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How do you build community on day one?

Becca Horowitz

The first day of school comes with plenty of noise: schedule changes, seating charts, new names, syllabus logistics. Through it all, you want students to hear one message loud and clear: You belong here, and we’re going to learn together. 

How do you connect with students at the start of the year? Share an icebreaker, community-builder, or routine that helps everyone settle in—whether it’s a tried-and-true favorite or something new you’re testing this year.  

And if you’re looking for a fresh way to get students talking about history, check out our Back-to-School History Games & Resources—including a chance to claim an OER Project history card game. 

Parents

  • 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.

Reply

  • 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.

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