We all begin our school year a bit differently, but we all know that those first few days set the stage for the entire year. One of my favorite quotes comes from Carl W. Buechner, “They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel.” On the first day of school and everyday after, I walk through my classroom door knowing that my students will feel special when they join me.
Our first couple of days are all about building a community and becoming a family! I have compiled five of my favorite back to school, get to know each other activities.
What’s in a Name
Using the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, students come to appreciate the names of their classmates.
Dominos
A game similar to the wave done at a baseball game except students make up their own actions.
Snowball
Most of you are familiar with the Snowball activity where students respond to a prompt, wad up their piece of paper, and then throw it for another student to pick up. This activity prompts students to write one thing they are excited about for the upcoming year and two things that they are nervous about.
Puzzle Pieces
In teams of 3-5, students put a small puzzle together.
What’s in the Bag?
The teacher and students all share items that tell something about them.
The directions for each of the above activities have been compiled into a small document. You can download directions for the activities HERE!
