To get to know one another, First Day of School events are focused on this. There are some activities for middle schoolers and high school kids as well, but the majority are geared toward elementary schoolers. Some are also appropriate for all age groups.
Elementary pupils’ first day of school activities
1. All about the bag
On the first day of class, give each student a paper bag and write a brief note inside:
Instructions:
Put four items in this bag that represent something about you. (only four items; neither more nor less)
This bag needs to hold everything you have.
If you’d like, embellish the purse!
Tomorrow, return the bag and prepare to share it with the class.
2. Figure me out
Students already know arithmetic in fourth grade. You could allow them to make a math-based self-portrait in which they describe some interesting facts at www.bookwidgets.com.
3. Beach ball game
A social game for students to play in class. This first-day-of-school exercise only requires a beach ball and a marker.
If you want to know more, visit: https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2017/08/15-creative-lesson-ideas-for-the-first-day-of-school
4. Create a time capsule
Are you familiar with the idea of a time capsule? Go ahead and implement your ideas. If not, here’s what you could do on the first day of school using a time capsule:
Permit your pupils to jot down their aspirations and goals for the upcoming academic year. This academic year, what do they hope to learn? After that, place everything inside the time capsule and bury it safely underneath. Alternatively, you might include a humorous class photo.
6. Randomness
To make a variety of back to school activities, you can use BookWidgets’ Randomness widget. To select a student, spin the wheel, then ask them-to-discuss a topic that was chosen at random. As an alternative, you might assign a particular subject and choose the winner by spinning the wheel.
7. Would you rather
One way to learn more about your pupils is to use multiple-choice questions. Make silly cards and allow them to select one. They must respond to the query, “Would you rather…?”
8. Snowball fight
Let each student pull out a sheet of paper and write three unique, fascinating, and little-known facts about themselves. The papers cannot contain any names! www.bookwidgets.com
9. Fit the puzzle
Make a large blank puzzle and provide each student with a blank piece. They are required to adorn the puzzle piece with self-referential designs. After that, you gather the puzzle pieces and have your students assist you in finishing it once more. You now have an item to hang on the wall of your empty classroom!
Activities for middle school students on their first day of class
10. Tell it with emojis
Allow your children to use only emojis to sum up their summer activities! You can also allow new students to use emojis to introduce themselves.
11. Bingo
For middle schoolers, the Back to School Bingo is an excellent way to break the ice and introduce them to their classmates. In BookWidgets, make a bingo card and write a small description in each square, like this:
- Lives close to school
- Likes pizza
- Has 3 siblings
- Loves sport
- Can juggle
12. Art-phone
This school year, social media and smartphones will be everywhere. This enjoyable first-day-of-school activity in the classroom serves as a good reminder of that. Let’s get creative and make an art phone similar to the one shown. Make a social profile, a chat session, and an Instagram wall. www.bookwidgets.com
Activities for high school students’ first day of class
14. Get on that chair
To participate in this classroom icebreaker, kids must be adaptable and well-rounded. The teacher assigns a chair to each pupil. There should be a single line connecting every chair. Each pupil is required to stand on a chair. The instructor then instructs everyone to stand in a specific order.
15. Lie to me
The first day of school is a great approach to spending the first day of class getting to know your students. Real-life tales and experiences, not simply the fundamentals like where they reside or whether they have a brother.