Ms. Rachel Vincent

A Teaching Blog

First Week of School Activities

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Planning for the first week of school can be a lot of fun with these activities. It’s important for the first week of school activities to be engaging, but also to teach routines, procedures, and expectations.ย  ย We want the first week of school activities to matter because we are setting the stage for the rest of the year!ย ย 
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
Teaching routines and procedures are VERY important! ย In fact, ย I shared how to teach routines and procedures over on my collaborative blog.ย  But equally as important, is creating a positive classroom culture and environment!

First Week of School Activities

Activity #1: Saving Sam

This activity has been around for a while, but besides just a fun activity on the first day of school, it’s a great way to reinforce why working together is so important!

Saving Sam is a great activity to learn how to work as a group.

If you’ve never used this activity before…
Sam (the gummy worm) has capsized his boat (the cup) and cannot swim. ย His life preserver (the gummy lifesaver) is under the boat. ย Each student gets a paperclip and can only use it to put the life preserver on Sam and save him!

Saving Sam is a great activity to use when learning to work as a group.
After the activity, have your students reflect on teamwork and how they couldn’t do this activity alone.
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
Use this anchor chart to discuss the expectations for students when they are working in groups.
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
*the color error has been fixed

Activity #2: Ouch! Bandage Rescue

This activity is a great way to help students understand the concept of fairness.
The bandage activity is great when learning about fair and equal.
Students write about a time when they were hurt and share it with the class. ย No matter where they get hurt, or to what extreme, you put a bandage on their elbow.
ย  Student: “I flipped over my handlebars and scraped my knee!”
ย  Teacher: “Oh no! Your knee? ย That’s terrible! ย Well, let me see your elbow.” {apply bandage to elbow}
After everyone has a bandage, ask the students who had a hurt that the bandage would have actually helped to come up to the front of the room. ย Ask if the bandage helped the others. ย Of course, the class will say no. ย Tell the class you were trying to be fair.
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
Students will begin to understand that fair does not always mean the same. ย Introduce the quote and have students reflect on what it means.
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.

Activity #3: Toothpaste Squeeze

This activity helps students to understand the value of what you say and how once it’s said, you can’t take it back!
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
Give each group of students a tube of toothpaste, a paper plate, and toothpicks. ย Instruct students to squeeze all of the toothpaste out onto the paper plate. ย Then have students use the toothpicks to put the toothpaste back. ย Students will soon realize that it’s nearly impossible. ย Have a discussion on how the toothpaste is like your words. ย Once you say them, you can’t take it back.
After this activity, ย I like to read Mr. Peabody’s Apples. ย It’s a great story about how rumors spread quickly.
Book suggestion for understanding how words can hurt
Then discuss the types of words you do want to use in our classroom. ย The words that you want to come out are called your Toothpaste Words!
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.
All of the items for these activities can be found for fairly cheap at Walmart or The Dollar Tree.
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.

Saving Sam Shopping List:

  • Cups
  • Paperclips
  • Gummy worms
  • Gummy lifesavers

Bandage Rescue Shopping List:

  • Bandages

Toothpaste Squeeze Shopping List:

  • Toothpaste
  • Paper plates
  • Toothpicks
The response sheets, quotes, and anchor charts for these 3 activities along with 4 other activities can be found in my Back to School First Week Activities Pack!
First week of school activities to build a positive classroom climate and culture.

  • Rachel

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    Comments

    3. Adventures in Teaching 4th Grade says

      I think I am going to have to do Saving Fred. I have seen it on several different blog posts. I also really like the band aid idea. Thank you for sharing!

    4. Alison Rose says

      I'm doing the toothpaste one this year. I'm going to get toothpaste today. Thanks for the reminder, love! Happy back to school for you!! I have one more extra day. I go back Tuesday. xox
      Alison
      Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

    5. LD Helfer says

      Three awesome activities! These sound like good learning lessons and lots of fun for back to school!

    6. Unknown says

      These are great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing…especially like Saving Fred.

      Laura
      discoveringhiddenpotential.com

    7. Paula's Primary Classroom says

      Fun post! I really like the band aid idea for helping students understand differentiation, I could definitely use that!

    9. Unknown says

      Great post! Fun team building activities! Thank you for sharing! ๐Ÿ˜€
      Marine
      Tales from a Very Busy Teacher