Well, they don’t have to worry anymore because the school year has begun. And if you want to get your students excited about going back to school, then these fun activities are sure to do the trick.
School is a great time for learning new things. Students who attend school regularly tend to perform better academically and socially.
The school year also provides ample opportunities for students to develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and creativity.
Here are some fun activities that will help your students enjoy the start of the school year!
Writing
Now, this one may seem the least fun for students, but it gets students prepared for what’s coming in the academic year. It helps them learn how to write properly, which is essential when writing essays or reports.
They also need to practice spelling words and grammar so that they can be more confident with their written communication.
This is a really nice activity to do with your class. You could use this as a warm-up activity before you start teaching.
Students write down what they love about themselves and then draw a picture of themselves. This makes a great display for Meet The Teacher Night/Parent’s Evening or anytime parents come to school.
Another way to get students writing is by asking them to write about themselves and their favorite things.
Ask them to make lists of things they like, or ask them to choose something from a list of things. Then, they should create a story using those items.
A great way to ask students to write is for them to write a story about their life or somebody in their life. For example, they could write a story about their family, their friends, or even their teacher.
A lot of kids write about their grandparents and their history. You will be able to assess their writing, whilst also finding out some pretty cool facts.
Writing a letter to themselves may also be beneficial for your students during their first week at school.
Ask them to think about why they decided to go to school, or why they want to continue studying. They should include their hopes and dreams for the future.
Art
Art is a wonderful way to express yourself creatively. It allows you to use your imagination and create things that nobody else has ever seen before.
It is a good way to help develop your students’ creative thinking, and their ability to think critically.
Art can be done using different materials. Some examples are clay, watercolors, pencil, pastels, oils, acrylic paints, crayons, charcoal, chalk, and markers. You can also draw pictures, paint murals, or design posters.
There are several art kits available online, which contain everything you need to start creating art. They come with brushes, paints, canvases, easels, and other tools.
However, you can always buy these items separately, as long as you know where to find them.
According to research, art improves student achievement by improving memory and attention span.
It also helps students understand concepts like symmetry, perspective, and form. So, why not make art a regular part of your classroom routine?
You can create a special project where students work together to design something creative.
For example, you could ask students to design a poster promoting healthy eating habits. Or you could encourage students to paint a mural on the wall of the classroom.
This is especially good for students who are starting school, or are coming back from a vacation. You can make it a monthly thing, or even something that they work toward during the entire year!
Some examples of excellent art projects for students include :
Create a collage using different types of papers
Paint a portrait of someone famous
Draw a comic strip
Design a classroom makeover
Make a joint quilt or blanket for everyone or a ‘Me Quilt’
Hold a competition for the best portrait or drawing
A ‘Me Quilt’ is a very popular art activity among teachers at the start of term. Students must listen carefully to directions and then find the correct item. They must also be careful to color the correct object correctly.
This activity is a quick way to see if students are following directions and paying attention.
Those who aren’t listening or coloring correctly should be identified as soon as possible. This will help you recognize what students may need extra help throughout the year.
Community
It is better when everyone knows each other in the class, and everyone feels safe together. If you have a small class, it is best to divide the class into groups based on interests.
Then, you can assign different projects to each group. This way, there will be less competition between classmates.
A buddy system should be used to help students stay organized and communicate with each other for the rest of the year. This means that they can always have someone to rely on and feel happy with.
Pictures of students should be taken and posted on the wall or bulletin board with parents’ permission, to encourage a real community feel to every classroom.
Students will also enjoy taking pictures of each other and cutting their faces out.
Small groups of students should be formed to get to know each other better. Often, students are lumped into groups with people they do not know, and they do not know how to talk to them.
Make sure everybody knows everybody by putting them into small groups straight away, and rotating every week to boost class morale.
Helping trios of students should be arranged, so they can work together and grow as individuals, rather than work as groups or in twos.
A lot of students and young people struggle to be in a trio, because one person is usually left out. You can change this by encouraging your students from the first day of term to be comfortable in groups of three.
A group project should be assigned early in the semester.
Students need to work together to complete the project, and they will have to make time for the project in their own time, meaning they are bonding out of school time, too.
They also need to learn how to work as a group and collaborate on projects.
Another way to ask your students to bond isby partaking in a sharing activity.
This activity is called an ‘All About You Bag’. This consists of a bag that students will receive from you, and they must interact with the bag, and what’s inside.
There is a note on the front of the bag telling them about the treats inside. They must decorate the bag and write 3 things about themselves.
They take the bag to school on the first day of class, with the expectation of sharing what is in their bag, and what they may have added.
Each student shares what they wrote about themselves, as well as interesting facts. Then, they ask 3 questions or comment about something they heard from another student.
This helps them get acquainted with each other and make connections. Bags should be shared every morning, or you can do five bags per morning in the first week back.
Music
Music is another way to improve students’ performance in school. Research shows that music training enhances cognitive skills such as memory, language, problem-solving, reasoning, concentration, and creativity.
