Use these activities to start a new school year. First, you need to make your students feel welcome and comfortable in class, with you and each other. Leave out school books and tests – at least until later. Many of the activities are good also for a teacher starting in a new class in the middle of the school year.
Related Pages: School Start 7-9, Calendar and Planning Page.
Warm-up
Welcome Back to School! Animated Digital Card – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/6oehtcsDKWo
A funny starter welcoming you back to school (yr 1-4)
Kid Snippets: “Back to School” (Imagined by Kids) – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/ryeDfr5RnWE
Adults act to child voices. Funny if the students know the body parts (yr 3-5)
Back to School – The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (PARODY) – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/PynHF1uOq-k
This song is dedicated to all the teachers, parents and students. (yr 4-6)
Please, Come In! 3 Activities to Start Off the Course on the Right Foot | Blog de Cristinahttps://www.cristinacabal.com/?p=9916
An interactive game to revise grammar and vocabulary from the previous year and not one, but 2 highly engaging speaking activities that can be considered,
Songs and Rhymes
Welcome to School Singlish – Learn English Program – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/LnQh4PWTAokLearn English through singing with kids! Welcome to School is a pilot for the Singlish English learning program. Watch as kids learn all about how to behave in school! (yr 1-2)
Children’s Song- Back to School – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/LZBcYaxK-wU
Back to School I’m going back. You’re going back. We’re going back, back to school. (yr 3-5)
Back at School! | Back to School Song | Jack Hartmann – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/GnWH786zjgcJack Hartmann welcomes you back to school. This Back to School song sets the tone for an exciting year full of fun and learning. (yr 4-6)
Teacher Introduction
17 Unique Ways for Teachers to Introduce Yourself to Your Studentshttps://www.weareteachers.com/10-creative-ways-to-introduce-yourself-to-students-2/
You only get one chance to make the first impression.
‘Getting to Know’ Games
Board Games Freebiehttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Activities-Getting-to-Know-You-Beginning-of-the-Year-Activities-1310541
Welcome your students back to school with these free games that are perfect as a ‘getting to know you’ activity. There are three printable games that are ideal for the first days of school.
Icebreakers that Rock | Cult of Pedagogyhttps://www.cultofpedagogy.com/classroom-icebreakers/
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don’t really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
Worksheets
This is Mehttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/This-is-Me-1288516Starting with new ESL/EFL students, getting to know…
Viewing
Speaking
About Mehttps://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/about_me_0.pdf
A board game to print out, laminate and play with dice (yr 3-5)
Chatting with friendshttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chatting-with-Friends-1288522Starting with a new group of ESL/EFL students, discussion…
Conversation Questions – Getting to know you – Elementary worksheet – Free ESL printable worksheets made by teachershttps://en.islcollective.com/resources/printables/worksheets_doc_docx/conversation_questions_-_getting_to_know_you_-_elementary/conversation-questions-getting/14437
Sheet of questions that students can use to interview and get to know each other. There are 3 pages with exactly the same questions to avoid cheating. – ESL worksheets (yr 5-6)
School Rules
Classroom Rules – YouTube (4:26)https://youtu.be/ddvTFgzkS5M
A fun animation about classroom rules.
Writing
My English Story
Write a story about yourself and how you like to learn English. What do you want the teacher to know?
School Vocabulary
Back to School with Steve and Maggie | Speak English with Stories for Kids | Wow English TV – YouTube (12:50)https://youtu.be/F9OdB53UGmASteve and Maggie are getting ready for school. Steve needs to find all his things for school (you can stop at 4:30). Next, Steve visits Maggie in the school and they sing together. (yr 2-3)
Back to School Story for Children from Steve and Bob the Blob | Learn English Vocabulary – YouTube (5:47)https://youtu.be/dJFwPA8aitcSteve is helping Bob with his new school. Back to school. But wait a minute, there are a few problems with Bob’s school at the moment. (yr 3-5)
Final Words
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