Stop Reading the Syllabus - Start Playing Fun Back to School Games
We all know that the first day of school can be a bit overwhelming for students. There's so much new information to take in and remember, and as teachers, we want to make sure our classroom expectations are crystal-clear.
But what if there was a way to make the transition back to school a little bit easier AND more fun?
Enter: classroom games!
Games are a great way to review classroom procedures and expectations, and they’re effective too.
Here are five fun games to play on that infamous first day of school:
1. I Spy
This game is perfect for reviewing items your students need to bring to class each day (because we all know that even seventh graders can't seem to bring a pencil without reminders). To prep, set up different objects around the room (think gum, pencils, hats, notebooks, phones, etc.). Then let the class take turns "spying" objects that they think they will need in class, along with items that they should definitely leave at home.
2. The Human Knot
This game is a great way to introduce collaborative discussions in your classroom. To play, have students stand in a circle and grab the hand of someone across from them. Then, tell them to grab the hand of another person in the circle (not the person next to them). Once everyone has two different people's hands, the goal is to untangle the "human knot" without letting go of anyone's hand. Besides promoting a positive classroom culture, this can be a great opportunity for practicing respectful discussion stems that your students will need to remember later for academic discussions. You can even post these discussion stem posters in a prominent place for your students to reference as they untangle themselves!
3. Procedures Game
This game makes your classroom expectations perfectly clear for your students. Give half of your students cards with the correct procedures for turning in work, getting a drink of water, asking a question, sharpening a pencil, etc. Give the other half of your class cards with the incorrect procedures for the same routines. Let your students take turns acting out their cards for the class and follow up with a discussion about the differences they noticed. This game is so funny, and it's a perfect way to break the ice! Check out some pre-made game cards here.
4. Expectations Breakout
This game is perfect for getting your students to think about what you expect from them in the classroom. Give half of your students an index card with a common classroom routine on it (speaking up in class, sharpening a pencil, checking out a book, using the restroom, etc.), and give the other half of the class cards with your expectations for those routines. For example, if one student has a card that says "sharpening a pencil," their partner might have a card that says "Wait until the teacher stops talking. Walk quietly to the back of the room. Use #2 pencils only. Return quietly to your seat." Students will then take turns asking and answering questions about their cards until they find their match. Not only will your students be learning about your expectations for back-to-school procedures, but they'll also be getting to know their classmates!
5. Classroom Jeopardy
This back-to-school game is a twist on the popular TV game show "Jeopardy." To prepare, create a jeopardy board with categories and dollar amounts (you can use an online template or make your own). Make sure to include categories about your classroom procedures and expectations. For example, you might have a category called "Rules for Asking a Question" with dollar amounts ranging from $100 to $500. To play, divide the class into teams, and give each student a mini whiteboard or piece of paper. When you reveal a category and dollar amount, students have 60 seconds to write down the answer. Each team with over 50% of the members answering correctly wins the dollar amount, and the team with the most money at the end of the game wins!
6. Discussion Stem Sort
Give your students index cards with discussion stems that will help them agree, disagree, or clarify during classroom discussions throughout the year. To play, have your students sort the discussion stems according to how they might use them. For example, “I agree with what you said because…” would go in the ‘agree’ pile, while “That’s a really good point, but I disagree because…” would go in the ‘disagree’ pile. You might even choose to set a timer and see if the class can beat their time on a second or third try. This helps to prepare your students for your expectations about how they should interact with their classmates, and it’s a whole lot more fun than reading a list of discussion rules! You can find pre-made game cards here.
I hope you found these back-to-school games helpful and that they make your transition back into the classroom a little bit easier - and more fun! Do you have any favorite back-to-school games that you like to play with your students?