Back2School

Them Against You

Author:  Sandra Schols
Audience: general
Grade: Any
Materials:None
Activity time: About 60 min

On the first day of school challenge the students to a competition.

Who can remember the most about the other. 1) The students start, taking turns they each stand up and tell at least 5 facts about themselves.

For example: "My name is Shelley. This is my first year at this school. I have 3 sisters and one brother. I have a pet goldfish
called "Fluffy", and I like soccer."

2) Then tell at least 30 facts about yourself.

For example: "I'm married. I have 2 teenaged children, a girl
Kelly and a boy, Doug. I have a pet dog called "Baby" and about
50 walking stick bugs, etc etc."

3) When you are finished introducing yourself. The children get to start, (heh, they're younger). let them volunteer answers and give
them a tally mark for each new fact they remember about you. After they have exhausted all possibilities, (usually around 39 facts for a
room of 28 grade 6/7 students) go around the room and try to remember facts about them.

Teacher's Note: I usually win. Except for the last time I tried this. Right in the beginning of my turn it was their P.E. block and then recess. Ahhhh, I had to remember the facts for over an hour. This is a great activity. I learn about them, and they also learn a lot about each other. Try it and let me know how it went for you.

Name Game

Audience: General
Name: Colleen Iacuzzo
Email: ciacuzzo@yahoo.com
Title: Name Game
Grade: Elementary
Materials: Paper, pencil, handout (grid)
Activity time: About 30 minutes

Make a grid of sixteen blocks on a standard sheet of copy paper, similar to a bingo grid. In each block I write a phrase to describe someone. Run a sheet for everyone.

For example for second graders:

                                Has a cat
                                Has a pool
                                Likes pepperoni pizza
                                Eats spinach
                                Mom works in a store
                                Born in October.......
                                Likes Brittney Spears
                                etc....

Students walk around asking each other if they fit these descriptions. The task is to have a person who fits the description, sign his/her name in that square, making sure that a person signs his/her sheet only one time. Teacher's Note: This is a great ice breaker for younger students to talk to each
other the first day.

Columbia Education Website:

TITLE: GETTING TO KNOW YOU AUTHOR: Karen S. Greenhalgh, Coronado Elementary School, Littleton, CO 80127

OVERVIEW: Introducing students to the teacher and each other. When students enter their classroom for the first time in the Fall, the need to know classmate's names and something about each other is very important. GRADE LEVEL: First through Sixth General

PURPOSE:

To help children quickly get to know one another and set up an atmosphere for learning.

OBJECTIVES:

Students will be able to call each other by name and mention something important about that person. Students will develop a sense of bonding and classroom trust earlier than might otherwise be felt. Students will be able to find a partner with similar interests for other activities throughout the remainder of the first day. RESOURCES/MATERIALS: None (Space for circle/class list optional)

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

Students sit in a circle. One child starts by telling his/her name and something that they are interested in outside of school. (Children should be encouraged to speak loudly enough for everyone in the circle to hear them.) The student sitting next to the first child to speak now says the name and interest of the first person who has spoken and then says his/her name and interest. The third child must repeat the names and the interests of the first two children and then his/her own. And so it goes until all the children have had a turn. The students at the end of the circle will have a more challenging time due to the many names and interests, but it is perfectly all right to help any student who may need it. After all the children have said their names and interests, the teacher then will try to name and tell the interests of all the children in the circle.

After completing the above activity, the teacher should ask the children to choose a partner. The partners will get together and talk about their summer activities. Where did they go? What did they do that was fun? What people did they see? What did they do that was hard? ETC. After five minutes have the children come back to the circle with their partner. Each child will tell at least one interesting thing about their partner's summer for the rest of the group to hear. The children should be cautioned to share with the entire group only those things which their partner had agreed is okay.

These short activities will hopefully encourage lots of class interaction and set the stage for learning activities to follow for the remainder of that very important FIRST DAY. The teacher will also profit from knowing much about his/her students so early in the year.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Class book could be made with drawings (possible self-portraits) and anecdotes about the students. This book could easily be updated throughout the year.

The Teacher's Corner

Me In A Bag

At the beginning of the year, I introduce myself using 'Me In A Bag.' I put a few items that represent me in a large paper sack. In my sack, I put a paintbrush because I'm an artist, my favorite book, my favorite food, pictures of my family and my pets, my favorite CD and a cookbook. The children sit around me, and I explain the significance of each item as I pull it out of the bag. This discussion helps the kids get to know me as a person. Each child then has a turn to bring in his/her own 'Me In A Bag,' giving everyone in the class a chance to shine."
Submitted by: Jan Formisano janformisano@email.msn.com , a second grade teacher in Falls Church, Virginia. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.

Ideas from A to Z Teacher Tips:

Back to School Back Pack
Submitted by: Tamie Clark, First Grade, Jackson Elementary School
I have used this activity for Pre-K and First Grade:

I introduce myself to my class by bringing a backpack to school. In it I put several things that tell something about me: my favorite book, a picture of my family, a stuffed frog (since I collect them), a picture I have painted, etc.

