by Rachel Wells
The first day of school has all the makings to be chaotic – kids aren’t sure what classroom they’re supposed to be in, you don’t know what your students look like, parents have tons of questions, and procedures and routines for your classroom haven’t been established yet. On top of all that the first day of school is filled with the excitement of friends reuniting after summer break, and new faces ready for their first day.
Because there can be so much going on, it’s important to structure your first day so that everyone is occupied, and you have time to teach routines and procedures. Luckily, you don’t have to over plan activities on the first day to keep everyone busy, in fact all you need is some play dough!
Having a small container of play dough at each child’s seat when they walk in gives them something to do at a time when they don’t have a clue what they’re supposed to be doing. All children can use play dough without assistance, its super calming for students who may be nervous, and for kids who tend to wiggle – it’s a great outlet for fidgeting. It also sends the message to students that “this classroom is fun!”
Start by letting students free play with their play dough. Then try some fun ice breaker activities that get kids talking by asking them to create things like…
- Their first initial
- Something that represents their favorite thing to do
- Their favorite animal
- Their favorite food
- The members of their family
After each challenge, give students a minute to share their creation either with a neighbor or with the class.
Play dough can be a powerful learning tool, and it’s also just plain fun! For more cool ideas check out this post full of educational ways to use play dough in the classroom (from elementary through high school!)
