Try as we might to deny it, the first day of school is fast approaching. And if you’re anything like me, figuring out something unique to do with students on day one can be stressful. Here are five first-day-of-school ideas to get the year rolling on a positive and engaging note.
Assign students the identities of important figures in your discipline.
Create note cards with the names of various people important to your subject, and place one of each on student desks before they enter. If you’re an English teacher, these could be the names of famous writers. Math teachers might use the names of theorists. Those in the arts could write the names of famous artists or musicians. Challenge students to learn as much about their assigned figure as possible, and offer extra credit or assignment opportunities for them to show off their knowledge down the line.
Play get-to-know-you bingo.
Create a bingo card with a different experience or description in each square. For example, one square might read, “Has traveled to Europe,” while another might read, “Has green eyes.” Invite students to roam around the room, finding a classmate or teacher who fulfills the criteria in each square. Encourage them to seek out people they don’t know or only know by name, and remind them to introduce themselves to each person they encounter.
Challenge students with a scavenger hunt.
Getting students used to classroom expectations and routines is critical to a smooth school year. Instead of reading the syllabus aloud or droning on about where students should turn in their work, create a scavenger hunt that requires students to identify and locate important information and areas of the classroom. Offer prizes, such as pencils or sticky notes, to the students who get the most answers correct.
Play musical chairs.
Arrange desks in a circle just one shy of the number of students in the class. Play music, encouraging students to walk around the circle as you do. Tell students to sit in the nearest seat once the music stops. The student without a chair gets to introduce him or herself and offer one thing they’re looking forward to in the class. Repeat until all students have had the chance to introduce themselves.
Enliven students with a pre-course game.
Assess students’ prior knowledge and get them excited about the class by creating a game highlighting some of the important skills you must cover during the school year. Challenge students to give each question or task a try, and provide some incentive by offering a small prize, such as a homework pass or eraser, to the winning student or group.
Teachers may not be able to prevent the school year from beginning again, but they can kick it off with some fun and engaging tasks.
Laura Sauer is a high school English teacher in Michigan. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Curriculum Development and Instruction.
