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Back to School
Activities
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Back to School Checklists• The checklists are designed to help you set up your classroom and prepare for the new school year with ease.
• Check out these blog posts to find more BACK TO SCHOOL IDEAS including simple ways to solve common
classroom problems and the best homework motivator ever.
A Little Bit About Me – Mini-BookPreparation Activity
• Class set of directions
• Class set of mini-bookfoldable
• Scissors / art supplies
• Distribute the directions and mini-book foldable.• Guide students through the directions for assembling their mini-books.• Give students an opportunity to complete all the pages in their books.• Fast finishers can jazz up their books with art supplies.
Looking for more Back to School Resources? Check out the BACK TO SCHOOL TOOLKIT
This or That Warm-Up - SequencePreparation Activity
• Class set of “This or That” Warm Up
• Place at students’ desks
• When students arrive to class, have them begin working on the warm up activity.• Quickly explain that they can choose to do the “This” or “That” version of the activity.• After students finish, you can…
• Collect the worksheet• Have students review their work with someone who did the same activity or
someone who did a different activity• Review both as a class
KEY – “This” – 5, 2, 8, 6, 1, 4, 11, 3, 7, 10, 9
Looking for more Daily ELA Warm Ups? Check out the THIS OR THAT WARM UPS
Back to School Resources Overview
Assembled mini-books
look like this
Hi! Thanks so much for your interest in these Back to School Activities. They’re each designed
to keep kids active and engaged during the start of school. In addition, they not only help to get
to know students better, but they also serve as a great baseline for reading and writing. Over
the years, I’ve had so much fun using these materials in my classroom. I hope you will, too!
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
All About You – Name TagsPreparation Activity
• Class set of directions/?s
• Class set of name tags
• Crayons or markers
• Tape
• Distribute the “All About You – Name Tags” directions/?s page.• Explain to students that they will be answering questions about themselves.• They can circle each answer on the worksheet.• Then, pass out the name tags.• Have students take out their crayons or markers and explain that students will be
coloring in the boxes on the worksheet. Each box correlates to a question they answered on the directions page. They should color in the rectangle based on the color indicated on the worksheet.
• In the center, have students write their name (nice and big).• Then, have students fold along the dotted lines.• Have them add a bit of tape to bring the pages ends together to make a tri-fold
name tag.• Ask students to place the name tags on their desks. (Note that the quote is facing the
students.)• As an extension, you could have students try to find a classmate with the most similar
color rectangles on their name tags or the student with the most differences.
Looking for more Back to School Resources? Check out the
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL RESOURCE
Teacher Guess – Getting to Know the Teacher ActivityPreparation Activity
• Class set of “Teacher Guess –Predictions” worksheet
• Class set of “How’d you do?” worksheet (or ½ class set and students can review with a partner)
• Since it’s important to give students a chance to learn about you (their teacher) as well, this is a fun and easy way to share about yourself.
• Pass out the “Teacher Guess – Make Predictions” worksheet.• Explain to students that you’re going to give them an opportunity to make guesses
about you. All they have to do is make a prediction for each aspect noted on the worksheet.
• When all students are finished, review the answers.• Have students give themselves 1 point for each prediction they got right. They should
note the total points earned in each section of the worksheet in the circles in each section.
• Have students add up their totals.• Then, pass out the “Teacher Guess – How’d You Do?” worksheet. Students can read
about how they did when making predictions about you.
Looking for more engaging resources? Check out these READING RESOURCES
Back to School Resources Overview
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Classroom CommunityPreparation Activity
• 1 copy of the “A Great Classroom” worksheet for each group of 4 students
• Begin to set a tone for classroom community with this brainstorm activity.• Divide students into groups of 4.• Pose questions for the groups to discuss:
• How do we want to treat one another in this classroom?• What does a learning classroom feel like?• What does a productive and supportive classroom look like?
