icebreakers for the first week of school

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I teach “mapping” as a writing strategy to my college comp students.  It’s a fun visual way for them to get their thoughts organized on paper, before they begin to write their essay.

A name map is a terrific way to introduce "mapping" to elementary students.  This is also an interesting icebreaker for the first week of school and a great way to get to know your new students.

Children think of a symbol that represents them and draw that in the middle.  I chose an apple as it’s sort of universal for school or teaching.

Branching out from the center symbol is a variety of things about the person such as hobbies, their favorite season, birthday, what they want to be when they grow up etc.

By having students use their two favorite colors to write their first and last names in the center of their object, everyone gets to know another “tidbit” about that person.

The completed activities make a wonderful back to school bulletin board too!  Make sure you do a personal one of yourself, so that you have a sample to show your students as a way to explain things, as well as a means for them to get to know their new teacher. Includes an explanatory note home to families.

back to school activities, back to school lessons, chrysanthemum ideas, chrysanthemum activities, ack to school ideas, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, frist day of school activities, back to school bulletin boards, back to school bulletin board ideas,September bulletin boards, September bulletin board ideas, Chrysanthemum ideas, Chrysanthemum activities, name activiteis, name lessons, name ideas, icebreakers for elementary, icebreakers for the first day of school, icebreakers for the first week of school, open house activity,Sharing name maps is a nice activity to do after reading the story Chrysanthemum, a wonderful back to school tale, whose main character is a little mouse named Chrysanthemum.  She loved her unusual name until she started school and everyone began making fun of her.  It's one of my all-time favorite back-to-school books and especially great if you need some stories to go with "bucket-filling."

My inspiration to do name maps, came from an art teacher’s “heart maps” that he did with his 4th graders at Riverside Elementary.  Click on the link to check out their awesome endeavors.  I hope you and yours have as much fun making these as I did.

back to school activities, back to school lessons, chrysanthemum ideas, chrysanthemum activities, ack to school ideas, first day of school ideas, first day of school lessons, frist day of school activities, back to school bulletin boards, back to school bulletin board ideas,September bulletin boards, September bulletin board ideas, Chrysanthemum ideas, Chrysanthemum activities, name activiteis, name lessons, name ideas, icebreakers for elementary, icebreakers for the first day of school, icebreakers for the first week of school, open house activity,Click on the link to view/download Name Maps.  This packet is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop. Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away!  For your convenience, my "Pin it" button is at the top on the menu bar.

“There’s few things as uncommon as common sense.” –Frank McKinney Hubbard

  Surveys Are Fun Ice Breakers For The First Day Of School

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Are you trying to think of something different to do as an icebreaker for a fun first day of school activity?  How about a survey?

My Y5’s loved carrying around a clipboard and asking questions.  It makes them feel “grown up” and important, or so they tell me when I ask them why everyone always wants to use my clipboards.

You can buy packs of 12 at Sam’s Club for a reasonable price.  They came in handy for this purpose as well as having them write in the hallway when we went on measurement adventures, or outside when we went on scientific explorations to collect data.

They are great as lapboards for when I had students writing in a circle on the floor as well, so I certainly got my money’s worth!

surveys, first day icebreakers, fun icebreakers for the first day of school, back to school ideas, ideas for back to schoolDirections:

  • Gather your students together and brainstorm a list of yes or no questions and write them on the board.
  • I’ve also included a list of suggestions.
  • Each child chooses a different question.
  • Set a timer and allow students to take their survey sheet and clipboard around to interview their new friends.
  • Older students can write their friend’s name in the appropriate column, younger students can simply mark an X.

  • The teacher should also participate.
  • After the timer rings, give students a moment to add up each column.
  • Gather students back into a circle to share their results.
  • Everyone learns a little bit about everybody in a fun way.
  • You can even graph results as a math extension. 

This information can be found in my Back To School Packet. Click on the link to view/download it.  
  

 Until next time… have fun breaking that ice, making friends and melting hearts!

Thanks for visiting. I hope you can pop back tomorrow for more back to school tips.

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"No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big." -anonymous