The first week of school is an important time for building community and focusing on students’ social–emotional learning. Students will be more likely to engage, take risks, and support one another if they feel a sense of trust and belonging among the group members and with their teacher.
The first-week-of-school activities in this collection from Facing History & Ourselves address three goals for the beginning of the school year:
- Reorienting students to school
- Getting to know one another and building relationships
- Creating a classroom community
The activities are designed to welcome students back into the classroom by having them participate in a get-to-know-you exercise, reflect on the prior year, and set goals for the current year.
“Building Connections with Concentric Circles” is a low-stakes community-building activity to help students connect with their peers. In “Looking Back, Looking Ahead,” students reflect on the past year and generate ideas for the kind of learning community and learning experiences they are hoping for this year. “Create a Goal and Discover Your ‘Why’” helps students set SMART personal goals for the coming year and discover their source of motivation.
These activities, as well as others in the collection, give students a sense of agency in the class and help establish a positive learning environment.
If you’re considering implementing a get-to-know-you activity that’s not included in this collection, Teaching Note 2 provides guidance.