Transition services is a difficult job that requires a lot of coordination between school counselors and teachers from each straddling grade. School districts and school educators pour their hearts and souls into these days to ensure students move towards a successful future in academia. Students are introduced to structures around school work and social life as well as given school rules and resources to aid in this transition.
1. Transition Day Tips and Activities for Teachers
This YouTube video has some great activities that you can do with students on a transition day. To ensure successful transitions, primary school students should feel comfortable and more ready to take on future challenges.
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2. My Transition Activity Booklet
This activity booklet really focuses on emotional skills for individual students. Jam-packed with school stress resources, this booklet will surely help students feel more at ease during their transition to a new grade level.
Learn More: Staffordshire
3. Passport Activity
School staff and school students alike will enjoy this activity’s take on school transitions as a travel experience! As an add-on, have students design their own passport cover with an emblem of their choosing.
Learn More: Plazoom
4. 50 Transition Activities Bumper Pack
This secondary school resource is chalked full of activities you can use as secondary transition resources or for another school day.
Learn More: TPet
5. 10 Ice-Breaker Activities
Class teachers use Ice-Breaker activities in effective transition programs. These are often fun and active helping students relax during this challenging time whether that’s during transition day or in the first few weeks back at school.
Learn More: Mrs. Willyerd
6. Build Better Connections
This ice-breaker resource helps students make a stronger connection to peers when in transition as well as build a school community. During the transition from Primary to Secondary School, healthy connections can make all the difference in a student's success.
Learn More: Colourful Teaching For You
7. Transitions Take Time
Successful transitions don’t happen in one day. Making sure your transition stakeholders feel supported before and during the leap from Primary to Secondary School is an important part of this. Make sure to have the first day of school activities that carry on what you started during your school's transition day.
Learn More: Write and Read Teacher
8. Super Strengths Poster
A great way to build confidence in students during this nerve-wracking time is to have them explore and examine their strengths. Use this activity to creatively boost student social skills and confidence.
Learn More: Centervention
9. Escape-Room Style Activity
Students love activities that get them up and moving. Use this escape room to introduce a growth mindset and get students familiar with your classroom at the same time.
Learn More: Think Tank Teacher
10. A Counselor’s Take on Transition
Practical strategies for transition days include more serious activities which require students to think about their feelings. This printout of an article written by a school counselor provides an activity and strategies for teachers who are pivotal in student transitions.
Learn More: Savvy School Counselor
11. Speedbooking
This activity can work for most subjects and the library either during transition day or during the first day of school! It encourages excitement around reading and builds social skills.
Learn More: Reading by Example
12. Transition for Students with Disabilities
Services for students with disabilities are an integral part of transitioning from primary to secondary school. Although this resource provides a list to aid individuals with disabilities in this transition time, they are steps that can be made into activities parents and school educators can adapt to the student's needs.
Learn More: Handy Handouts
13. Morning Meeting Questions
Class on transition day should be fun and get students excited about their move. Effective transition practices include engaging content that lets students share and ask all the questions they need. This meeting-style activity can help student confidence and help them make connections with peers.
Learn More: Centervention
14. The Science Behind Friendship Experiment
Friendship issues are a big concern for students transitioning from primary to secondary school. Use this fun science-inspired activity to help students navigate friendship dynamics during the early stages of transition.
Learn More: The Creative Counselor
15. Peer Pressure Resources
During the primary to secondary transition, students are maturing and will be confronted with more difficult situations in the higher grade levels. Learning about peer pressure and how to handle it is a vital aspect of the transition.
Learn More: Centervention
16. Long-term Transition Planning
Transitioning from primary to secondary school happens over years and months. Having an open channel of communication between school educators to ensure the students are ready for the next stage is imperative. This resource gives long-term activity examples about how to prepare students for the big leap.
Learn More: Minds in Bloom
17. Getting to know you Jenga
Hands-on and interactive, this get-to-know-you game will help to transition students get excited about the change. Find these awesome color blocks on Amazon or buy a traditional game and color code yourself!
Learn More: Jennifer Findley
18. The Toilet Paper Game & More
School educators can benefit from these activities for schools. Not only is the toilet paper game a way to shock and surprise students, but it is also engaging as well. This will score you major brownie points with your students.
Learn More: Teaching with a Mountain View
19. 11 Activities for Transition Times
This collection of lessons will ease the transition for students when they start in their new school and classroom. School educators can use these engaging activities with students so that they get to know their classmates and have fun in the process.
Learn More: Reading Rewards
20. Who’s in your Circle?
Similar to a classmate scavenger hunt, this circle activity is used to help students meet others with similar interests and make connections in their new school. It lets students recognize their relationships and connections as well as their identities.
Learn More: The Thinker Builder
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