Meaningful Moments: Check-Ins that Build Connection
Check-ins are simple yet meaningful ways for a team or classroom to pause and connect. Unlike full community builders—which often include three distinct components to build trust and deepen relationships—check-ins are short prompts or questions designed to invite personal reflection and spark human connection.
Though they take just 5–10 minutes (especially when done in small groups), check-ins aren’t about surface-level icebreakers like “What color socks are in your drawer?” (You know what we mean!) Instead, they’re a chance to share a small piece of our inner world—how we're arriving, what we’re carrying, or what’s on our hearts—so we can show up with presence and empathy.
Below are a few check-in questions that can help create that kind of meaningful, human-centered space.
This or That: Respond by selecting one of the two options (ie: Spring or Summer) and share why…
Weekend Hopes: One thing I hope for myself over this weekend is... One thing I hope for others…
Vending Machine: If I were a vending machine at this moment I would vend… Because…
Word prompt: Give one word and have them finish the sentence. Example: Lemonade is ___ OR Popcorn reminds me of ___
Window or Mirror: Share something from your week that felt like a window (you saw or learned something new) or a mirror (you saw yourself reflected in an experience).
Weather Report: Describe your current internal weather. Are you feeling sunny, overcast, stormy, breezy, calm? What’s causing your forecast?
Tiny Victory: Name a small win from the past few days—something that might go unnoticed but felt meaningful or encouraging to you.
Letter Check-in: Share one word that describes where you’re at right now and what is on your mind, that starts with the letter ‘W’ (choose your letter)
Favorite Season: What is your favorite season and why…
The Power of Connection: Who are you going to purposefully reach out to this week that you haven’t talked to in a while, and how will you reach out to them?
Workspace share: Describe or virtually show your work space (works great for remote meetings). What would you change about your space? What is working for you/what's the best thing about it?
Daily Object: Pick an object near you (on your desk, in your bag, etc.) and share what it says about how your day is going or how you're feeling.
If I Were a Plant…: If you were a plant today, what kind would you be and why? (Are you thriving in the sun, a bit droopy, growing new roots?)
Message to Your Future Self: What’s one thing you’d like to remind your future self (tomorrow, next week, or next month)? It could be a grounding thought, encouragement, or intention.
Zoom around the room (good for remote gatherings): Announce a category/description of an item. Each person needs to go and find something that meets that description and bring it back. The first person back with an item that fits the category wins. Students have the option to share what they brought back. Examples of categories:
Go find....
something red
a memento from childhood
something you made
something with a handle
something you can wear
something that was a gift
something you eat
something with an animal print
something with batteries
Goal Setting: Make a weekly or monthly goal and decorate it.
Three Breaths, Three Words: Take three slow breaths. Then, share three words that describe how you're arriving today—physically, emotionally, or mentally.
Back Pocket Joy: Name one small thing that brought you joy recently—something you keep in your “back pocket” for hard days (e.g., a song, a snack, a memory, a walk).
Color Check-in: If your mood today were a color, what would it be and why?
Soundtrack Snapshot: If your current week had a soundtrack, what song (real or made-up) would be on it, and why?
What’s That Smell: What is a smell that you associate with a fond memory?
Carry or Shed: What do you want to carry into this next season of your life? What do you want to shed?
Food Memories: What’s a food you associate with a memory?
Song That’s Giving You Life: Play 30 seconds of a song that’s giving you life right now. Share why.