A new school year! Think of the possibilities. A new term is the perfect opportunity to get your classroom re-energised, try new routines, and of course, welcome students back with a flourish. Whether you’re new to teaching, a seasoned veteran, teaching early years or secondary, engaging back-to-school activities can help settle students in and set them up for a successful year.
Here are some creative and fun ideas to try in your classroom this September.
All About Me Stations
What better way for students to share who they are with their classmates than with an All About Me Activity? Start by setting up stations around the room with different prompts like “draw your favourite place,” “three things you love,” or “what I did this summer.” Students can move from station to station, sharing everything they’d like to tell their classmates.
Ensuring flexible seating, like classroom bean bag chairs, can help make activities like these feel more relaxed and engaging. It’s a wonderful way to break the ice and help your students get to know one another.
Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts have long been a favourite classroom activity, and they’re also a fun way to help students familiarise themselves with a new classroom setting. You can start with clues like “where are the pencils kept?” or “what’s the classroom rule near the whiteboard?”
Making sure that you have clearly defined areas throughout the classroom as well as nicely organised tray storage units will help students to learn their way around the room more quickly.
Collaborative Classroom Mural
Get your class to come together as a team with a common creative purpose. Let them work together to create a mural or artistic wall display to mark the beginning of a new year. Choose a theme together, like “Our Goals for the Year” or “What We Hope to Learn”, to get students excited about their academic pursuits.
Display boards and notice boards are perfect for showcasing this type of project.
Team Building Activities
Any game or activity that encourages communication or teamwork is a great thing to focus on during the first days of school. A group challenge, like building a tower from straws or even playing a game as simple as Jenga, will get students comfortable working as a team and problem-solving together.
To facilitate group work, having the right furniture can go a long way. Make use of modular tables and desks to foster group work.
Back-to-school activities don’t need to be complicated or cumbersome to plan. A few thoughtful ideas will make all the difference in making students comfortable with you and their classmates. With the right environment and furniture, the academic year can be a successful one for everyone!