If you are still on holiday, disregard this post and look it up a day or two before your first class.
A typical way to start a new term after a holiday is to ask the students what they did during the holidays. Some students dread these questions, as they didn’t do anything that they find worth telling, or perhaps there is nothing good to tell. That is why I have used these cards and started by telling my students that I know what they did!
I give the cards to student groups of 4-5. They either choose their own or deal them out surreptitiously within each group. Now they can come up with an imaginative story and tell it to the others first in groups and then one from each group tells their story to the whole class.
There are many more New Year activities on the updated New Year Theme Page.
Lesson starters can also be used for the first lesson. Why not continue throughout the year?
WebEnglish recommends leaving the planning for the Spring term to the second lesson and letting the first lesson be all about relationships and a welcoming atmosphere. Remember to have fun!
Should you be starting with a new class, there are various getting-to-know activities for Year 1-6 and Year 7-9.
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