Elementary school teachers...first day of class activity?

Question

I teach a grade 2/3 class and I am curious to know what other teachers do for "welcome back" activities with their students on the first day of school. I have lots of activities filed away that I have done in the past and am looking for some new ideas. I usually do an activity with the students where they have to tell me about themselves...like a combined writing/art activity. I will do an internet search to gather some new ideas too but thought I'd ask on here as well. Can anyone share their ideas?

Answer 1

I usually do the name game, Classmate Scavenger Hunt, an All About Me book and make a time capsule to be opened on the last day of school.  The time capsule is a lot of fun - I have the kids fill out a sheet listing their favourite things (tv show, colour, etc.), we measure how tall they are and include a string that length, they draw a self portrait and trace their hands and then they each decorate an envelope and put all of that stuff inside of it.  THEN we put all of the envelopes inside a box, seal it up and set it aside - somewhere out of the way, but where we can still see it (so we don't forget about it).  

It's really fun on the last day of school to take it down, have a time capsule opening ceremony and look at everything.  They're always amazed at how they've improved at writing and drawing and have great fun with measuring themselves against the string (and claiming to have contracted the "dreaded shrinks" -- we always read Roald Dahl's The Twits at some point during the year) if they mismeasured in the fall and it's longer than they are!

I also always take time out to read a book, since I try to do read aloud every day, and discuss school and classroom expectations for behaviour.

Answer 2

I teach 5th grade and have done so for 34 years!!!  Yeah, and I still love it.  The first day I always give my class a test "about me".  I ask them to name all my favorite things and little things about me that I know they really won't know. Then as I give the answers, they learn about me.  They always love it!  I am a big football fan and my room is decorated with LSU Tiger items.  They get excited when I ask to name my favorite team (they know they got that one right!)

Good luck this year and have a fun year!  

Answer 3

www.olympicspirit.110mb.com  

Answer 4

Let the kids do the "Do you know someone who..." worksheets.  It's like a scavenger hunt.  They have to find someone who applies to the details in the box. Like do you know someone who has three sisters?  Then someone with three sisters will write there name next to the question.  The kids have to go around asking each other if they apply to any of the questions.  It will teach the kids communication and a little bit about their classmates.  Then at the end, share the results.  

Answer 5

I like to go with a name game, to get everyone aquatinted with one another. Everybody sits criss cross apple sauce, and plays the clapping game. We also like to play the favourite foods game. Good luck.