• Distribute the “A Great Classroom…” worksheet.• Explain to students that they will be working with their groups to fill in the “X” chart.
They should note how a great classroom looks, feels, and sounds. They should also provide statements about what a great classroom is. Each member of the group can fill in one section of the chart.
• Have students share their responses with another small group.• Then, ask groups to share out some of their most important responses.• Collect groups’ charts and reference them when establishing classroom rules and
expectations. Link the rules to the characteristics of a great classroom.
Looking for fun activities that celebrate learning all year long? Check out these SEASONAL RESOURCES
Writing PromptPreparation Activity
• Class set of the Writing Prompt
• Distribute the writing prompt and have students review the setting, character, and problem options. Then, have students select one of each.
• Then, have students review the listing of objects. Have them select three random objects.
• Finally, instruct students to write a story incorporating each of the elements or objects they circled. Note that the elements are not necessarily the only setting, character, problem or objects that they may include in their story.
• Give students an opportunity to write.• Then, have students share their work with a peer or small group.• You may want to collect the writing responses and use them as a baseline for student
writing.
Looking for more Creative Writing Activities? Check out this CREATIVE WRITING BUNDLE
Icebreaker or Lesson-ExtensionActivity
• Be super prepared with this easy icebreaker or lesson-extension activity.• Just review the directions with students and read the prompts to get students moving and learn a bit more
about each of them.
Looking for more Lesson-Extension Ideas? Check out these 12 FREE LESSON EXTENDERS
Back to School Resources Overview
Favorite Back to School Resources…Just click on the covers.
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Classroom SetupO Create a desk and room arrangement
O Set up your desk and files (TIP: Label everything!)
O Put together a seating chart (TIP: Write students’ names on post-it notes
so that you can easily switch seats throughout the year.)
O Organize the classroom library
O Gather teacher materials and supplies
Classroom DécorO Decorate all bulletin boards
O Sprinkle the classroom with personality – add fun décor, great lighting,
crazy reading chairs, a friendly welcome mat, a cozy carpet, creative
shelving (TIP: Hang a clothesline in the classroom to easily display student
work throughout the year. Hang great educational quote posters along
the line to decorate the class at the beginning of the year.)
CommunicateO Write and send a welcome letter to students (TIP: Include pictures of
yourself, the school, and your classroom.)
O Establish friendly and informative communication with parents during the
first few days of school
Back to School Checklist
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Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Classroom ManagementO Decide on class rules and how you’ll communicate them to students
during the beginning of the year
O Create a system for positively managing student behavior
O Put together a substitute binder (TIP: Include emergency lesson plans
that can be used for an unexpected absence.)
O Determine where student supplies will be stored (TIP: Label everything!)
Plan the 1st Day of SchoolO Create and prepare an icebreaker activity
O Prepare a class syllabus and overview
O Plan an engaging and active learning lesson (TIP: Provide a creative
writing prompt to easily assess students’ writing skills.)
O Over prepare (TIP: Plan fun and educational lesson-extension
activities.)
Plan – Short and Long TermO Establish a daily routine for classroom procedures (TIP: Post a daily
agenda in the room.)
O Create a course overview
O Determine units of study for the year
O Create lesson and unit plans
O Develop a plan for recording grades, communication, supplies
Back to School Checklist
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How will I begraded?
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Name TagALL ABOUT YOUJust wondering… Who are you?
1. What’s your gender?BOY
Color: Blue
GIRL
Color: Red
2. Have you always lived in the same
town?
ALWAYS LIVED HERE
Color: Green
MOVED HERE
Color: Purple
3. Do you have a sibling or siblings?SIBLING or SIBLINGS
Color: Yellow
ONLY CHILD
Color: Orange
4. What about pets? Do you have
any pets?
