Back to School
Welcome Back! Here is a list of some of our favorite welcome back activity ideas. Hope you enjoy!
ABC’s – This is good for younger kids. Have each student wear a name-tag. Then let them put themselves in alphabetical order. Use either their first or last names. Either way, this is a great way to have the students learn each others names.
Hand out a Welcome Back Goody Bag – Greet your students on the first day with a “Welcome Back” Goody Bag! There are many different items that you could put into it! Some ideas you could choose to put in are pencils, erasers, stickers, a bookmark, silicone bracelets, free homework pass, and name tags!
Create a Welcome Back Brochure – Create a tri-fold brochure for parents that you can give out at “Back-to-School” night, or send out in the mail at the beginning of the school year. Most word processing programs have templates that allow you to simply type in the information, and it creates a brochure for you. Items in your brochure might include a letter telling about yourself, your expectations of your students, class rules, homework policy, events to look forward to during this school year, any volunteers needed, etc. This is a fun creative way to share important information.
All about me worksheet – Hand out a worksheet that lets students share their likes and dislikes. Ask questions that require short answers such as what do you like to be called, favorite school subject, game, food, book, movie, and other preferences.
Appreciation Letter – On your first day back to school, have your students write a letter to their teacher from the previous year. Tell them to include the things they did over the summer, the important things they remember from last year, and what they are looking forward to this year. This is a great way to learn a little about your students and also get a feel of their writing abilities. For a special touch send off the letters to their previous teachers, I’m sure their past teachers will enjoy reading them.
Class from the past – You may not be able to do this one this year, but it’s something to think about for the next year. During the last week of school, ask your students to write letters to your next year’s class. In the letters, have them give advice on how to make the next year a successful one. Randomly place them on your new students’ desks. They will be excited to read these letters from mysterious past class members!
Guess Who – Students fill in blank facts such as age or favorite things. When there is a few extra minutes in your day, pull a card from your stack. Have every child stand in the room. Without reading the child’s name, say 1 line at a time. If the sentence applies to them they remain standing. If it doesn’t they sit down. The students standing will decrease as each line is read, until 1 child remains. Students will not only learn more about their fellow classmates, but will also see how much they have in common.
