How do you build community on day one?

I try to keep the me-in-front-of-the-class-yapping time to a minimum on the first day

I post stations around the room with prompts about the class and student likes/dislikes. Students travel around and answer each prompt by leaving a sticky note at the station. It’s a nice opportunity to observe student dynamics, get kids up and moving, and make sure each kid has a chance to weigh in. 

This is a very nice activity Anne Koschmider What kind of promps do you post?

 Laura Massa  I have to give credit where credit is due - to a fellow Laura! The activity is a free download on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Day-of-School-Stations-Activity-Icebreaker-Middle-High-School-FREE-3254153

I just modified her prompts a bit to suit my classroom. 

Thank you Anne Koschmider 

I love taking my class outside and playing some variation of "Cross the Circle" to see what similarities they have with their classmates (and teachers). I usually prepare a list in advance to get us started and save a few for later in case things get too far off the rails. 

Students also enjoy "Like Peanut Butter and Jelly," which is a find-your-pair game with things like salt & pepper, ocean & lake, Jupiter & Mars, etc. Students circulate asking one yes or no question per person then move on (so they keep cycling) trying to find the person whose role pairs with theirs. Once they find their match, the pairs move off to the side and sit down for a
conversation in which they introduce themselves and learn three new things that
they do not know about their partner. Then they introduce their partner and share what they learned about them with the group.

What cool ideas, Anne Koschmider and Kristin Romberg 

I just had students introduce themselves with their first name and name of any place on the globe, using an inflatable globe to help them.  I am quite confident I will not forget "Matilda Mariana Trench" anytime soon!