Getting To Know Each Other

Some activities that top my list for creating a great start to a school course or year.

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It’s an essential of any teacher’s toolkit - that go-to activity, warmer, back-to-school activity when students first meet. Do it well, you will have a great course or year. Do it poorly and you’ll be slogging uphill.

Here, I share a list of my favorites. Subscribers, download the materials at the end of this post! Download this as a PDF and also see our Top 50 list for Back To School. And this post about needs surveys.

Getting To Know Each Other Activities.

1. Snowball Fight! I have a degree in Anthropology and ritual violence really works to bond a group! Basically, students write 3 things about themselves on a blank piece of paper. Crumple it up. Have a snowball fight for a minute or two. Then each student picks up a random paper and reads it. Others guess who it is. Can they?

2. Two truths and a lie. Students write out two truths and a lie. Then, they read. Vote on which is the lie. Teacher first one to do this!

3. Find Someone Who. A classic one. Choose some great questions and students survey the class to find the person who … See the cards in the download below.

4. This or That. A classic choice/preference activity. Students interview each other about their preferences. After, share some of the findings with the whole class.

5. Stand Up If. A great game. Read out statements and if the students agree, they stand up. Do you have 3 sisters? You love Manchester United. Alternatively, do left/right. Students walk to the left for Yes. Right for No. Use our generator of pre-made statements.

6. Getting To Know Each Other Interviews. Students interview one another and then present the information about their new “friend” to the class.

7. Fakebook Page. On paper or through an online fakebook page generator, students fill it in and share things about their life.

8. Needs Surveys. Have students fill in a survey so you know them better. Their level of English, how they like to learn. Get students to fill in a student information sheet for your reference.

9. Negotiate Class Rules. Brainstorm rules. Then discuss. Choose the top ones and commit to them, sign off.

10. What I Want The Teacher To Know About Me. Students write privately to the teacher, telling them things vital about their family situation, learning preferences and more …

What is your favorite back-to-class, start, of course, activity? Let us know in the comments.