Gakkyukai Meeting Plan: Term Goal Setting (Class 6-8)
A student-led Japanese Gakkyukai class meeting plan to set a shared term goal through consensus, featuring agenda steps, discussions, and reflection.
The class will decide on a single, shared class goal for the term through student-led consensus.
Reaching consensus through respectful dialogue皆さん、起立。礼。着席。 Minasan, kiritsu. Rei. Chakusei.
- Runs
- 35 min
- Group
- 12 to 35
- Where
- the homeroom classroom
- Steps
- 7 · 3 questions
- Nobody is forced to speak or singled out in front of the class.
- No physical challenges, blindfolding, or lifting activities are involved.
Read this once, then put the page away
You are leading tomorrow's gakkyukai as the class representative (gakkyu iin). Your job is not to pick the goal yourself, but to help your classmates share ideas and find a common motto for this term. Read over the agenda tonight so you know each step. Write the outline on the whiteboard before everyone arrives. When students offer suggestions, list them without showing preference. If two opinions conflict, ask the class how to combine them into one strong statement that supports both academic focus and teamwork. Keep your voice calm, track the time closely, and make sure every voice feels respected during the discussion.
Setup, materials, and the rules you say first
- Write the meeting title and agenda outline on the whiteboard.5 min
- Prepare whiteboard markers and place chalk on the facilitator stand.3 min
- Whiteboard markers or chalkor: Pencil and paper tally sheet
- Anyone may pass when invited to share individual thoughts.
- One person speaks at a time while everyone else listens quietly.
- No suggestion or opinion is mocked or laughed at during brainstorm.
Step by step, what you say and what you watch for
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1
Call the class to order using traditional standing and bowing customs.
Minasan, kiritsu. Rei. Chakusei. Today we are holding our term goal-setting gakkyukai.
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2
Present the meeting purpose and topic written on the board.
Our objective today is to decide on our class motto for this term. We need a goal that helps us balance our studies, sports festival efforts, and daily classroom duties.
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3
Direct students to discuss initial goal ideas in pairs.
Turn to the person sitting next to you for four minutes. Talk about what kind of classroom atmosphere or achievement we should aim for together this term.
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4
Collect candidate suggestions from pairs on the whiteboard.
Let us gather your suggestions on the board. Please raise your hand to share an idea from your pair discussion.
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5
Facilitate class discussion to refine and combine top choices.
We have several strong ideas on the board. How can we combine our focus on study effort with positive teamwork into one clear class statement?
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6
Conduct a vote and record the chosen class goal.
We will now vote on our top options by a show of hands. The goal supported by the majority will become our official class motto for the term.
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7
Conclude the class meeting with the formal closing bow.
Thank you for your thoughtful participation today. Kiritsu. Rei. Chakusei.
The last line: Let us all work hard together to make our new class goal a reality this term.
Ask one, wait, then the next. Tap to see what it opens.
Reflection prompts, and what to listen for
- No one raises a hand when asked for suggestions from the floor.: Ask students to share the main point they discussed with their partner rather than asking for a brand new idea.
- Two conflicting goal options divide class opinion evenly.: Highlight the shared values in both options and propose a combined sentence that includes elements of both.
- Have students write suggestions anonymously on paper slips before grouping them on the whiteboard.
What a first-time leader should know
- Maintain a neutral tone as facilitator so all classmates feel their ideas are evaluated fairly.
- Keep track of the clock so enough time remains for the final vote and formal closing bow.
- Stand calmly at the front of the board and wait for everyone to be silent before starting.
- Speak clearly and give brief pauses after instructions so everyone follows along.
- Keep your tone encouraging and neutral when writing suggestions on the board.
- Encourage quieter students by inviting pair sharing before asking for open responses.
Worth knowing
- A student leader (gakkyu iin) facilitates the Gakkyukai meeting to help the class agree on a shared term goal.
- Meetings begin and end with formal standing and bowing (kiritsu, rei, chakusei) to set a respectful tone.
- The leader acts as a neutral guide, encouraging every classmate to contribute ideas.
- Classmates discuss ideas in pairs or small groups before sharing them on the main board.
- The class works together to combine similar suggestions into one clear, memorable motto.
Where it is run, and why
Leading a Gakkyukai meeting gives you the chance to guide your classmates in making an important decision together. As the class representative (gakkyu iin), your role is to facilitate open discussion rather than impose your own view. This activity guide provides everything you need to lead a 35-minute goal-setting session for your homeroom. You will find a clear briefing to read the night before, board setup instructions, opening rules, timed step-by-step facilitation prompts, and reflection questions for the closing circle.
Use this guide to keep the discussion moving smoothly and give everyone an equal voice. By following the structured steps, you can help your class move from small group brainstorming to a unified vote. Read through the agenda, prepare the whiteboard before your peers arrive, and use the provided Japanese phrases to open and close the meeting respectfully.
About this piece
- In Japan, a Gakkyukai is a student-led class meeting that forms part of special activities (tokubetsu katsudo) in the curriculum.
- Meetings are facilitated by an elected or appointed student representative known as a gakkyu iin.
- Gakkyukai sessions focus on building social skills, cooperative habits, and a sense of collective responsibility.
- Formal customs like standing, bowing, and sitting (kiritsu, rei, chakusei) set a respectful tone at the start and end of each session.
- Setting a shared term goal helps align individual study habits, event preparations, and daily classroom duties.
How it is done
- Japan: Student-led class meetings (gakkyukai) are facilitated by a gakkyu iin to discuss class matters and build a sense of unity under tokubetsu katsudo.