6 Back to School Activities for a Successful First Week
Back to school can be exciting and stressful, so having back to school activities planned will reduce anxiety.
That first week is all about building relationships and getting to know each other, before diving into the learning.
Personally, I find the first week of school to be a quick transition from strangers to a community and I want to squeeze an introduction to routines and procedures in there all while trying to make it start to stick.
Several back to school activities work well as we head into the school year and I cannot wait to share them with you.
- Have students determine a word of the year
- Create a class contract
- Have students complete an All About Me activity
- Do a scavenger hunt
- Play Would You Rather
- Have students do an email etiquette lesson
Grab my FREE Scavenger Hunt here!
Back to School Activities: Word of the Year
Word of the Year is usually associated with the New Year, but having students start the school year with a word that symbolizes their goals and hopes for the school year is inspirational and motivational.
It is a glimpse into each student, who they are, and what they value. It doubles as a “get to know you” activity, and even a glimpse into their writing ability.
Students can complete a digital or physical version of this activity.
Tips for use: No matter how it is completed, have students do a paper version of their word and laminate the completed word to keep in their binder; so they are reminded every day.
Make a Class Contract/Norms
Looking to create a class community and buy in? A class contract or class norms is perfect for back to school activities.
Students share ideas for class expectations, no idea is a bad idea. This can be done as a whole class, a think-pair-share, or small group activity.
After a brain dump, come together again as a class to combine ideas that are similar, change words to be specific, and narrow the list to 3-5 norms or expectations.
Finalize the norms by making a poster and having students all sign the poster.
Add some fun by having each class give themselves a class name and even a mascot. This differentiates the posters and brings the students together as a team.
Get an activity for brainstorming class norms in The Back to School Station resource.
Back to School Activities: All About Me
This activity is versatile because it can be very simple or more complex.
No matter how the activity is created, it should be intentional and useful to the teacher; as well as engaging for the students.
The All About Me activity can be a one page activity and can include a writing component.
Adding a writing component to this activity is beneficial because students can write in a low-stakes way and the teacher can gauge their ability as writers without the stress of an official beginning of year assessment.
Get your hands on the All About Me Activity in The Back to School Station resource.
Back to School Activities: Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt presents so many options and is an easy activity for students to explore the syllabus, the classroom, or the expectations.
Create scavenger hunts for anything and at the beginning of the year it can be a classroom scavenger hunt.
Students can complete tasks that bring them to where materials are stored, what to do when they need to use the restroom, the classroom library procedures, sharing information with the teacher, getting to know their peers, the possibilities are endless.
Scavenger hunts get students up and moving, which is an added benefit that first week of school, because students spend a lot of time sitting and taking in all the rules - glazing over and not taking it all in.
There are students who prefer to sit and get, making scavenger hunts even more versatile because it can be completed individually, in pairs or small groups.
Get a free version of the Scavenger Hunt here.
Play Would You Rather
If you have a class that wants to get up and socialize, this version is for you (see below for a less social version).
Students grab a card that has a would you rather question on it.
Then they stand up and find a partner - as quick as they can (if you don’t like a lot of chaos you can set up desks to have them rotate). Students signal that they need a partner by raising their hand as they move around the room.
Student A asks Student B the question and they have to answer as quickly as possible, then Student B asks Student A their question.
After both partners have read, they exchange cards, raise their hands, and find new partners.
Set a timer on the board for 3-5 minutes and let the fun begin.
For a less chaotic version, set up desks as mentioned above and take control of the movement, or ask these questions as you take attendance the first week.
An added bonus to the would you rather cards is that the numbers on them can be used to group students for an activity in class that day.
Side note - The Would You Rather can be used any time throughout the year to break up a lesson and group students.
Breakdown of Would You Rather
- Students grab a card
- Raise their hand
- Student A asks Student B their question
- Student B answers as quickly as possible
- Student B asks Student A their question
- Student A answers as quickly as possible
- The students switch cards
- Raise their hands
- Find a new partner and repeat the process
Email Etiquette Lesson
I don’t know about you, but as the year progresses I get emails from students about assignments and grades.
Those emails leave a lot to be desired, if you know what I mean.
Starting the year with how to properly format an email saves my sanity - almost.
The lesson introduces students to the parts of an email and proper formatting for formal emails.
Students get the chance to practice their new email skills by emailing a teacher and sharing something about themselves and why they are excited to be in that teacher’s class.
Like with anything, it takes repetition and practice for it to sink in and become a habit. Providing students with a reference for future use and practicing the skill will help the knowledge stick.
Filling the first week of school with back to school activities that are meaningful and intentional will set you and your students up for success.
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