It has been proven to increase children’s ability to focus and pay attention to tasks.
There are many ways to incorporate music into the curriculum. For example, singing songs during reading lessons helps students to remember words more easily.
Singing along with the teacher while doing homework improves comprehension. This will definitely depend on the age of your students, and whether they are willing to sing in class.
Playing an instrument helps students to concentrate and follow instructions. This is especially true if all of your students try to play an instrument.
Each student could pick an instrument, and try to learn the same piece of music. You could make it a goal to be able to perform in a class performance of said song.
In addition, playing instruments builds confidence and self-esteem. This will make sure that your classroom feels safe and happy, and students are not afraid of embarrassment or failure, especially in front of each other.
Sports
Sports are great fun for kids. Not only does it give them something to look forward to, but it teaches them teamwork and discipline.
Sports are a great way to develop teamwork, leadership, fitness, and resilience. Sports teach students about discipline, determination, good sportsmanship, and respect.
They also encourage students to work together as a team. In addition, they build friendships and bonds between students.
Many schools offer sports activities to keep students active and healthy.
These include football, basketball, netball, cricket, tennis, volleyball, hockey, soccer, rugby, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cross-country running, dance, and martial arts.
If you don’t have any facilities at home, there are many sporting clubs that provide equipment for free.
However, who said you need a sports club to do sporting activities with your students in the first week at school?
Just take your students outside to play games like kick-the-can, hopscotch, tag, and chase. Or just go for a walk around the park. The important thing is to get them moving and having some fun!
Other ways to get your students moving and exercising is through dancing, which is a great way to burn off energy.
Dance classes are offered at most schools, but you can also make up your own. There are even dance troupes that visit schools and teach students how to dance.
You can even host your own bonding sports day. Make it a competition between two teams, and whoever wins gets to choose a team name.
Then, everyone must wear matching uniforms, and compete against each other in a sport. You can even make the teams smaller, so that everyone learns about problem-solving and cooperation.
Expectations
It’s very easy to set unrealistic expectations for children when they start school. It’s normal for parents to want their child to excel academically, socially, and physically.
However, this should never become a reason why they fail to succeed in these areas. Setting high standards is fine, but setting impossible ones is not.
It’s important to set realistic goals for your students, and they should also be aware of these goals.
Don’t expect him/her to achieve perfection from the beginning. Instead, focus on making progress every step of the way.
As they progress, he/she will naturally begin to understand more about what is expected of them.
Students should learn in their first week what they should expect over the next term of coming weeks. students should know that school is a safe and fun place, but it is mostly somewhere that they will learn.
The year should be seen as exciting and fun for them, along with the opportunity to practice many skills including math, writing, and reading.
Skills in presenting and speaking aloud in class should also be encouraged and expected of your students.
If you’re a hands-on teacher, let your students know, otherwise they may become overwhelmed at over activity.
This includes community events such as fairs, job experience weeks, and local businesses holding discussions for your students.
It should also be common knowledge that your students should be allowed to share their opinions without being punished or forced into silence.
A student panel should be formed to discuss any issue that may seem controversial if necessary, and these are things that should always be discussed in the first week.
A debate can even be held to allow students to express their ideas.
Students should always know what to expect from you as a teacher, your classes, and the curriculum.
Game Day/Week
Game days and game weeks are activities where students play games with one another. They can be organized by grade level or by classroom.
Some teachers have students form groups based on their interests. These groups then go out and find something to do together.
For example, if a group of third graders likes playing basketball, they could organize a game day on the field.
You could arrange a day full of different games for your students. Games like dodgeball, kickball, tag, capture the flag, etc., would all be good choices.
You could also do different kinds of games such as board games, card games, and video games.
A lot of teachers get together and organize a game day with different activities.
This means that each teacher may be in charge of a group or activity, and the groups or classes of students move around the activities or groups for the day, doing lots of different things.
This can include anything from egg races, paper airplane races to scavenger hunts.
You can ask your students to get into teams, so one team will be the winner of the day. This will encourage your students, and make sure that they don’t just sit around watching everyone else having fun.
You can keep it light and fun for your students to enjoy, or you can make it educational. Educational games for your students on the first week of school include :
The 5 Ws (Who?, Where?, When?, Why?, and Whom?)
Math Counting Race
Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
Other possible, fun games include:
Basketball Tournaments
Chess Tournaments
Soccer Tournaments
Dance Competitions
Musical Performances
Talent Shows
Art Showings
If you’re planning on doing a game day, make sure you give enough time for each activity. Also, don’t forget snacks!
History Day
History Day can be used as a fun incentive to get your students talking about their ancestry, where they are from, and where their families may be from.
The purpose of this event is to teach students about the past and present of America as well as other countries. It is a great way to introduce yourself to your students.
This gives your students a chance to get passionate about their pasts, as well as learn something about everyone else. This is a great opportunity to connect with your students and help them feel more comfortable in your classroom.
