Back to School Ideas

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This page is a collection of ideas (from sites like The Second Grade Teachers Club and ProTeacher)that I have collected over the years.

Poems

A Circle of Friends

We've joined together as classmates
as the new year begins...
A year full of learning
while we become friends.
We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow
with each passing day.

The First Day of School

I wonder if my drawing will be as good as theirs
I wonder if they'll like me, or just be full of stares
I wonder if my teacher will look like mom or gram
And I wonder if my puppy will wonder where I am.

Aileen Fisher

Backpack

On my back a pack I carry
In it, all my treasures.
It's what I need
So I can be
One class higher!

Crayons, ruler, scissors too,
And yes a little Elmer's glue
Paper, pencils, in my bag…
Wonder what made mom so sad?

Trapper keeper, nice and neat
Will it really stay this clean?

On my back a pack I carry
In it, all my treasures!

Today I'll be
Just watch and see
One class higher!

Shelley Plum

Class Pledge:
My Promise

Each day I'll do my best,
And I won't do any less.

My work will always please me,
And I won't accept a mess.

I'll color very carefully,
My writing will be neat.

And I simply won't be happy
"Til my papers are complete.

I'll always do my homework,
And I'll try on every test.

And I won't forget my promise--
To do my very best!

2nd Grade Army Song

Second Grade, second grade, what do you say? (repeat)
We're gonna have some fun today!
(repeat)
We're gonna read and write and spell!
(repeat)
We do these things very well!
(repeat)
Sound off
1-2
Sound off
3-4
Bring it on down now (at this point my kids stand up and boogie down)
1-2-3-4
1-2
3-4!!!!

A Box of Crayons

By Shane DeRolf

While walking in a toy store
the day before today,
I overheard a crayon box
with many things to say.

"I don't like red!" said yellow.
And green said, "Nor do I!"
And no one here likes orange,
but no one knows quite why."

"We are a box of crayons
that really doesn't get along,"
said blue to all the others
"something here is wrong!"

Well, I bought that box of crayons
and took it home with me
and laid out all the crayons
so the crayons could all see.

They watched me as I colored
with red and blue and green
and black and white and orange
and every color in between.

They watched as green
became the grass
and blue became the sky.
The yellow sun was shining bright
on white clouds drifting by.

Colors changing as they touched,
becoming something new.
They watched me as I colored.
They watched till I was through.

And when I'd finally finished,
I began to walk away.
And as I did the crayon box
had something more to say...

"I do like red!" said the yellow
and green said, "So do I!"
"And blue you are terrific
so high up in the sky."

"We are a box of crayons
each of us unique,
but when we get together
the picture is complete."

NOW IF WE COULD JUST LEARN
FROM THIS BOX OF CRAYONS
THIS WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

Activities

Time Capsules

Make time capsules (a paper towel tube). Stuff is with a self-portrait, a writing sample and a writing prompt ("My favorite thing to do is....."). We attach a note that says "Do not open until June 3, 2010, or whatever the last day of school is. One the last day, they had so much fun looking at their handwriting from the first week of school.

ME Boxes

Your assignment is to create a cereal box all about you. Your box can be decorated with words, pictures, and objects that tell all about you. (You may use construction paper, wrapping paper, etc.)

Your box should include all of the following:

1. Personal information such as your first and last name in big letters, your birthday, a picture of yourself (real or drawn)

2. Personal Favorites: include drawings or words that represent your favorite things such as favorite food, animals, favorite color etc.

3. Important People: Who are the people that are most important to you? Draw or use a real photo and write why they are important to you.

4. Personal Grab Bag: Inside the box, place three items that are special to you (real objects, drawn, or pictures from magazines). On an index card write down the object and why it is special to you.

You will be presenting your “ME Box” during sharing time. Have fun with this project and remember to be creative!

Book Idea for Chysanthemum

Read "Chysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes. Have the kids write their name on grid paper (1 letter in each square) and I make a huge chart where they then place their name under the # of letters in it. Then we discuss the chart. I ask questions, like which # has the most, least, etc. Then we graph it. I then take the names down and let them cut apart their letters to use for name building. They place all the letters in their name in a bag. I have them switch their letters with another classmate and that classmate has to build their name with the letters, glue it on the bottom and draw a picture of that student on the top of the page. Then have sharing time.

Another idea

Enlarge a copy of Chrysanthemum the mous, a pair of scissors, and tape handy. As you read the book Chrysanthemum, every time someone makes fun of her you use the scissors to make a cut in her. When someone says something kind to her (usually the parents), you use tape to fix one of the cuts. When the story is finished, you discuss how the ugly words "hurt" her, and how the kind words "helped fix the hurts". You also point out how there are "scars" (you can see the tape) from the hurtfulness. Then it leads into a discussion about the way we treat others.

