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School Fun
Pack

By Brenda Martin

Student Word
Search
Time Frame: 20 minutes
Preparation: Go to the website
http://www.freewordsearches.net/
word-search-maker and create
a word search including each
childs name.
Instructions: Give each child a
copy of the word search for
a quiet get-to-know-you
activity.
Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Classroom
Scavenger Hunt
Time Frame: 40 minutes

Preparation: Use the answer key included and

write a post it note for each letter to
stick to each area in your classroom. Copy
the blank form for your students.
Example: For number one, write a W on a post
it note and place it near the drinking
fountain.

W
Instructions: Give a copy to each student.
Have them work in partners to find the
important areas in your classroom. Once
students have found most areas of the
room, have them gather together and
review each area. What are your
expectations for using these areas?

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Name_________________

Classroom
Scavenger Hunt
_W_
_E_
_L _
_C_
_O _
_M_
_E _

1. Find the place you go to have a cool drink on a hot day.

2. Find our lost and found.
3. Find the place you go to find extra materials.
4. Where is the resource you would use to look up a word?
5. Where are our math manipulatives?
6. Where would you go for a sharpened pencil?
7. Find the place you go to hang your backpack.

_T_ 8. Where does our class meet to gather together on the floor?
_O_ 9. Where would you go to mark your attendance for the day?
_O_ 10. Find the classroom computers.
_U_ 11. Where do you look for our daily schedule?
_R_ 13. Where can you borrow a book to read?
_R_ 14. Find our writing center.
_O 15. Where do you find your classroom job?
_O_ 16. Where is our calendar?
_M_ 17. Where do you turn in your work?

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Name_________________

Classroom
Scavenger Hunt
_____1. Find the place you go to have a cool drink on a hot day.
_____ 2. Find our lost and found.
_____ 3. Find the place you go to find extra materials.
_____ 4. Where is the resource you would use to look up a word?
_____ 5. Where are our math manipulatives?
_____ 6. Where would you go for a sharpened pencil?
_____ 7. Find the place you go to hang your backpack.

_____ 8.
_____ 9.

Where does our class meet to gather together on the floor?

Where would you go to mark your attendance for the day?

_____ 10. Find the classroom computers.

_____ 11. Where do you look for our daily schedule?
_____ 13. Where can you borrow a book to read?
_____ 14.
_____ 15.
_____ 16.
_____ 17.

Find our writing center.

Where do you find your classroom job?
Where is our calendar?
Where do you turn in your work?

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

First Day Jitters

Time Frame: 40 minutes
Preparation: Check out book, First
Day Jitters. Copy the writing
prompt sheet for each child.
Instructions: Read the book to the
students. Remind them that even
teachers can have Jitters on the
first day. Give each child a copy
of the prompt to write about.
While children write, walk around
and get to know your students!
This is a great way to assess
student writing. Keep this piece of
writing to share with students on
the last day of school.
Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

First Day
Jitters
Today is the first day of school! How do you feel? Are you excited? Nervous? Write
a paragraph describing how you feel about the first day of school. Be sure to include
lots of details about what you did, what you thought, and how you feel.

___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Survival Kit
Time Frame: 30 minutes
Preparation: Use the included guide
to make a special bag for each
child with each item.
Instructions: Pass out the bags to
each student. Have students work
together to brainstorm why these
items are in their back to school
survival kit. Once students have
created their own list, give them a
copy of the handout to compare.
Ask students, Why do we need
these things in our classroom?

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Survival Kit

Name____________

The items in this bag have special meaning:

* The cotton ball is to remind you that

this room is full of kind words and warm
feelings.

* The tissue is to remind you to help dry

someone's tears.

* The sticker is to remind you that we all

stick together and help each other.

* The star is to remind you to shine and

always try your best.

* The rubber band is to remind you to be

flexible!

* The penny is to remind you that you are

valuable and special.

* The toothpick is to remind you to "pick

out" the good qualities in your
classmates.

* The bandage is to help heal a friend

with hurt feelings.

* The eraser is to remind you that we all

make mistakes, and that is okay.

* The Life Savers are to remind you that

you can count on me whenever you need!

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Class Constitution
Time Frame: 60 minutes
Preparation: Check out the book, We
the Kids. Prepare chart paper or a
document on the projector.
Instructions: Read the text to the
children stopping to define
difficult terms. Ask kids, why do
we need a constitution? Use the
example at the back of the book as
a model to rewrite a constitution
with your students about your
classroom. Once its complete, ask
each student to come and sign the
class constitution and post in a
prominent place in your classroom.
Example: We the kids of Room 14
Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

10

Fill Your
Bucket
Time Frame: 30 minutes (or all year!)

Preparation: Check out the Book, How Full is

Your Bucket? and prepare chart paper.
Instructions: Read the text to the students.
Make a t-chart on chart paper of things in
school that can either fill someones
bucket or empty someones bucket.
If you decide to make this an entire school
year activity, provide an actual bucket for
each child. Teach students to write nice
notes to each other or establish a few
prewritten notes with the students that
they can use when a classmate is feeling
down.
Example:
Things that fill
buckets

Things that empty

buckets

-Complementing a friend

-Insulting someone

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Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

Interview School
Community
Members
Time Frame: At least three 30 minute sessions

Preparation: Set up time and date with important

people in your school for the students to
interview (principal, librarian, custodian, etc.)
Instructions:
Session One- brainstorm a list of questions
students might ask school community members.
Divide students into partners and give each
pair the name of an important person to
interview. Encourage students to write down
their questions and practice interviewing skills.
Session Two- Interview time! Make sure you have
determined appropriate times in advance with
your important school personnel. Give students
time to interview these people. If you would
like to make a movie, teach students how to use
video camera.
Session Three- Share! Students can either share
their interviews with their classmates or work
with you to create and edit the movie to share
with classmates or the entire school.

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

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Interview School
Community
Members
Principal
Assistant Principal
Librarian
PE Teacher
Art Teacher
Music Teacher
Computer Teacher
Custodian
Cafeteria Cook
Para Professional or Student Aid
Speech Teacher
School Counselor
School Psychologist
Special Education Teacher
Academic Coach
Secretary
English Language Teacher
Neighbor Teachers

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

13

Wodney the
Wat Role Play
Time Frame: 45-60 minutes
Preparation: Check out the book Hooway
for Wodney the Wat. Print and cut
out the role play cards.
Instructions: This wonderful childrens
story about a bully who learns her
lesson is a great way to teach
students how to treat each other at
school. Read the story to the
students. Divide students into groups
of 3 or 4 and give each group a card
to role play. Encourage students to
role play two roundsone sharing the
wrong way to handle a situation and
another time showcasing the right
way to handle a situation.
Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

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Wodney the Wat

Role Play
Two classmates are playing on
the playground together and
another classmate asks to join.
What do you do?

A classmate trips and falls on

the pavement outside. You know
they are okay, but extremely
embarrassed. What do you do?

A friend come up to you to

gossip about another student in
your class. What do you do?

One of your classmates is being

teased by another student.
What do you do?

You see a classmate crying alone

on the playground. What do you
do?

A friend is teasing another

classmate at lunchtime about
their outfit. What do you do?

One of your classmates refuses

to share the swing on the
playground at recess. What do
you do?

A classmate is teasing one of

your friends because he is
struggling with a math problem.
What do you do?

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

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If you like this resource pack, please

check out my classroom management
card pack to help you remember all the
important routines to establish with
your students.

Brenda Martin http://teachingdreaminglearning.blogspot.com/

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