The first day of school can be scary for students, no matter their age or grade. Just like adults might feel anxious about starting a new job with new coworkers, stepping into a new classroom full of new people can feel intimidating.
It’s so important that students get to know one another. Teachers can help build a positive classroom community on the first day with resources like this free Back to School Bingo game.
Why should students get to know one another?
Many schools encourage teachers to get to know their students during the first week through activities that create community rather than diving right into classwork. They do this because it’s important that students get to know one another during this time.
When students get to know one another, they build a positive classroom community where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and participating in classroom discussions. This can also help reduce anxiety for some students who might feel nervous on the first day of school.
Getting to know one another during the first week of school will encourage participation and help students build and develop their social skills. It will also help build community within the classroom and help students gain a sense of belonging, which is a positive for everyone.
Why are games important in middle school?
Level Up: Incorporating Fun Games into Your Classroom for Interactive Learning has a huge list of games teachers can use in the middle school classroom to boost engagement and learning.
But why are games important?
- Games can make learning fun.
- Games can reinforce learning.
- Games can promote teamwork and collaboration.
- Games can help build confidence.
- Games can be used to assess learning.
As students move through the ranks of elementary to middle school, they learn their interests and preferences – this can make them less eager to learn if they’re not feeling connected with the learning material.
However, teachers can make learning more engaging and enjoyable by using games like Back to School Bingo. This will help boost student motivation and encourage classroom participation.
Games can also help reinforce learning and help teachers assess learning when used as a form of formative assessment; teachers can observe how students approach and play the game, gaining insight into student learning. This can help teachers understand how some students learn (since everyone learns differently – not one size fits all), and they can adjust their teaching accordingly. This is all part of figuring out what teaching strategy works best.
Lastly, using games in the classroom can help build classroom community by promoting teamwork and collaboration. Many games have students working in pairs or groups, and they have to learn how to work together and encourage each other for the game to be successful. Not only does this promote teamwork, but it will also help build confidence in your students.
Why is bingo a great icebreaker to use in middle school?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the first day of school can be a scary time for students, especially when they don’t know anyone in their class. A game like Back to School Bingo is a great icebreaker because students don’t have to dive into lengthy conversations or classroom discussions with their peers immediately.
With this free Back to School Bingo, students move around the classroom to find a classmate who matches the description in the boxes on their bingo card. Then, they have that classmate initial the box as proof. It gets students moving around the classroom and meeting their peers in a non-threatening and much less intimidating way.
Plus, bingo is a game that is familiar to a lot of students. There are no difficult rules to follow, the game board is small, and it’s easy to see when you’ve won. Bingo is a low-stakes game, meaning that it’s a short game played in a cooperative and supportive environment that is fun, regardless if someone wins or loses.
How do I play this back to school bingo in my classroom?
Back to School Bingo is a breeze to play with students and a great way to get them moving around the classroom and getting to know their classmates. It’s also very low prep; all you need to do is print out enough bingo cards for your students, and you’re ready to play.
- First, hand out the printed cards to your students and explain bingo to those unfamiliar with it.
- Next, read through the prompts on the cards with the class.
- The students then move through the classroom to meet their peers, asking them questions such as, “Do you play an instrument?” “Did you read a book over the summer?” or “Did you ride a bike this summer?”
- Once students find someone who can answer their question, they will have that student initial the appropriate box as proof and move on to asking the next student a question.
When a student gets five squares filled out in any direction, they shout, ‘Bingo!’ If you want, you can have small prizes, like stickers or bookmarks, available for winners. When you’re done playing, you can use the cards to play a round of ‘That’s Me!’ with the class to help students get to know one another further.
Back to School Bingo is an icebreaker game that your students will remember and the perfect start to a new school year. When you sign up for the 2 Peas and a Dog email list, you will receive a free copy of this game. Once you sign up, a copy will be sent to your inbox.
Here’s what teachers have to say about this Back to School Bingo:
“Fun activity to start the year off. I like having them moving and talking. This provides them activities too and not just things they did over the summer which is nice as not all students have the same opportunities.” – Joan B.
“I love the idea of interactive Bingo! It’s always so hard to get the students to talk to each other. Thank you for this resource!!” – Marie D.
But what if I need more back to school ideas?
If you’ve played or decided to play Back to School Bingo with your students and need even more activities for this exciting time, try out this Back to School Mega Bundle! This bundle has 15+ ready-to-go activities to help you and your students get to know each other during the first week of school.
These activities are perfect for cooperative learning and social-emotional learning.
This Back to School Mega Bundle Includes:
- 15 Different Back to School Middle School Activities
- Back To School Escape Room
- Pet-Themed Digital Escape Room
- Creative Writing Choice Board Assignment
- School Uniforms Non-Fiction Article
- Classroom Reward Coupons
- 365 Attendance Questions
- Middle School ELA Emergency Sub Plans
- Grades 6, 7 and 8 Long Range Plans
You can get the Back to School Mega Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
What teachers are saying about the Back to School Mega Bundle:
“This is a fantastic resource for the beginning of the year. It is a great way to get to know students and also so nice to have something ready to go that doesn’t require much prep at the start of a busy year!” – Vanessa C.
“I have a 6/7 split class and was struggling with what to do to get to know them and their unique needs. I now have the first several days planned. I’ve used a couple of these activities in the past but couldn’t find them so now having them in a bundle will make it easy to find. LOVE that these activities can be used for any class. Thank you!” – Stephanie B.
“Thank you so much for this thorough resource for back to school. I have never taught Grade 7 so this was a great starting point with my class and getting to know them and where they were at with their learning.” – Maggie M.
Make back to school exciting for students, not intimidating. By using resources such as Back to School Bingo, you’ll be on your way to building classroom community and creating a group of students who will be eager to learn amongst their peers.
For more tips, tricks, and resources for back to school season, check out The Ultimate Teacher’s Guide to Back to School Success and How To Create An Engaging Back To School Environment.
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