share your favorite back to school activity/lesson here....(all grades!)

I figured there are lots of new and experienced teachers on here all prepping for the new school year - so why not share some fo your fav/"best practice" lessons, activities, rules, bulletin boards etc.....

Re: share your favorite back to school activity/lesson here....(all grades!)

I'm creating a hopes and dreams quilt. The students will write their hopes and dreams for the school year on a square, and I'm going to make them into a 'quilt' on the bulletin board.

Re: share your favorite back to school activity/lesson here....(all grades!)

I'm also going to make a friendship quilt (1st grade) about how to be a good friend.

Re: share your favorite back to school activity/lesson here....(all grades!)

I've done All About Me books. Also, my co-worker has cut-out people made with tons of adjectives and descriptions (ex: hair color) printed on various colored paper. Then the kids cut out (or have them pre-cut) words that describe them and glue it on their person. Then take a picture of their head, print it and glue it to the top of the person cut-out. Also, quilts (like friendship quilts) are always cute for the younger grades. One other idea a co-worker does that I'm going to do this year... She has a bulletin board heading "Me on a Map" with a world map in the center of the board. She has the kids pictures staples around the map. You first (on the first night) send home a survey asking what nationality they are or what countries they are from. Then staple string going from their picture to each country they are from. It shows that the whole class is made up of tons of nationalities, we're all different, etc.