First Day Activities
With school getting started, I thought it would be good to share some first day activity ideas.
I don't like doing rules and regulations on the first day; I like to get into thinking about the issues we will be looking at and practicing the skills we will be using. I am also aware, however, of the fact that the kids are coming off of summer break, so their brains are seriously atrophied. For a Western Civ. class and then a American Studies class I taught for a bunch of years, we used to have the students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and then we would deconstruct it looking at word choice and what it says about our country. There is a lot in that short piece (and the assumption of people reciting it) and kids often have not really thought about what is being said or the act of group declaration. Makes for good, accessible discussion and sets the tone for thinking critically.
I don't like doing rules and regulations on the first day; I like to get into thinking about the issues we will be looking at and practicing the skills we will be using. I am also aware, however, of the fact that the kids are coming off of summer break, so their brains are seriously atrophied. For a Western Civ. class and then a American Studies class I taught for a bunch of years, we used to have the students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and then we would deconstruct it looking at word choice and what it says about our country. There is a lot in that short piece (and the assumption of people reciting it) and kids often have not really thought about what is being said or the act of group declaration. Makes for good, accessible discussion and sets the tone for thinking critically.
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