After the students have arrived, we sit together on the floor to get to know each other. I start with myself by pulling one item out at a time and discussing how it relates to me. I make sure the items can be handled by the children so that I can pass them around. When I am done, I go around the circle and have each student share one thing about himself or herself.

I also let the students know that they may visit the backpack and look at everything again during center time.

I know of another teacher who sends the backpack home each day until everyone has had a day. The student selected to carry the backpack home returns with 2 or 3 things and gets to share with the class.

First day (or week) of school--Family Wreath...
Submitted by: Joan G.,
I collected family pictures of each of my students during our Introduction Day. I told the family I would probably not return these pictures. I then took the pictures and made a "family wreath", for the lonely days or when the students just missed home. This was a huge hit with all the families and the children. I placed the wreath in the home living area, and was amazed to see the students, all year long, go over to the wreath and take time to admire it and their family. (Some families included pet pictures to put on the wreath). On the last day of school I auctioned it off to a family and bought supplies for the class room. All my parents wanted this "keepsake".

First Day Name Puzzle...
Submitted by: Carmen, 1st Grade
On the first day of school, I like to make a name puzzle with my students. I take a large piece of poster board, and mark out lines that can be cut into pieces. Make sure that the puzzle will have enough pieces for each student to have one. We all gather on the floor to write our name on the blank side of the poster board. I write my name in the middle, and the students write their name in all different directions. When I have free time, I cut the board into puzzle pieces. As a class we each find the spot where our puzzle piece belongs. Tape the puzzle together after school, and post it on the wall in the classroom. When the students return the next day, the will be excited to see the puzzle, and to show off their name. My kids have fun talking and, working to put the puzzle together.

Fun First Day Activity ..
Submitted by: Shelly, 1st Grade
On the first day of school I have plenty of pre-cut letters in lots of different colors on a table. As the children come in they find the letters to spell their names and glue them together. I hang these from the ceiling! They really brighten up the room and look great for Open House! Usually this is the first thing they point out to their parents.

Getting Acquainted..
Submitted by: Robin, Grade 2
I like to have some get acquainted projects for the first few days. One thing I do is when I send my parents a welcoming letter, I ask that the children bring in a small bag of pictures and other small objects that could be part of a "me" collage. These collages are a good springboard for the children to discuss their unique qualities, and at the end of the year, they enjoy seeing how they have changed. We also make schoolhouse picture frames for their first day of school photos. I cut schoolhouses out of oaktag, and the children glue pasta on the frames. I spray paint the pasta frames gold. The parents love having this memento of their child's first day when I give it to them on Back-to-School Night.

Getting to Know Each Other ..
Submitted by: Pam Gates, Grade 7
On the firat day of school do an activity to bring the class together such as a classroom survey. The students walk around and talk to the other students and fill out a questionairre. At the same time they are getting to know each other.

Making An Important Book ...
Submitted by: Robin Long,
On the first day of school I read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. I review paragraph writing and instruct them to write a paragraph following the same format as the book about themselves. I also do the same. After the rough drafts are written they are to do a final draft and attach it to a white piece of paper, where they add an illustration. All the pages are laminated and bound into a book. Students reread this book throughout the year. It easily becomes a favorite. Students also enjoy reading the book from the previous years classes.

Me Puppets...
Submitted by: Gail W., Grade 2
On the first day of school (unlike the remaining days of the school year), the children are usually reluctant to talk about themselves. We make "me" puppets using paper plates for the head, yarn for the hair, and construction paper facial features, with a popscicle stick for a handle. Upon completion, we stage a puppet show. The children hide their faces with the puppets and tell their classmates all about their families, hobbies, pets, etc.

Names Word Search ...
Submitted by: Denise Trimino, Special Needs 4th-6th grade
In order for my students to get to know their classmates, I create a word search with the names of my students. After all the names are found the remaining letters reveal the hidden message "welcome back to school." This website is great for creating various types of puzzles http://www.puzzlemaker.com

Teachers Net:

How Do You Do?
Games, level: Elementary
Posted Wed Aug 26 00:13:53 PDT 1998 by Mary K&1 (mmiehl@alltel.net).
Conneaut Valley Elementary School, Conneautville, PA, USA
Materials Required: none
Activity Time: 15-30 min
Concepts Taught: Learning the Names of Classmates
Play this game outside. It resembles Drop the Handkerchief. Have the children make a large circle and remain standing. Choose one child to start. Have the game starter walk around the outside of the circle and stop behind one person and say, "Hi, I'm ____." The other child turns around and says, "Hi, I'm ____." They then shake hands saying, "How do you do, how do you do, how do you do?" Each then runs in opposite directions around the circle saying "How do you do's" when they meet. The first one back to the spot where the "How do you do's" began is the one to introduce him/herself to another. The game goes on.