First Day Activities in the High School Classroom and Middle School Classroom

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Introduction: The Case for Ice Breaking Activities
Ice breaking activities during the first days in any high school classroom serve as team building activities for the class. Team bonding activities and ice breaker activities prove effective in the middle school classroom.

Faculty members at Grand Rapids Community College shared various icebreaker activities they used at the beginning of a semester. They acknowledged that such team building activities help establish a sense of community within the classroom.

Purpose:
Ice breaking activities engage students in question-and-response activity to set the tone at the beginning of a class.  This icebreaker activity helps even shy, reticent students have an opportunity to speak up while more vocal students are encouraged to wait their turn and become a vital member of the classroom team.

Students should be able to:

• Follow simple directions
• Wait their turn before speaking
• Read teacher-prepared questions aloud to the class
• Practice listening skills
• Answer the question aloud
• Review expectations of  the course
• Formulate and ask questions pertaining to the course not previously asked

Materials Needed for Classroom Ice Breaking Activities:

• Enough teacher-prepared, chronologically numbered questions so that each class member has a question to answer.  Questions are typed on plain paper and cut into strips with one question per strip.  Questions should cover the basic information to be covered during the class period.
• Accompanying syllabus for the course, class or school rules and regulations or any information the teacher wishes to review with students
• A check-off roster listing student names for recording who has answered a question to ensure 100% participation
• Tape

Prior Preparation:
1.    The teacher will have taped one question to the bottom of each desk before students arrive.
2.    The teacher keeps a second copy of the questions for monitoring and to keep activity on pace.

To Execute Lesson:
1.    Teachers should announce to the class that this activity serves to establish a participatory tone for future class discussions.  Every class member is to participate and will receive credit for doing so.  By the end of the activity, they will know what the expectations of the class are and have an opportunity to ask questions that have not been covered within the class.
2.    After distributing the course syllabus or hand-outs containing the information to be reviewed in this activity, the teacher will ask students to reach underneath their seats and pull out the questions they will ask aloud.  They may have 2 to 3 minutes to exchange questions with another student if they wish.
3.    The student with the first question will introduce himself to the class (e.g., “My name is _________”) and read the question aloud.  If the question requires him to answer the question, he should do so.  It may also elicit an answer from another student, should the teacher wish to structure the activity accordingly.  The teacher will ultimately elaborate on all questions to drive home each point.
4.    As students finish answering their questions, they should adhere the question strips to the underside of the desk for the next class, if necessary.
5.    Allow time at the end of the activity for further elaboration or additional student-generated questions.
6.    Record that each student has responded and assign credit. This grade can be an easy first class participation grade.
7.    If additional time remains, have students try to recall each other’s names by going around the room asking each student to introduce the student behind, in front or around her.  The teacher may modify this step depending upon the maturity level of the group, whether this activity takes place in a high school classroom or a middle school classroom.

Sample questions for a first-day activity:

1.    What is today’s date?
2.    What is the title of this class?
3.    What is the new assistant principal’s name?
4.    How does the teacher spell his name?
5.    What is the title of the textbook for the class?
6.    What time does class begin and end?
7.    What supplies are required for the class?
8.    How many absences are allowed?
9.    What is the homework policy?
10.    How are students to spend the first five minutes of class?
11.    List three objectives of the class.
12.    Describe the grading policy for the class.
13.    What is the penalty for late assignments?
14.    How do students keep up with their assignments when they are absent?
15.    What does the class do in case of a fire drill?
16.    What is the locker/restroom/tardy policy?
17.    Is this class easy or hard?
18.    What is the requirement for outside reading?
19.    What books did students read over prior to coming to class?
20.    What is the procedure for making up work?
21.    How much do tests count?
22.    Does the teacher offer extra credit?
23.    If a student wants to test out of an assignment to do enrichment work, what is the procedure?
24.    Will the class go on field trips?
25.    Do other teachers have the right to keep students out of this class?
26.    How will the teacher, student and parents/guardians communicate with each other?
27.    Will the class take time to watch the grass grow?
28.    When is Shakespeare’s birthday?
29.    What was the significance of 1776?
30.    What happened in 1789 that changed the world?
31.    What major event occurred in 1066?

Conclusion: Ice Breaking Activities Play an Important Role in Team Building in the Classroom

As Laura Tillery observes on the Northern Illinois University website, icebreakers help create a comfortable learning environment within the classroom.  Icebreaking activities and team bonding activities set the tone for future discussion and help establish acceptable classroom procedures.

Sources:

Grand Rapids Community College. “Faculty Resources Guide.” (accessed August 10, 2010).

Tillery, Laura. “Icebreakers.” College of Education. Northern Illinois University (accessed August 10, 2010).

Personal Experience

Resource by J.Ellis

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