First Day/Week

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First Day/Week
By MBK/4th

I really liked reading about the suggestions from the previous poster! I have done similar activities! On the first week of school I distribute their first project assignment. It is called "Me Boxes". Here are the directions
for completing this assignment:
Your assignment is to create a cereal box all about you. Your box will be decorated with words, pictures, and objects that tell all about you. You should first decorate your cereal box with paper (such as construction paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, or copy paper). Your box must include all of the following:
1. Personal Information
Ų Your

first and last name in big letters
Ų Your birthday
Ų A picture of yourself (drawn or real)

2. Personal Favorites
Include words, drawings, or pictures neatly cut from a magazine that show at least four of your personal favorites. Some examples of personal favorites are:
Food Ice cream
Animal Color
Sport Activity
Achievement School subject

3. Important People
Who are the people that are most important to you? Draw the people that are most important to you (or use a real photo), and write why they are important to you on an index card.

Example: ____________ is/are important to me because __________________.

4. Personal Grab Bag
Inside the box, place three items that are special to you (real objects, drawn, or cut from a magazine). On each index card (provided for you), name the object and explain why this object is special to you.

You will be presenting your “ME BOX” during sharing time. Be sure to proofread your work for correct spelling, punctuation, and capital letters. HAVE FUN with this assignment and remember to be CREATIVE and COLORFUL!!

I also did a cooperative game on the first day called "We All Fit In". This is one of my favorite first day activities ...making a class puzzle. Prior to the first day, I take a large sheet of white drawing paper and cut it into puzzle pieces so that each child will have their own. During the first day, I distribute a piece to each student and have them decorate it with their name and designs/decorations of their choice. When several of the students have completed theirs I have them begin to
reconstruct the puzzle on the carpet. The students, some of who may not know each other, begin to work together, discussing where the various pieces go. As other students
finish their piece, they are welcomed to the group because other hole can be filled in. The students are working together cooperatively the entire time. I can begin to see who tends to take charge, hang back, etc. When the puzzle has been completed, I include a heading which
says, "We all fit in!" I staple the puzzle together when I have a chance and make a bulletin board out of it. The puzzle stays up for the entire year, and we take it apart on
the last day of school. If a student moves away, we take their piece out, leaving a hole. If a new student moves in, the hole can be filled with a new piece they design. I have also sometimes purposely left a blank piece or two the first
day of school, just to let the students know we will always have room in our class for others.
This has always been a great group building activity . . . ONE TIP...Make sure that you draw an arrow in pencil to indicate on each puzzle piece which way is up. THis way, the students will not draw on an upside down puzzle piece!!

I also do "Lollipop Buddies" if you're interested, let me know and I will post the directions for that!

Hope these help...would LOVE to hear from others!
MBK/4th