NO PETS
Color: Red
A PET or PETS
Color: Blue
5. What do you like to do for fun?SPORTS
Color: Blue
NONCOMPETITIVE
ACTIVITIES
Color: Green
6. What do you prefer?MOVIES
Color: Orange
MUSIC
Color: Purple
7. Do you consider yourself to be
outgoing or more quiet?
QUIET
Color: Green
OUTGOING
Color: Red
8. Are you more of a reader or a TV
watcher?
LIKE BOOKS
Color: Yellow
LIKE TV
Color: Blue
9. If you could go on vacation, where
would you go?
MOUNTAINS
Color: Red
OCEAN
Color: Orange
10. In school, do you prefer working
alone or in groups?
GROUPS
Color: Purple
ALONE
Color: Green
Name _______________________________________
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________________________________
1 2 3 4
7 8 9 10
5 6
bework & kindhard
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TEACHER GUESSMake Predictions
about your teacher
JUST THE FACTSFirst Name: ____________________Middle Name: ___________________Height: _________Eye Color: ___________Age: ______
TRUE or FALSE
____ My teacher loves to eat sweets.
____ My teacher is afraid of spiders.
____ My teacher hates to read.
____ My teacher drives a convertible.
FAVORITES
Color Type of Music Subject
Ways to make my teacher
proud of me…
1.
2.
3.
Best & Worst1. Best day of my teacher’s life___________________________________________
2. Worst subject in school___________________________________________
Number of…
Places lived _____Years teaching ____Parking tickets ___Siblings _____
One way to do well in my teacher’s class…
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Write your
score in each
circle.
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
15 -22 Teacher Ninja!
Wowzers! You must have already done some studying this summer. You sure know a lot about your teacher. Or…you’re incredibly lucky or naturally intuitive
(as people like to say). Give yourself a little pat on the back. Revel in your teacher expert-ness…and get ready to learn a lot more this school year!
Gold star for you!
8 -14 Teacher Expert!
Impressive start to the school year! You know just enough about your teacher to make a great impression! How’d you get so smart? With such a great start to this school year it looks like you’re going to have a fantastic year. There’s a lot to learn in this class…and luckily for you, you already
know a bit about your teacher. Keep up the good work!
0 -7 Teacher Novice!
Buckle your seatbelt, because you’re in for a fantastic learning ride this school year. Think about all you’ve already learned about your
teacher…and that’s just the start of everything you’re going to learn and do this school year. Pay close attention (just in case there’s a quiz on your
teacher at the end of the school year) and enjoy the ride!
TEACHER GUESSHow’d you do?
1. Fold the mini-book paper in half so that the two long edges touch.
2. Now fold the paper in half so that the short ends touch.
4. Open the paper flat to see all the paper folds.
3. Fold the paper in half again so that the short ends touch.
CUT
5. Fold the paper in half so that the short edges touch. With scissors, cut
from the fold to the crease. Stop when you reach the middle of the “window
pane” of fold lines.
6. Open up the paper again. Then, fold the paper in half so that the two long
sides touch (just like step 1).
7. With the paper folded, hold the two ends and push them together. The
middle sections will bow out. Flatten the new sections, making two separate
pages for your mini-book.
8. Flatten all the pages to one side to create the mini-book.
HOW TO Create a
Mini-Book
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
SCHO
OL YEA
R GO
ALS
A little
bi
tabout
ME
1 2 3
My p
erfect
day…
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
____
____
____
____
___
3 w
ord
s t
o
descri
be…
MY
PERS
ONAL
ITY
____
__ _
___
__
____
__
MY
FRIEND
S__
____
__
____
__
____
MY
FREE
TIM
E__
___
_ _
____
_
____
__
MY
DREA
MS
____
__ _
___
__
____
__
FACTS
NA
ME -
AGE -
BIR
THDA
Y -
PET
S -
# O
F SIB
LINGS -
MO
VIE
HO
BB
Y
FO
OD
SO
NG
PE
RSO
N
PL
AC
E
FAVORITES
Be a
wiza
rd
Alw
ays know w
hen
someoneis lying
Be able to talk to animals
Win
the
lotte
ry
Be a
ble
to fly
Travel to Europe
Be a
nin
ja
Alw
ays get away
with lying
Be able to speak all languages
Live tw
ice a
s
long
Be a
ble
to
read
min
ds
Travel to the C
aribbean
I would
rath
er…
(Circle)
In school, I like
I am really good at
I need help with
During this class, I wish
My favorite w
ay to learn is
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Sequencing refers to the order in which events occur. Writers use transition words to indicate the sequence of events.
