Superpowers Unleashed: A Back-to-School Activity for Building Community

Start the school year by helping students discover and celebrate the unique strengths that make them—and their classroom—extraordinary. This “A Community with Superpowers” activity encourages students to reflect on their own abilities, learn about their peers’ strengths, and recognize the talents within their families and communities.

Activity Instructions:

1. Start with a Class Discussion:
   • Begin by discussing with your students how everyone has their own special “superpowers”—unique strengths or abilities that make them special. Share a few examples, such as being a good listener, having a great sense of humor, or being a fast learner.
2. Filling Out the Superpower Sheet:
   • Have each student reflect on what makes them unique and write down their own superpower in the bottom left of the sheet.
   • Encourage students to interact with their classmates to discover and document the superpowers of two peers on the top of the downloadable.
   • Finally, ask students to think about their family or community and identify a superpower that someone they know possesses. This could be a skill, a personality trait, or a unique experience. Have students document the individual and their superpower in the bottom right of the downloadable.
3. Reflect and Share:
   • After completing the sheets, facilitate a class discussion where students can share what they’ve learned about themselves and others. Highlight the importance of recognizing and valuing the diverse strengths that everyone brings to the classroom.
4. Display and Celebrate:
   • Consider creating a “Superpower Wall” where all the completed sheets are displayed, celebrating the collective strengths of your classroom community.

By recognizing their own strengths and those of others, students begin to understand the power of diversity and collaboration. As the year unfolds, these superpowers will serve as the foundation for a classroom culture built on mutual respect, empathy, and the belief that every individual has something extraordinary to contribute. This is more than just a back-to-school activity—it’s the beginning of a year filled with growth, connection, and the celebration of what makes each student truly super!