarding experience for both students.
Encourage students to ask follow-up questions to better understand their interviewee’s perspectives.
Consider reminding students to pay attention not only to their interviewee’s words but also to their interviewee’s non-verbal cues. Body language and facial expressions can provide valuable insights into one’s emotions and feelings.
You can also set a 15 – 20 minute timer (or however long).
Once the first round of students are finished interviewing their friends move on to the next step below.
4. Switch Kids Up
Set a timer again for however long you anticipate best suits your student’s needs.
There are two ways you can do this.
The first way is to have the same group of students work together again – they just switch places. So the students who were interviewed become the interviewer in this round.
Or,
the second way will be to switch the kids up entirely. So those who were interviewers in the first round become the interviewees but with a different student.
Benefits of Interviewing a Friend Classroom Activity
Even though this makes a great back to school icebreaker activity. It can work year-round in the classroom. Think fun Fridays, indoor recess, etc.
Here are some of the many benefits of adding this fun and interactive activity to your classroom:
- Strengthening bonds: When students show interest in their classmates’ lives, they express care and support, which can deepen friendships.
- Empathy and understanding: Interviewing a friend allows students to gain insight into others’ experiences, challenges, and achievements. This understanding can foster empathy and strengthen their ability to relate to others.
- Personal growth: The interview process can also be a learning opportunity for students. Hearing about a friend’s experiences and perspectives can broaden their horizons and challenge their assumptions.
- Enhanced communication skills: Conducting an interview helps develop effective communication skills, such as active listening, asking thoughtful questions, and engaging in meaningful conversation.
SHOP INTERVIEW A FRIEND WORKSHEETS
Conclusion
This simple yet meaningful activity can create a deeper bond, foster empathy, and promote personal growth among your students.
Through genuine curiosity and active listening, students will gain insights into their classmates’ experiences and enhance their communication skills.
So, grab these interview a friend worksheets and help your students embark on an interview adventure that will strengthen friendships and enrich their learning experience.
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