Word Search

I make a word search with all the students names on them. I make the word search at the following website:

Discovery School Puzzlemaker

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Read How I spent My Summer Vacation and have the children make a little suitcase that opens. They draw a picture on the outside and then write a few sentences about it. This also gives a good snapshot of the students writing skills.

Check out Christina's Bainbridge's activity at The Teaching Oasis.

Back to School Letters

Here's my back to school letter that I use for my students and parents. I left it word so you can add your information on it. I buy cute stationary from the dollar store to print on.

Back to School Student Letter
Back to School Parent Letter
Confetti Note

This website also has some great stationary to download.

The More Important Book

On the first day of school, read to students a popular favorite -- The Important Book, by Margaret Wise Brown. It's a wonderful, repetitive book that tells the "important thing" about a variety of things, such as a spoon, an apple, the wind, etc. After we read the book and discover its repetitive form, we write our own More Important Book. Each child tells about himself or herself, following the format of The Important Book." The children end, as the book does, by repeating the first line, "But, the most important thing about (child's name) is that he or she _____." Each child is responsible for a "most important thing" page, which becomes part of the class book. This is a wonderful and fun way to get to know one another, and the book is read throughout the year.

Ice-Breakers

Pass around a roll of toilet paper. Have them tear off as many squares as they wish. (Don't tell them about the activity.) Then have each student share facts about themselves to the class (One for every square they have.)

Partner Venn Diagrams

I give each student a sticker or a lollipop. (each has a match) The students must find their match, and then complete a Venn Diagram showing what they have in common and how they are different from each other. Then come together as a class and have each partner talk about their similarities and differences.

Teacher Test

The students love this one once they realize it's a fun test. Make up a quick 5-10 questions about yourself ~ these can be any facts about you, your life, and your interests. Students have to decide if they are true or not. Then go over the answers. Students love to find out if they are correct or not. As a follow up have students create their own quiz(multiple choice or True/False) and have them switch them someone else in the class.

A Bad Case of Stripes

After reading the book talk about the things that we like to do. Students then pick one thing they like to do the best, and illustrate it just like the book did. Students then write about what they had a bad case of and why.

Other Back to School Books

Miss Nelson is Missing
Black Lagoon Books
The Brand New King
The Recess Queen
First Day Jitters
King of the Playground
My Teacher's Secret Life
Where Does the Teacher Live?

Other Ideas
Friendship Salad

Many Gregory's Back to School Ideas

New and Improved "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" b Scholastic

Save Fred Lab Activity (idea found on Pro Teacher) Great idea for teaching teamwork!

First Day Jitters Activity Guide

Mrs. McDowell's Back To School Ideas

Mrs. Oakes Back to School Ideas (1st Grade)

Welcome/Survival Kits

Place the items described below in a brown lunch bag and include a note with this information:
The items in this bag have special meaning:
The cotton ball is to remind you that this room is full of kind words and warm feelings.
The chocolate kiss is to comfort you when you are feeling sad.
The tissue is to remind you to help dry someone's tears.
The sticker is to remind you that we all stick together and help each other.
The star is to remind you to shine and always try your best.
The gold thread is to remind you that friendship ties our hearts together.
The rubber band is to remind you to hug someone.
The penny is to remind you that you are valuable and special.
The toothpick is to remind you to "pick out" the good qualities in your classmates.
The bandage is to heal hurt feelings in your friends and in yourself.
The eraser is to remind you that we all make mistakes, and that is O.K.
The life saver is to remind you that you can come to me if you need someone to talk to.

Teacher's Survival Kit:
Mounds: For the mounds of stuff you teach.
Crayon: To color your day.
Peanuts: To get a little nutty.
Band-Aid: For when things get a little rough.
Marbles: To replace those you might lose from time to time.
Sponge: To soak up the overflow, when your brain is too full.
Puzzle Piece: Without you, things wouldn't be complete.
Lifesaver: For when you've had one of those days.
Hugs & Kisses: To make everything all worthwhile.
Bath Salts: "To take you away." You deserve a quiet break.
Cup: For when yours is overflowing.

Teacher Vitamins:
To temporally calm your craving for chocolate, eat the BROWN one.
At first sign of "Meeting overload" eat the RED one.
The ORANGE one minimizes "Mental Block" during long range planning.
The GREEN one calms your frustrations while arranging furniture.
If you feel a headache coming while doing your lesson plans, eat the YELLOW one.
The BLUE one reduces Bulletin Board fatigue.

Open House Ideas

Cookie Note

For Sale at the Teaching Oasis.
If you like these ideas you I do have other ideas for sale at the Teaching Oasis.

Classmate Bingo
Black Lagoon Unit

ABC Brochure
First Day Guidebooks
(more themes will be added soon. Please be patient.)
and much more check it out!

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