The first day of school is all about setting expectations, learning about each other, and building culture. It is an anxious time so you'll want to set students at ease right away with something to do walking in. As the day progresses, you'll want to balance get-to-know-you activities with a review of classroom rules, and an introduction to a few academic routines. The first day will fly by in the best of ways with this foolproof list of engaging activities.
Bell Ringers
1. Name tag Share
Every year, I have students design a name tag as their first assignment walking in the door. Something so concrete and so simple helps put students at ease. It also is a great first partner share when everyone has arrived.
Learn more: Name Tag Slide
2. Something You Read/Learned This Summer
I don't ask students to write about what they did during the summer as that puts pressure to share lavish adventures. Rather, I ask students what they read or learned over the summer. Define these broadly. Did they read video game manuals? Did they learn how to ride a bike?
Learn More: Retrieval Practice
Behavioral Expectations
3. Classroom Map / Scavenger Hunt
Introduce students to the new space by hosting a scavenger hunt or a map drawing assignment. Pair them up in small teams to complete this task.
Learn More: Hey Let's Make Stuff
4. Classroom Crest
This fun activity further builds a sense of unity and belonging in this new space.
Learn More: Committee for the Children
5. Interactive Modeling
Practice interactive modeling to teach students key routines for your class. This method works wonders and will stick with students!
Learn More: Responsive Classroom
6. Hopes and Dreams
Begin the process of creating Hopes and Dreams for the year as a way to initiate goal development for students.
Learn More: Responsive Classroom
Fun Icebreaker Games
7. STEM Challenge
This STEM-based team-building activity is a great way to break the ice and get students collaborating. Be sure to review your expectations for teamwork beforehand and to debrief how each group did afterward.
Learn More: Matt Farrell
8. Puzzle Piece Activity
Have students decorate a large puzzle piece with artwork representing their favorite hobbies. Provide stickers or magazines to cut out for students who don't feel comfortable drawing. Add the puzzle pieces to one large mural on a bulletin board outside your classroom. Students will feel a sense of belonging having added something to the room so early on in the year.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
9. Beach Ball Activity
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Fill a beach ball with fun yet low-stakes get-to-know-you questions. Stay away from overly vulnerable or potentially sensitive questions for this one. Toss the ball around the circle. Wherever your right thumb lands is the question you need to answer.
Learn More: ThoughtCo
10. Paper Snowballs
The only thing I remember from 5th grade is doing a "snowball fight" on the first day of school. This simple get-to-know-you game is tons of fun. Be sure to set ground rules about throwing the snowballs and cleaning up.
Learn More: Teaching Made Practical
11. FriennDiagrams
This activity has students pair up and ask each other a series of creative questions. They record their partner's answers in the respective circle and see what similarities they find.
Learn More: Conflict Resolution Frienn Diagram
Academic Activities
12. Pica Ferme Nada
Get your students' refreshed on place value and their brains firing with this engaging math activity. Pica Ferme Nada is the perfect game to shake off that summer fog. Practice your expectations around raised hands and positive peer support through this game.
Learn more: Sarah Buratti
13. My Ideal Day Pie Chart
Review fractions and pie charts while getting to know more about what makes each student's perfect day!
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
14. I am From Poems
I am From Poems make for a beautiful, literary way to learn about each others' backgrounds. Use this classroom activity with older students. Co-create a template after reading the original poem and then have students write their own.
Learn More: UMN.edu
15. Independent Reading Time
The first day is the perfect time to introduce your expectations around independent reading and your classroom library. Invite students to fill out a reading survey and while they are doing that, call groups one by one to the library. Discuss "just-right" books with them and have students take books back to their seats.
Learn More: The Thinker Builder
16. Letter to My Future Self
Time capsule letters are a great way to promote self-reflection and have your students envision their future selves.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
Filler Time
17. Captain's Coming
Captain's Coming is a game to get heart rates up while having fun. It is important to provide communal games during recess for the first few days of school.
Learn More: Mindy Brady
18. Zentangle Coloring Pages
It is crucial to provide students time to decompress and process the new information they are learning. These zen coloring options are a fantastic idea.
Learn More: Just Color
19. Brain Teasers
Ask students these tricky brain teasers during lunchtime to stimulate conversation and keep things lighthearted.
Learn More: Reader's Digest
20. Would You Rather Questions
Here's a great list of Would You Rather questions that will have students breaking the ice with each other.
Learn More: Family Education
21. Art For Kids Hub
Have students share their creations on a bulletin board. Building ownership of the classroom and risk-taking in low-stakes ways goes such a long way in the early days.
Learn More: Art for Kids Hub
22. Kahoot
You can't go wrong with a game of Kahoot! This may be a fun way to roll out Chromebooks or IPads on Day 1. Make a Kahoot with fun facts about your life to allow students to get to know more about their new teacher.
Learn More: 25 Kahoot Ideas and Features to Use in Your Classroom
23. Green Glass Door
Get students' brains itching with this tricky word game. This is a great way to spend some downtime before dismissal or to introduce during lunch to provide more structure.
Learn More: The Game Gal
24. Going on a Picnic
This fun game has students guess a category of the list of items they are taking on a picnic.
Learn More: The Game Gal
25. Poodle
Like twenty-questions but with a twist, this game is sure to get some giggles!
Learn More: The Game Gal
Congratulations on giving your students a sense of belonging, significance, and fun on their first day of school!
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