5 Beginning of the School Year Activities for Day One

Whether you’re a new or seasoned teacher, you know that first impressions are important. That’s why we’ve put together five beginning of the school year activities to kick off the school year.

Fun beginning of the year activities for any classroom

1. Organize a parent/caregiver meeting

It’s important to establish communication with parents and caregivers early on, which is why many schools recommend scheduling a parent meeting a day or two before the first day of school. 

During your meeting, you can discuss your teaching philosophy, classroom procedures and expectations, and offer suggestions for homework help. This is a valuable time that gives parents and caregivers the opportunity to ask questions and speak with you about any other concerns they may have. 

Setting up a parent meeting is a win-win for all. The parents and caregivers receive information on how to help their kids in your class, while students benefit from increased parent awareness. It sets the foundation for a collaborative year!

2. Do student interviews

Student interviews are a fantastic way for teachers and classmates to learn more about each other at the start of the school year. Just pair up students and observe.

You can use a preset of questions like the following:

• What activities do you enjoy the most?
• What was the most successful project you’ve ever done, and why?
• What’s your favorite book genre?
• What topics interest you the most?
• What’s your most productive time of day?
• What’s your favorite school subject, and why?

Before the students break into pairs, you could answer a couple of the questions, so the students also have a chance to learn about their new teacher. You’ll learn a lot by conducting student interviews at the beginning of the year.

3. Getting-to-know-you event without academics

We’ve talked about parent meetings already, but another beginning of the year activity is a getting-to-know-you event with no academics. One of the most successful outings I experienced was an annual back-to-school camping trip. That’s right—before even picking up a book with the kids, teachers, students, and parents headed for the woods. The camping trip broke the ice in many ways, giving students and caregivers a chance to get to know their teacher and one another better. 

All schools are different, and you may not be able to schedule a camping trip, so another option is a cookout or even a pizza party at the school. However you choose to go about this activity, the important thing is creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere where kids get to know their class better before the learning begins. 

4. Create a classroom scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt activity can break the ice by familiarizing students with your classroom.

Here’s how it works:

• Prepare a list of clues that guide students to different areas or items in your classroom like your interactive whiteboard.
• Place each clue at a specific location in the classroom. When students find one spot, they’ll discover the next clue waiting there.
• Include short explanations or fun facts at each stop to introduce classroom procedures or tools. For instance, at the interactive whiteboard, you might include a note explaining how it’s used during lessons.

5. Rotate team activities

Team-based activities promote inquiry, sharing ideas, and problem-solving. That’s why you should try rotating team activities. For some ideas, check out these classroom community building activities. 

Here’s how it goes:

• Set up three to five stations around your classroom.
• Explain that each station has a team-building activity.
• Split students into groups and assign them a station.

Kick off the year right

As a teacher, you want to create positive first impressions and get everyone in a productive mind frame. With prior planning and some fun beginning of the year activities like these, you’ll kick off the year right.

This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.

***

Find more lesson plans and classroom resources on Shaped.