To ensure the success of your third graders right from day one, it’s essential to incorporate a variety of first-week-of-school activities for 3rd grade that resonate with this age group.
First-week-of-school activities serve as icebreakers, getting-acquainted exercises, and tasks that help students feel more comfortable in their new classroom.
As a result, there will be a more positive attitude towards learning from your third graders.
What’s more, they’ll be excited to attend school, and the classroom atmosphere will be one of harmony and productivity.
Following you will find an engaging collection of 3rd-grade first-week-of-school activities that contribute to a successful start to the school year.
First-Week-of-School Activities for 3rd Grade
1. Draft a Letter to Your Future Self.
An enriching exercise to spark introspection and goal-setting involves having students compose letters addressed to their future selves.
During the first week of school, encourage your 3rd-graders to channel their thoughts toward the upcoming academic journey.
Prompt them to reflect on the desired emotions, accomplishments, and personal growth they aspire to experience by the end of the school year.
At the end of the school year, students will revisit these letters and gauge the extent to which they changed or met certain goals.
2. Capture Your Measurements.
If you seek fun and highly-entertaining activities for the first week of third grade, this one is a great choice.
Collaborating in pairs, students will measure each other’s key attributes.
They’ll record measurements such as foot size, height, arm length, etc., documenting these details for future reference.
By revisiting their measurements periodically throughout the year, students will witness the remarkable progress they’ve made in height and physical dimensions.
3. Participate in Show and Tell.
Have each student bring in a cherished object from their personal collection.
Schedule one to two minutes for every student to present their chosen object to the class during a designated day.
4. Create an All-About-Me Poster.
To encourage students to spotlight their distinct personalities and share their unique interests, ask them to create an All About Me poster.
This poster will include information and pictures that tell the class all about themselves.
Upon completion, these posters may be collected and placed on a bulletin board during the first week of school.
This display serves not only as a tribute to students’ individuality but also represents a diverse classroom community.
Download two different All-About-Me templates.
5. Draw Your Ideal Classroom.
Prompt students to envision their ideal classroom by asking them to draw their thoughts about how the perfect third-grade classroom should look, feel, and sound.
This exercise will reveal valuable insights into each student’s individuality, serving as a window into their personalities.
Moreover, as the teacher, you may take inspiration for planning future lessons and activities.
You could also get ideas about reconfiguring the classroom setup based on the unique perspectives shared during this activity.
6. Go On a School Scavenger Hunt.
To help both new and returning students become better acquainted with the school environment, consider organizing a fun scavenger hunt.
During this scavenger hunt, students help each other to answer clues leading them to various locations around the school and/or classroom.
By creating an environment where students piece together clues and navigate their surroundings, the scavenger hunt becomes an enjoyable and memorable way to enhance their understanding of the school and its surroundings.
See examples of riddles for a school scavenger hunt.
7. Compose an Acrostic Poem.
Have students compose an acrostic poem using their first, middle, or last name.
For instance, if a student’s name is “Missy,” she could use the letters to create meaningful words like “Marvelous,” “Imaginative,” “Savvy,” “Shy,” and Youthful.”
To add an artistic touch, suggest that students accompany their poems with light illustrations that complement their chosen words.
Afterward, provide an opportunity for each student to share her/his poem with the class.
To culminate this creative activity, consider creating a “Back to School” bulletin board display adorned with the poems.
The combined efforts will undoubtedly result in a visually appealing and inspiring presentation.
Final Thoughts On 3rd-Grade First-Week-of-School Activities
First-week-of-school activities for third grade students play a significant role in creating a positive learning environment at the beginning of the school year.
Using these activities, students will develop a strong sense of belonging and assurance in their classroom setting.
Their engagement in these initial exercises will create a feeling of being acknowledged and understood, ultimately leading to a sense of contentment and ease within the learning space.
Now your 3rd-graders will possess the mindset needed to have a successful school year.