Back To School Getting To Know You Activities

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1-2-3 Come Do Some "Getting To Know You" Activities With Me

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsToday I'm featuring 2 quick, easy and interesting craftivities that are a super-fun way to welcome and get to know your students.

Whether you do this activity at the beginning of the school year for a back to school icebreaker, or in fall, for October or November, this owl craftivity is a wonderful way to get to know your students, and for students to get to know their classmates better.

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsCompleted projects make an adorable bulletin boardI’ve included a poster to use for the center of your display.

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsFor those finishing touches, have students cut out their owl, fold the wings inward, add some highlights with crayons and perhaps a pair of wiggle eyes.

Where they place the eyes really changes the personality of this cute little critter.

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsGluing on a school picture adds that sweet, “keepsake-touch”.

There are two writing prompt options: Students can make an owl for themselves: "Owl" About Me…” or have children pick a partner and make one for that student: "Owl" Be Your Friend.” 

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, glyphs, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsAnother interesting way to get to know your new students is with this welcome glyphNo matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.

They are a simple and fun way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

As with the owl above, completed glyphs make a wonderful back to school bulletin board, as each one will be different!

I’ve provided two “Welcome to school” glyph posters to use for the center of your display.

Because this glyph involves letter recognition, I’ve included a preschool version, as well as one for students who can recognize letters.

getting to know you activities, glyphs, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, back to school craftsYou can also simply hold up an unfinished sample and point to the letter you want them to color.

Afterwards, older children can pick a partner, and try to guess which glyph is theirs, by asking them a few key questions, which will narrow down the field.
I’ve included a recording sheet questionnaire for this.

While your students are working on the investigative extension, snap their picture. 
Make a small thumbnail, class composite and print it off, so that students can glue their little photo to the end of the exclamation point to make your “Welcome!” display extra special.

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, glyphs, back to school craftsGlyphs also provide a collection of data, so they’re an interesting way to introduce or practice graphing.
Based on the information in the glyphs, I’ve included 4 graphing extensions you can complete as a whole group activity.

Since my kiddos are practicing writing their name, I read the graph and have them write their name in the blank of the appropriate section. 

getting to know you activities, icebreakers for school, back to school bulletin board activities, glyphs, back to school craftsToday's featured FREEBIE (I Made Lots Of New Friends Today!) is a wonderful sanity-saver for the first day of school

Use it as an autograph-coloring page for young children, or a writing prompt for older students, where they write about a few of their classmates that they've made friends with.

If you don't have time for everyone to sign everybody's paper, have children sign the master copy, and run off during recess or your lunch break.  Pass out at the end of the day, to allow yourself a few moments of peace to get things done before dismissal, while students work independently.  

sWell that's it for today. I hope you found something useful.

It's my mom's last day of her visit with us; some of the grandchildren are coming over, so it's time to put my party hat on.

Wishing you a fun-filled day with lots of memorable moments.

"Grandchildren complete life's circle of love." -Unknown

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