FOR EXAMPLE
FIRST, SECOND, NEXT, LAST, TODAY, MEANWHILE, LATER, BEFORE
This ThatPut the mixed up sentences below in the correct order.
Number them 1 – 11.
Sketch a cartoon that shows a sequence of events. Add captions
with clue words on the lines.
_____ At noon, Mary discovered that she had forgotten her
lunch at home.
_____ She missed the bus because she spilled her cereal all
over her clothes and had to change them.
_____ At two o’clock, science class turned into disaster
when Mary’s experiment didn’t work.
_____ Then, at recess after lunch her two best friends
started ignoring her.
_____ Everything seemed to be going wrong for Mary
today.
_____ During this morning’s music class, her teacher thought
she was talking during instruction and gave her a detention.
_____ Finally, Mary went to bed. She couldn’t wait for it
to be tomorrow!
_____ Then, her mom dropped her off at school, but in her
rush to get to the entrance, she tripped and fell.
_____ After recess, her teacher surprised the class with a
pop quiz. Mary is pretty sure she missed all the questions.
_____ Dinner would have been a high point of the day…if
her mother hadn't burned it.
_____ When the bell finally rang at the end of the day,
Mary had to serve her detention.
SEQUENCE
or
MORE TIME? Complete the other activity for a BONUS!Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.
For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
1 2
3 4
5 6
NAME __________________________________________
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Name _______________________________________Date ____________
Writing Prompt
SETT
ING
• ZOO• AIRPORT• BEACH• MALL• SPORTS STADIUM• FOREST• MUSEUM C
HA
RAC
TER • CHEF
• MAIL CARRIER• PRINCIPAL• ALIEN• SPY• SCIENTIST• TEENAGER
PRO
BLEM
• LOST• HUGE STORM• CRIME COMMITED• SOMETHING STOLEN• PRISON ESCAPE• MAGIC SPELL O
BJEC
TS
• BANANA• CLOWN• SPOON• PIANO• HELMET• BIKE
Select a setting, character, and problem. Then, select 3 random objects. Write a story incorporating each
of your selections.
• GLASSES• CANDY BAR• TIRE SWING• WAGON• PUDDLE• STREET LIGHT
• BREAD• PILLOW• ZIPPER• MILK• RING• LAMP
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Got more writing to do? Just continue on another piece of paper or on the back of this worksheet.
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
A great classroom…
FEELS
LIK
E
SO
UNDS
LIK
E
LOOKS
LIKE
IS
LIKE
Copyright © 2015 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
• Have a sister
• Can touch your toes
• Like to draw
• Can wink your right eye
• Have traveled out of the country
• Went to the movies last weekend
• Can skateboard
• Were born in April
• Love the color blue
• Have an older brother
• Sing in the shower
• Would like to go skydiving
• Live less than 5 miles away
• Are wearing earrings
• Were born on the 1st
of a month
• Have a nickname
Move If You…Explain to students that you will be reading statements. If the
statement applies to them, they should move to another seat in the classroom. (Have at least one seat empty at the start of the
activity.)
Tell students to move if you…
Icebreaker or Lesson Extension
Blog PostsBack to School
Favorite
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LITER
ATUR
ETES
T P
REP
WR
ITIN
G U
NIT
SR
EADIN
G U
NIT
SPOET
RY
UNIT
S
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