At the beginning of the school year during the first and second class periods, each student is given a blank hand to color and make a design on. There is not a right or wrong way to decorate the hand. The teacher then places all of the hands onto one large hand and have it laminated. The hand is then hung in the gymnasium saying "together we can all lend a helping hand."

By the exit door of the gymnasium, the I created a large hand attached to a string that can be raised and lowered for each grade level. At the end of the class period the students give a "high five" to the hand.

I tell the students that as they give a high five to think of what they did well today in class and what they are proud of and what they accomplished. The high five hand can also be used to think about how maybe the student could have done something different in class today.

The kids love it. They look forward to jumping up to hit the hand on their way out of the gym. This way everyone leaves on a positive note.

Variations:

Use different colors of felt.

Write inspirational quotes on the hand.

Email this best practice!