Even veteran teachers remark that the first week of school can feel like traveling through unfamiliar waters.  Lost in a sea of icebreakers and without the anchor of your curriculum, it’s easy to feel adrift.  But fear not!  The first week is a golden opportunity to establish classroom connections and set the tone for the year ahead.

The secret?  Purposeful get-to-know-you activities.

As you plan those first few days in class, think about how your get-to-know-you activity might serve several purposes.  Here are four criteria:

The Four-Point Checklist for Effective Get-to-Know-You Activities

1. Can it be used to teach your procedures?
2. Does it build your classroom community?
3. Does it require the students to think critically or creatively?
4. Does it allow you to know something about the student that you can later use?

If you can’t say “yes” to three out of the four questions, scrap that activity and find something else.   Below are a few ideas for each of the four criteria.

Criteria #1: Does the get-to-know-you activity teach your class procedures?

Here’s how to approach this:

• Start by reviewing the class procedure with each class.  Example procedures:
• How to pass out and collect papers
• How to arrange desks for partner/group work
• How to participate in structured interaction such as “turn and talk”, “think, pair, share” or  “give one, get one”
• Inform students they’ll practice this procedure during the upcoming activity

• Begin the activity and use the time to observe and correct any issues

Best activities: All get-to-know-you activities can work for teaching procedures. 

Criteria #2: Does the get-to-know-you activity build community?

Consider the tone you want to set.  For example, will students discuss personal topics or share information about themselves in your class?  If so, select get-to-know-you activities that let students slowly get comfortable with each other.

Best activities: 

Partner or small group activities.  Sharing personal information (even if it’s not deeply personal) requires trust, vulnerability, and time.  Ease into it as students get to know each other and build trust.

Criteria #3: Does the get-to-know-you activity require critical and creative thinking?

Ideally, your get-to-know-you activities build the skills students will use in your classroom.  For example, if your class requires creative problem-solving, select first-week activities that introduce those skills.  

Best activities::  

Collaborative first-week activities provide a safer space for students to brainstorm and feed off one another’s creative thinking.

Criteria #4: Does the get-to-know-you activity gather meaningful student information?

The most basic “Tell me about yourself” worksheets ask for simple–yet relevant–demographic information. (Who do you live with at home?  How do you get to school?)  

More creative options seek to know more about the student’s personality.  (What is your favorite food?  What superpower would you like to have?)   

The problem is that students often complete it, the teacher reads it (or not), and then everyone moves on to the next assignment.  In that case, the get-to-know-you activity is arguably a waste of time.

When gathering information about students, ask yourself: 

• How will this information help me plan my lessons?
• Can I use this to develop more engaging assignments?
• Will this help me determine the right balance of individual, partner, and group work?
• How can I use this information to inform my teaching throughout the year?

Feel free to throw in a fun question or two!  But most of your questions should elicit information that can help you in the future.  

Best activities: Individual assignments because they allow you to collect information about the habits, preferences, and needs of each student.   

Get-to-know-you activities with a purpose.

By designing get-to-know-you activities that serve multiple purposes, you’ll create a meaningful and connected classroom experience from day one. Remember, each activity should teach procedures, build community, encourage critical thinking, or provide valuable student insights. With this approach, you’ll set the stage for a successful and engaging school year.

Related Resource:

If you’re interested in first-week activities, click the image below!