Just like that, the summer has flown by, and you are back to school. Hooray! Many teachers consider the first week of school the worst week – not because they don’t love teaching, but because it is overwhelming.
It’s a time to break the ice and ease into new routines. Getting to know each other is essential for building a classroom community with your students.
These fun activities for the first week of school are sure to make a great impression on your students. You’ll form connections with them and be able to learn so much about your new students in just one week!
Whether planning for the first day or first week of school activities, here are five fun activities for the first week of school!
Start by learning each other’s names
As they walk into the classroom, have students make name tents by writing their names on a nameplate with colors in this foldable paper activity.
Next, they will answer questions about themselves: their academic goals, favorite subjects, and favorite activities, and include words that describe them.
This back-to-school activity is perfect for the first day of school because it lets kids get acquainted with their new classmates, even if they are shy.
A big bonus to doing name tents on the first day is that it gives you a chance to take attendance and finish other first-day tasks before starting class.
Get to know your students with bio poems
A great, easy way to start the year is by having your students get to know each other through poetry! A bio poem is a short poem that describes a person in just a few lines.
You can have students write a bio poem using this bio poem template about themselves, or they can write one about someone else in their class.
They can then share it with the class and read it aloud as part of their introduction to each other.
Writing bio poems is a perfect way for your kids to introduce themselves and build a classroom community.
Encourage your students to set goals
One way to help your kids start the year off on the right foot is by having them write about the goals they want to accomplish.
You can begin this activity by reading the book Jabari Jumps together and discussing what the characters want to achieve. From there, brainstorm new things they might want to learn or accomplish.
Setting goals at the beginning of the year is a great way to help them set realistic goals and start planning for a successful year ahead.
play ice breakers games to Get to Know Each Other
Group games are perfect for the first week of school because it allows kids to get acquainted with their new classmates while having fun!
An easy icebreaker activity is having kids build the tallest tower using index cards.
In this icebreaker game, place students in groups of four and have them make the tallest tower out of index cards.
Reflect on the first day
Everyone is ready for the first day of school, but how about the second day?
One easy way to ease into the second day of school is by having kids share their feelings about their first of school with emojis and writing similes!
You can pair this back-to-school activity by reading aloud Crazy Like A Fox, A Simile Story by Loreen Leedy.
This book is a perfect way to start the second day of school and learn about similes.
Wrapping It Up
It’s a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. Whether you introduce back-to-school activities at the very beginning of the year or after the first day, picking activities that engage students and represent learning is an excellent way to ensure interest among your students.
Save these fun first week of school activities to your teacher’s toolbox!
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