Get a jump-start on back-to-school planning with these 10 first week of school ideas and activities for upper elementary.
#1 | All About Me in 6 Pictures Activity
Build classroom community, get to know your students, and give them a chance to decide who they will be this year with this simple All About Me in 6 Pictures activity.
In just 6 drawings or word collages, your students will tell you what they want you to know about them. Keep it simple with our pre-determined categories, or let students choose their own categories using the list in this in-depth blog post.
#2 | Classroom Procedures Game Show
Go over your classroom procedures in a way that is memorable and a little competitive with this Classroom Procedures Game Show.
Students will be grouped into six teams and asked to explain or give examples of your classroom procedures IRL while they compete against their classmates to earn the most point in this editable jeopardy-style game show activity!
#3 | Classroom Procedures Freebie
This Classroom Procedures Freebie can help you create many different first week of school ideas. This free activity will help your students review your classroom procedures while also playing a fun game.
This editable card game can be used in a variety of ways. In this blog post, we discuss how to use this freebie to play charades!
#4 | Name Game
In this activity, students will introduce themselves to the class and share something interesting about themselves.
Then, the class will try to come up with a word or phrase that begins with the same letter as their name and relates to their interesting fact. For example, if a student named Alex shares that they love animals, the class might come up with “Animal-loving Alex.”
You can take this same activity one step further by adding in a movement. For example, when the class says “Animal-loving Alex,” they will also pretend to hold and pet a cat.
Work your way around the group and after you introduce a new person, go back and do all your names and actions again until you have caught up with where you’re at in the circle.
#5 | Classroom Agreements
To establish a positive classroom community, setting expectations for behavior and respect is important.
Have a class discussion about what the students think the rules should be, and then create a list of classroom agreements together.
This activity will help students take ownership of their classroom environment and feel empowered to create a safe and respectful space.
#6 | Two Truths and a Lie
This classic icebreaker game is a fun way for students to get to know each other.
Have students share two true facts and one false fact about themselves, and challenge the rest of the class to guess which statement is the lie.
This activity will help students learn more about each other and find common interests.
It also gives students a chance to be silly if they choose to go in that direction with their selections.
#7 | Interest Inventory
Of the many first week of school ideas on this list, this one is a particular favorite as it supplies teachers with a lot of information about students, their interests, and their hobbies.
Have students fill out an interest inventory asking them about their favorite subjects, hobbies, and activities. This activity will help teachers get to know their students’ interests and tailor their lessons accordingly.
#8 | Classroom Mural
End the first week of school with a classroom mural.
Give each student a small section of a large piece of paper, and have them decorate it with their name, drawings, and positive messages. Assemble the sections into a mural that will serve as a reminder of the positive classroom community that has been established in the first week of school.
#9 | WE ARE Activity
This is a great way to begin discussing characterization while also learning a little more about your students.
You can go to this blog post to learn all about the WE ARE activity, but the gist is that you will pass out a character traits list and ask students to pick out the three character traits that they feel best to represent them.
Students can then explain their choices in writing or by presenting to the class. Then, the traits will be displayed somewhere in the room for others to see.
#10 | What’s the Scoop?
This “Get to Know You” digital activity is fun for the entire class or for students to work on individually.
What’s the Scoop is a digital question activity where students will have the chance to disclose their feelings on a variety of topics.
When you’re looking for first week of school ideas for your upper elementary classroom, consider a variety of get-to-know-you, procedure, and educational activities. The blend will give you a chance to see your students in a variety of ways and observe them as they interact with both each other and the classroom.
