It’s nearly Back to School…
This is one of my favorite parts of the school year! (rivaled by the last days of school, but we’ll save that for another blog post.)
I still recall my first day on my first year. I remember closing the door to our classroom for the first time. My students were sitting in a circle on the rug at the front of the room. After shutting the door, I turned around to walk back to them, when it hit me. “Wow, its just me now. This is my classroom.” It was a surreal moment. I couldn’t believe I was qualified to be responsible of all those kiddos! I was terribly nervous. Luckily, the nerves began to fade as we fell into the rhythm of the day.
Many of the activities I did that day I’ve done over and over every year since. I love the simplicity and effectiveness they have in starting the year, calming nerves, and building classroom community. Here are 5 easy and low prep ideas to use on your first days:
1) The “Me Bag”
On the night of “Meet the Teacher” each student finds a brown paper bag on their desk. Attached is a simple note of instructions: “Fill this bag with 2-3 small items that will help us get to know you!”
Students bring their bags back the next day (on the first day of school.) Over the course of the first week, they each get a turn to come to our class stage and share their items with us (like a good old fashioned “show and tell!”) After they share, presenters get a chance to call on their peers to ask questions about their items. I model what a good question sounds like (key: it doesn’t start with “I…..”)Then they put their bag in their backpack and take it back home right away.
I love this activity so much because it gives each classmate the chance to be seen and heard. It helps us get to know them and what is important to them as well! The kids love this activity, too. But-word to the wise-*don’t have everyone share their “Me Bag” in one setting!* Your students will inevitably get bored and tune out presenters who go towards the middle and end. Split these up by doing a few at a time.
I also like to share my own “Me Bag” on the first day of school so the kids can get to know me! I typically include a coffee cup, family photo, and music.
2) Teacher True or False
After showing my own “Me Bag” and sharing a little more about myself, I give student this little “pop quiz!” Each student gets a “Teacher True or False” page as shown below. For some questions they have to guess the answers and others they try to remember from the information I shared.
I read each statement on the form aloud and then have kids circle true or false. I reveal all the answers at the end. The kids love thing to get as many answers right as possible (and they seriously remember this information all year!)
3) Find Someone Who
In this activity, everyone gets a handout like the one shown below. Students walk the room trying to “find someone who” can sign a box on their paper. For example, if the box says Find Someone Who “likes basketball,” they would start asking others “who likes basketball!?!” Once they found someone, that friend would sign their name in the box. The rule is that a different person must sign each box! You can play until the first person is finished or play for a set time and see how many everyone can find!
Students love this because it gets them up and moving, is a challenge, and allows them to get to know one another a bit. I like to do this activity several times during the first week of school. Once students know how the activity works they get even more excited to do it again!
4) Classroom Scavenger Hunt
After students have familiarized themselves with the classroom a bit (typically around day two,) I do this activity. Students are put in groups or pairs and given a set amount of time to find all the items/answer the questions about the classroom! They have so much fun working together and locating things in the classroom! It also helps me point out key areas of the room I want them to recall.
5) Self Portraits
The final activity I have to share is also my favorite. Creating self portraits was something my mentor teacher did when I was student teaching. She displayed the portraits in class all year and had families guess their child’s portrait during “Parent Night” later in the year. Here’s how it works:
I like to start by reading the text “Happy in our Skin” by Fran Manushkin. This is a simple read that enforces the idea that our differences are beautiful and are all to be celebrated. After reading, discuss as a class how unique each of them is, and how this is what makes them special! Say “today we will celebrate our uniqueness by drawing self-portraits!”
Emphasize to the class that you want their best work on these because they will remain in the classroom! This will help the class remember that we are all a part of the same class family, each with our own unique traits.
Some teachers prefer to use paints or oil pastels for this project. I prefer to use the “Color of the World” crayons or colored pencils. I decided to buy each student their own box of these crayons last fall (thanks to my mom for sponsoring them!) and gave each student their box when the time came to start self-portraits. They were SO excited to match their hair color, eye color, and skin color with the crayons!
I insist students outline their head, shoulder and eyes before using any color. I come check their outline when done to make sure it fits the paper (not micro small or gigantic.) We also go over how to draw a head/shoulders before starting on our own. Younger students may even benefit from a pre-drawn or printed outline.
I ask students to fully color their background (paint might be fun to insert here!) and then I gather them for our class display. I place the portraits with our class puzzle (you can read more about that in this post.) They stay up year round!
I hope you’ll be able to use and adapt some of these easy and fun activities in your room for Back to School! All of the activities discussed are a part of my “Back to School Bundle” and “Back to School Printables” resource on my TPT. Those products will be linked below for you.
Have another fun “Back to School” activity you adore? Tell us about it below!
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