Student-Led Klassenrat Session (Class 6-8)
Run a student-led Klassenrat class council session in Germany. Includes role setup, structured agenda steps, discussion prompts, and reflection.
Students lead a democratic class council session to resolve classroom topics and make binding group decisions.
Democratic decision making and self governanceHerzlich willkommen zu unserem heutigen Klassenrat. Herzlich willkommen zu unserem heutigen Klassenrat.
- Runs
- 45 min
- Group
- 10 to 30
- Where
- the classroom with chairs arranged in a circle
- Steps
- 6 · 3 questions
- Nobody is forced to speak or share during any round.
- Private conflicts between only two individuals must be handled in mediation, not brought up to single out anyone in front of the class.
Read this once, then put the page away
You are leading this week's Klassenrat session for your class. Your job is to guide your classmates through a structured agenda, keep the conversation fair, and make sure everyone gets a turn to speak. Before starting, assign the three supporting student roles: the minute-taker (Protokollant), the timekeeper (Zeitwächter), and the rule-keeper (Regelwächter). Read through the wall chart or class council book where classmates wrote down topics during the week. Stay neutral during discussions, follow the fixed steps, and ensure every agreement is clearly recorded in the protocol book.
Setup, materials, and the rules you say first
- Arrange student chairs into a single sitting circle (Sitzkreis) so everyone has direct eye contact.5 min
- Place the class council book (Klassenratsprotokoll), role task cards, and the conversation ball in the center.3 min
- Class council book (Klassenratsprotokoll)or: A dedicated notebook or ring binder
- Task cards for roles (Moderator, Protokollant, Zeitwächter, Regelwächter)or: Index cards with written role names
- Conversation ball (Gesprächsball)or: A small soft object or wooden token
- Timer or stopwatch for the timekeeperor: A standard classroom clock
- Only the person holding the conversation ball may speak.
- Listen respectfully to every speaker and do not interrupt.
- Nobody is laughed at, criticized personally, or singled out.
- Anyone may pass when it is their turn to speak.
Step by step, what you say and what you watch for
-
1
Open the session with the Positive Round (Positive Runde).
Welcome to today's Klassenrat. We begin with our positive round where anyone can share something good from this week or give a brief compliment to a classmate.
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2
Read the minutes from the previous class council session.
Now our minute-taker will read the decisions recorded in our protocol from last week so we can check if our resolutions were carried out.
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3
Read collected topics and set time limits for the agenda.
We have collected topics written in our class council book this week. Our timekeeper will assign minutes to each item so we cover all points today.
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4
Discuss the first student topic and debate options.
Let us discuss our first topic from the board. Who submitted this item, and what specific change or solution are you proposing for the class?
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5
Vote on proposed solutions and record the decision.
We have two proposals on the floor. We will take a vote by a show of hands, and our minute-taker will record the majority decision in the protocol.
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6
Summarize all agreed resolutions and conclude the council meeting.
Let us review what we decided today. Our minute-taker will read back today's new entries before we sign off and close our sitting circle.
The last line: Thank you for participating actively today; our Klassenrat session is now officially closed.
Ask one, wait, then the next. Tap to see what it opens.
Reflection prompts, and what to listen for
- Silence occurs when asking for suggestions on an agenda item: Give students 30 seconds to talk in pairs first, then invite pairs to share one idea.
- One student dominates the conversation or speaks without the ball: Remind the group gently of the conversation ball rule and pass the ball to a student who has not spoken yet.
- No topics were submitted in the class council book during the week: Use the time for a feedback round on classroom atmosphere or conduct a short council training session.
- Rotate student council roles weekly so every student gains practice in each functional role over the school term.
What a first-time leader should know
- Read through the wall chart or submission book before class starts to anticipate how much time each topic needs.
- Keep your tone neutral as moderator even if you have a strong personal opinion on a topic.
- Arrange the chairs in a clear sitting circle before your classmates enter the room.
- Ensure all four student leaders hold their role cards so everyone knows who is moderating, timing, and recording.
- Keep your voice calm and steady when passing the speaking token around the circle.
- If a debate gets stuck, ask the timekeeper how many minutes remain before taking a simple show-of-hands vote.
- Remind classmates that every decision written in the protocol book applies to the whole class starting immediately.
Worth knowing
- The Klassenrat is a regular, student-led council session where German classes discuss shared issues and decide on class rules democratically.
- Four main student roles guide the meeting: moderator, minute-taker (Protokollant), timekeeper (Zeitwächter), and rule-keeper (Regelwächter).
- Sessions take place in a seated circle (Sitzkreis) so all classmates maintain eye contact and equal standing.
- Every session starts with a positive feedback round (Positive Runde) to build respect before moving to decisions.
- Topics are collected during the week on a shared list or book, ensuring at least three students share a concern before it goes on the agenda.
- All decisions are recorded formally in the class protocol book and checked at the beginning of the next meeting.
Where it is run, and why
In German schools, the Klassenrat (class council) gives you a direct voice in how your classroom runs. Leading a council session helps you practice real democratic governance, fair moderation, and constructive problem solving with your peers. This guide prepares you to step into the role of moderator or supporting officer, keeping discussions orderly, respectful, and focused on practical decisions.
Use the structured agenda below to prepare the night before and run your 45-minute meeting. Assign key roles like timekeeper, rule-keeper, and minute-taker before you begin. Follow each step, pass the conversation ball to give everyone an equal turn, and make sure every agreement gets written in the class protocol book.
About this piece
- The Klassenrat is a regular, student-led council session where German classes discuss shared issues and decide on class rules democratically.
- Four main student roles guide the meeting: moderator, minute-taker (Protokollant), timekeeper (Zeitwächter), and rule-keeper (Regelwächter).
- Sessions take place in a seated circle (Sitzkreis) so all classmates maintain direct eye contact and equal standing.
- Every session starts with a positive feedback round (Positive Runde) to build respect before moving to decisions.
- Topics are collected during the week on a shared list or book, ensuring at least three students share a concern before it goes on the agenda.
- All decisions are recorded formally in the class protocol book and checked at the beginning of the next meeting.
How it is done
- In Germany, the Klassenrat is a regular, student-led session where students discuss and decide on class-related matters in a sitting circle with rotating functional roles.