[Pam4]

Do you have a creative or neat idea you do at the beginning of the year such as first week activities, the first day, Open House, and so forth?

[teacher2]

Hi,
I have used a different theme each year. Each has worked out well, some have been easier to implement than others.
Last year we began the year with a safari theme. There were tons of items available at the teacher stores to support that theme.
Other years I have used: Sailing into 2nd grade- using sail boats and welcome aboard. Soaring into ...grade, using hot air balloons. This one was a lot more challenging as the year I decided to use it there were not a lot of premade materials available and I had to make just about everything myself. Popcorn-Popping into ...grade. Frogs and all time favorite of teachers- hopping into ....grade. During the years coming off of the summer olympics I have used a going for the gold theme. Other teachers in my hall always start the year with good old fashioned apples, there is always a ton of stuff to be found with apples.
I hope you get a lot of great responses, I am feeling tapped out in the back to school idea department this year.

[donna]

On the first day of school I leave a goodie bag on each desk. I attach yellow star cutouts to white bags. On the cutouts I print "Second Grade Superstar".

Inside the bag are supplies and goodies to start the year. Most of it I can get from the supply closet (pencils, erasers, boxes of crayons). But I also buy special bookmarks that may say "Welcome to 2nd Grade" and special pencils "Spectacular Second Graders" and star shaped erasers. I also include a treat like a roll of Smarties.

I would love to see your webpage of ideas if you wouldn't mind posting that link. Thanks!

[SusanTeach]

There are so many ideas I do, but I can't say that I made them all up myself. I've altered some of them so I guess that's partially creating some. Here are some of my favorites (and the kids' favorites!):

1. Open House - "Treasure Hunt" - Give the kids a list of things to show their parents in the room (class pet, their desk, etc...). The last thing on there is for them to find the treasure chest and it has a goody bag for each child (a few small things in it - piece of candy, pencil, eraser, homework pass, etc...).

2. First Day - Read Chysanthemum. I've posted about this before, so I'll give a shortened version. As you're reading the book, when the mouse gets insulted make a tear in a paper doll. When she gets complimented, put tape over the tear. In the end, explain how words can hurt feelings and you're better after encouragement but not ever quite the same. I keep the doll taped near the white board as a reminder all year about talking nice to others.

3. People Bingo - I have a grid with 25 spaces on it. Each one has different items on it (someone with earrings, born in another state, etc...). The kids walk around the room and find someone different for each square - then he/she signs it. You can end it when someone gets a regular Bingo (5 in a row in any direction) or a complete "blackout".

4. Time Capsule - I take a picture on the first day of each child. They fill out a form that has their shoe size, date, shirt size, height, tracing of their hand, and a drawn picture of them. They put the form along with the picture taped/glued to it in a papertowel tube and close the ends with cupcake liners and rubber bands. They can decorate the outside with their name and stickers. I hide those in a cabinet and let them take them home at the end of the year, after they do a 2nd one (on the back) to show how much they've changed through the year!

[bamateach]

One thing that I did last year that was soo fun for the kids was friend venn diagrams. They were paired with a new friend (someone they did not know before). The students drew a venn diagram on 12x18 construction paper and titled it with their names in the circles and then both in the center. They filled in the venn diagram with things that made them different and with things that they had in common. It was great. All during the activity they would run up to me and say Mrs. R did you know that we had this much in common? or We both like such and such! It was so fun. I then took a pic of the new pals and put it on a bulletin board titled Making Friends in 2nd Grade. (took the idea from Mailbox '05)

[Gardenut]

Thanks Bamateach!
I was all set...then I noticed your post! I love this idea! What fun is right! I can't wait to do it! Thanks again!

[TeacherCarrie]

OH, I love love love the time capsule idea. I'll be adding that to the first week of school activities. I thought last year's first week went well...but this coming first week will be spectacular with all the ideas I'm getting from this site.

Thanik you for your ideas. I have decided to use a few and will try to let you know how they work out. Since I teach third grade, I have decided to modify your ideas a little.

This sounds like a great idea, I cant wait to try it out with my grade ones. Its also differentiated, those students that are able to write can, those that aren't able to can draw pictures. Thanx for sharing!

[Bernski]

I always find more and more ideas here!
The time capsule activity is going to be a great into to math lesson. They will measuring and recording data!
Thanks for the idea!

[benziebear]

What great, fresh ideas everyone has here. I have been teaching since 1993 and this is my tenth year teaching PK. I have been burnt out lately...I hate this feeling as well! Does anyone know how to get refreshed and get re-motivated after this feeling? It's is not the students themselves. All I can think of is that the problem is- I am stuck in this grade level due to my administration feelings that I need to stay in this area because they think that my students are very prepared for Kindergarten and I excel here. I have request for three years now to be moved into another grade level but, am denied because "of doing such a great job". Thanks in advance.

[nikk383]

I do something similar while reading that book. I have a huge red heart made out of butcher paper that I tear instead. After the story is over I ask the students what would make her heart feel better. They will say apologizing so then we tape the heart back together. However I point out that it never looks the same even after taping it back together. Then in big letters I write, "Kind Words Only" and hang it up in the room all year. Later in the year I will challenge the students to put toothpaste back in the tube after squirting it out on a paper plate. They can only use their hands and toothpicks. Eventually they give up. I then tell them that just like we can't put all the toothpaste back in the tube, we can't take words back after we way them.

To get back the spark, I talk to other teachers or visit a school and look at their bulletin boards, etc. Pro-D always gets me motivated too, with new ideas.

[shanpriale]

A great book to also read along with this activity would be Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna. The book is about the power of words and how we must choose them carefully to avoid causing harm to others. This is one of my favorite books. Enjoy.