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lenny

Back-to-School Bash

lauren.merfeld

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Back-to-School Bash Lesson Plan

Students will practice sharing their names and interests through a structured name game, create an All About Me craft to express personal details, and complete a Friendship Exit Ticket to reflect on new classmates—all to build classroom community in the first week.

Establishing connections early reduces anxiety, encourages active listening, and fosters a welcoming environment where students feel valued and excited to learn together.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive sharing, crafting, and reflection activities.

Materials

Name Game Cards, All About Me Craft Template, and Friendship Exit Ticket

Prep

Gather Materials and Review Templates

10 minutes

  • Print enough copies of Name Game Cards, All About Me Craft Template, and Friendship Exit Ticket for each student.
  • Gather colored pencils, crayons, and safety scissors.
  • Review instructions on each material to familiarize yourself with the procedures.
  • Arrange desks or a circle area for group sharing.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Name Game

8 minutes

  • Have students sit in a circle.
  • Pass around the Name Game Cards deck; each student draws one card with a prompt (e.g., “Name and favorite animal”).
  • Student says their name and answers the prompt.
  • Continue around the circle until all have shared.
  • Encourage applause between speakers.

Step 2

Main Activity: All About Me Craft

15 minutes

  • Hand out the All About Me Craft Template and art supplies.
  • Students color and fill in sections: name, favorite things, family, and a self-portrait.
  • Teacher circulates, asks questions, and praises efforts.
  • After finishing, volunteers share their crafts with the class.

Step 3

Cool-Down: Friendship Exit Ticket

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Friendship Exit Ticket.
  • Students draw or write one kind thing they noticed about a classmate today.
  • Collect tickets as students leave.
  • Review responses to identify connections and follow up on any concerns.
lenny

Slide Deck

Back-to-School Bash

Welcome to our fun first week of school! Let’s make new friends and have a great time together.

Greet students, introduce yourself, show excitement. Briefly overview the day's activities.

Today’s Plan

• Play the Name Game warm-up
• Create an All About Me craft
• Complete a Friendship Exit Ticket

Read each bullet point and ask if anyone has questions.

Warm-Up: Name Game

  1. Sit in a circle.
  2. Pass the Name Game Cards around.
  3. When you get a card, say your name and answer the prompt.
  4. Clap for each friend after they share.

Ensure each student participates. Model first if needed. Keep the pace lively.

Main Activity: All About Me Craft

  1. Take one All About Me Craft Template and art supplies.
  2. Color and fill in: your name, favorite things, family, and draw yourself.
  3. Show your craft to a partner.

Circulate to support and praise. Encourage details in their drawings.

All About Me Craft Template

All About Me Craft Template

Point students to the template. Confirm everyone has one.

Cool-Down: Friendship Exit Ticket

  1. Draw or write one kind thing you noticed about a classmate today.
  2. Hand your ticket to me as you leave.

Collect tickets and glance over responses to gauge student feelings.

Great Job Today!

Thank you for sharing and creating! See you tomorrow!

Praise the class for their work. Remind them to tidy up.

lenny

Warm Up

Name Game Cards

Use these prompt cards for the Warm-Up: Name Game. Print and cut them out. Each student draws one card and shares their name plus the answer to the prompt.

  1. Say your name and your favorite animal.


  2. Say your name and your favorite color.


  3. Say your name and your favorite food.


  4. Say your name and your favorite book.


  5. Say your name and your favorite game to play.


  6. Say your name and your favorite sport or activity.


  7. Say your name and your favorite cartoon or TV show.


  8. Say your name and your favorite thing to draw or paint.


  9. Say your name and your favorite toy.


  10. Say your name and your favorite song or music.


  11. Say your name and one thing you’re excited to learn this year.


  12. Say your name and one thing that makes you happy.


  13. Say your name and one place you like to visit (park, zoo, etc.).


  14. Say your name and one thing you can do really well.


  15. Say your name and one thing you hope to do today in class.


lenny
lenny

Activity

All About Me Craft Template

Use crayons, colored pencils, and markers to fill in each section. Have fun and be creative!

1. My name is:


2. My favorite things are:





3. My family includes:





4. A picture of me:










When you finish, share your craft with a friend!

lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Friendship Exit Ticket

Name of Student:


Name of Classmate You Noticed:


Draw or write one kind thing you noticed about a classmate today:





Thank you for sharing! :)

lenny
lenny