Curated OER
Ice Breakers and First Day Activities
Build rapport and engage students with get-to-know-you activities
Math Tales From the Spring
Ice Breaker Activity - Name Reflections
Get to you know your new class members with an ice breaker activity that uses their name and creativity. Scholars write their first name in cursive on a folded sheet of paper, cut around the curved lines, open the paper to view its new...
Curated OER
Opening Day Lesson: Getting to know each other
If you want an ice-breaker type activity, you should look at this resource. It introduces the idea and purpose of a press conference and then uses that concept for pupils to learn about one another. The teacher models the activity by...
Curated OER
Meet Your Neighbor: Action Verbs
Get your kids moving on the first day of school! This action verb activity doesn't have to be used as an ice breaker, but it sure will work as one. Simply place pairs of cards face-side down on the carpet, each with an action verb...
Math Tales From the Spring
Ice Breaker Activity - Bio Pyramid
Get to know your pupils and create a stunning display in your room with a class set of bio pyramids. Scholars answer questions about themselves, their hobbies, hopes, and dreams. Autobiographical information is written on a...
Curated OER
Special Candy Game
Building a strong classroom community starts with group activities focused on sharing and respect. The class sits in a circle, shares a talent they possess, then tell peers to throw them a piece of candy if they don't have the same...
Curated OER
First Day of Class
Students create birthday bar graphs, read books, make math windows, and more for the first day of math class. In this first day of class lesson plan, students also create pyramids.
Curated OER
Language Arts Ice Breakers
Activities that build rapport and help students demonstrate their skills can be a great way to begin the school year.
Curated OER
1,2,3 Art (First Day of School)
Students participate in a first day of school survey. In this art lesson, students answer three questions about art class, such as one thing they don't like about art class and their goals for art this coming year.
Facing History and Ourselves
Frame a Special Item
If you could frame something important to you, what would it be, where would you hang it, and why would you choose this particular thing to frame? These questions launch a lesson designed to help class members get to know each other....
Curated OER
Back To School Ideas_Compiled
Help your class participate in hands-on activities to get them back into the swing of going to school everyday. This list is designed for all grade levels with unique ideas for each (note that many ideas are geared for elementary, but...
Curated OER
Sportsround
Students devise a plan to help get kids more active by encouraging them to participate in sports. Student, using spreadsheets, devise a weekly exercise timetable for a fitness fanatic and a realistic one of themselves.
Curated OER
An Author Study: Kevin Henkes
Kevin Henkes' books can be a great way to introduce students to an author study in the classroom.
Curated OER
Who Is Who?
First graders complete the resource page Who's Who? then survey their classmates to see which phrases describe their classmates.
Curated OER
Introduction to Creative Thinking and Dr. de Bono's Thinking Methods
Students become more familiar with the setting of the lesson plan. They know who Dr. de Bono is and what he invented. Students know the lessons ground rules. They have sparked their creativity to be stimulated.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Welcome to the First Day of School!
Prepare for your students first day of school with these inviting activities. This site features several great ideas for teachers to incorporate in their beginning of school lessons.
Other
Cape Breton Victoria: First Day of School Activities
Are you looking for some creative activities to get to know your students on the first day of class? This site has compiled a list of great activities, icebreakers, and team-building games to get your classes off on the right foot.
Other
Kim's Korner: First Day of School Activities
Are you looking for some great activities to use in your classroom on the first day? Here are some activities you can do with students on the first day back to school. Some are fun, some are valuable as learning tools, and some are both.
A to Z Teacher Stuff
First Days of School Activities
Several tips for teachers to try during the beginning days of the school year to get things off to a smooth start.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: A Getting Acquainted Activity Using My Teacher's Secret Life
Contains plans for two lessons that use "My Teacher's Secret Life" by Stephen Krensky as a getting-acquainted activity. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Back to School Planning Guide
Multiple back to school resources. Includes icebreakers, quick first day ideas, and unit plans.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Playing Name Bingo With
Contains plans for two lessons of get-to-know-you activities that use a Name Bingo Game to help students break the ice with each other. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the...