Get to Know You and Establish Group Norms
This downloadable activity is designed to build trust between group members by exploring what members have in common and what makes them unique.
Get To Know You and Establish Group Norms is a 30-minute downloadable activity designed to build trust between group members by exploring what members have in common and what makes them unique.
It is recommended that you do this activity before other relationship-building activities to establish a foundation for future work. Participants get to know each other by exploring what they have in common, and what differentiates them from the others. Then participants discuss what they need from the group to feel comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings.
Planning and Preparation: The activity can be conducted with five-30 participants. You’ll need large sticky poster paper, or tape and poster paper and a marker. Ideally, the room will have walls where participants can put up posters.
Developmental Relationship Element: All.
CASEL Competencies: Collaborating, self awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making.
Objective: To build and strengthen relationships among participants and between participants and leaders.
Activity
Get to Know You and Establish Group Norms
Resource Audience
Resource Type
Read Time
Participants
# of Participants
Task Group Size
Task Length
More Activities to Build Strong Relationships in Your Classroom or Group

Activity
Map of Community Connections
Draw a map of your connections to the broader community, starting with you at the center.

Resources
Random Acts of Kindness (E2E)
Cultivate happiness in yourself and other educators.

Tool / Playbook
The Educator-to-Educator Relationships Toolkit
A series of briefs that highlight key findings and reflection opportunities for leaders and staff to learn about how to build a relationship-rich organization.
Related Resources on Relational Practices

Video
State of Developmental Relationships Webinar 2025
Insights gathered from thousands of young people about the relationships and experiences that shape their world.

Guide
Focused Conversations About Data
Use the ORID Process to unpack your data findings.

Activity
Critical Friends Protocol
Student Voice, Critical Friends Protocol