After all, everyone is different, and everyone has different roots. For example, if a student has strong French ancestral roots, he might want to talk about his family’s history during the French Revolution.
If a student has German ancestral roots, she might want to talk about her family’s history during World War II.
Some schools hold an annual History Day, while others hold a History Day once per year. Either way, it’s a great way to get students excited about learning our country’s past.
Students will participate in various activities including:
Writing essays about the history of their hometown
Reading historical fiction novels
Researching local history
Learning about famous people who have lived in their hometown
Participating in a mock trial
Making a presentation about their topic
Show And Tell
Show and Tell is a time when students can bring in items that interest them.
These items could be anything from a picture book to a doll house. Students will talk about the item and explain why it is special. Students will then give a short description of the item and answer questions about it.
The idea behind show and tell is to allow students to share what interests them. This helps develop communication skills and encourages students to interact with their peers.
Students should bring in items that have a meaning and story, and items that are intriguing and unique. Some examples of these types of items would be:
A picture book
A toy
An art project
A model
A craft
A pet
A music instrument
A family heirloom
Kids love to talk about stuff that is important to them, and they love it when other kids are interested in what they like too.
So, by allowing students to share their interests with others, you’ll encourage them to open up to new things.
Field Trip
Field trips are great ways to let students explore the world around them. Parents can sometimes be hesitant to take their kids on a trip because they think it will cost too much money.
However, field trips don’t always require a lot of money. You can do some research before you go and find out how much it costs to visit certain places. Then, you can budget accordingly.
You can also plan ahead so that you know what your students need to pack for the trip. Depending on the location and weather, some things you might need to include may be:
Water bottles
Lunch
Snacks
Sunscreen
Rain wear
Camera
Sunglasses
Headphones
But, most schools offer free bus transportation to any location within a reasonable distance. If you live near a lake or park, you can always rent paddle boats or kayaks.
Many cities have museums that are open late on weekends. You can even visit the zoo or aquarium. There are so many options for field trips!
There are also lots of websites that provide information about places to go. One such website is www.fieldtrippers.com.
They have a list of over 30,000 locations across North America. It’s a great resource for parents looking for ideas.
Popular field trip locations often include:
Museums
Parks
Zoo
Aquarium
Field trips take a while to organize, but students love them once they get there. They’re a fun way to learn more about the world around us.
What Do Kids Like To Do On The First Day Back At School?
Whether your students are new or they have come back from spring break, kids need a day to readjust to being back at school. Here are some activities that your students will enjoy:
1. Reading Time
Reading time is a great way to start the year off right. It gives students an opportunity to relax and unwind after a long summer vacation.
2. Writing Prompts
Writing prompts are another great way to help students prepare for the upcoming school year. Teachers can use writing prompts as a way to spark creativity.
Students can write about what they want to accomplish this year, or what they learned during the summer. They can also write about anything else that comes to mind.
3. Math Games
Math games are a great way to keep math skills sharp while having fun. Kids can play games like counting beans, matching numbers, or adding and subtracting.
These games are perfect for younger students who still struggle with basic addition and subtraction concepts.
4. Homework Help
Homework helps students stay organized throughout the week. It also provides a chance for students to practice skills they’ve been learning all summer.
5. Art Projects
Art projects give students an outlet for creative expression. They can draw pictures, create collages, make crafts, or paint something beautiful.
This activity lets students express themselves in a way that doesn’t involve reading or writing.
6. Science Experiments
Science experiments let students explore their curiosity. They can investigate different materials, test hypotheses, or simply observe what happens when something changes.
7. Puzzles
Puzzles are a great way to challenge students’ problem-solving abilities. They can be used to teach vocabulary words, or to encourage students to think creatively.
8. Music Lessons
Music lessons are a great way to introduce students to a new instrument. They can learn how to hold the instrument properly, and how to read music notation.
What Are Some Good Classroom Icebreakers?
Icebreakers are a great way to get everyone talking and interacting with each other. Some examples of icebreakers include:
What did you do over the summer?
What was the best thing you did over the summer?
What would you like to do next summer?
Who were your favorite teachers last year?
What was your favorite subject?
Where would you like to travel if money wasn’t an issue?
What hobbies do you have?
What Should Teachers Do On The First Week Back At School?
Teachers should spend the first few days getting caught up on lesson plans and grading papers. If possible, they should plan ahead so that they don’t miss too much information.
Teachers often spend the first few days making sure their resources are correct, marking books, and organizing supplies.
What’s The Best Thing About Starting School Again?
Students look forward to seeing their friends every day. Students often enjoy the structure and routine of going to school every day, too. The excitement of going back to school is contagious!
How Can I Motivate My Students?
Motivating students takes patience and persistence. Try to find ways to reward positive behavior, such as giving out extra credit points
Final Thoughts
The start of a new school year is always exciting. However, it can be stressful for students, too.
Make sure to take time to relax and unwind before heading into the new school year. Take advantage of the first week of school activities to help prepare your students for success this year.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
