First Days

These are things we do in our classroom, during the first week of school. It is not comprehensive, but everything is free and helps build community.

ActivityDescriptionlink
Find Someone WhoStudents move around the room, asking their peers questions, and finding matches to the grid on their paper. 16 sq. here
Find Someone WhoStudents move around the room, asking their peers questions, and finding matches to the grid on their paper. 25 sq. here
Interest InventoriesLearn more about your students, as you begin the school year, with Interest Inventories. Three versions are available, primary, Grades 3-5 and MS. Primary
3rd-5th
MS
Would You Rather80 “Would You Rather” questions to help build classroom culture. here
4 CornersUse the statement prompts as a way of getting to know your students and/or introducing and reinforcing the 4 Corners Strategy.here
4 Corners PostersMount these posters to help with the activity, 4 Corners. Colors include: Capri PinkIbiza Blue, Laurel LeafVery Peri (Purplish)
Walk, Talk, Swap40 Question to help students learn more about each other, build relationships, and elevate community outcomes.here
Art LessonI use this lesson on the first day of school to explain perspective, talk about a growth mindset, and give all students a chance to work in the arts. Moreover, students return to this technique throughout the school year.Updated
here
Saving SamTeam building activity and introduction to cooperative learninghere
Parent CommunicationThis is the Welcome Packet Aaron shared with his families. here
MathJanda Lannigan created this assessment to gauge student understand in math. The assessment includes the student version, interpretation guide, and scoring sheet. Thanks Janda!
RiddleThe Fox, Chicken and Grain activity is as old an activity as they get. The YouTube video (here) walks students through the question and I have created a pdf with pictorial representations. here
RiddleThe 9 Dots riddle (here), in which students connect 9 dots using four line segmentshere
Assessement Use this Form to help assess using the QSI. Very clever Marilyn! here
ManagementGet to know you wheel. Spin wheel to have kids answer questions to learn more about each other. here