This packet of back to school activities for middle school includes 6 icebreaker games that will help students get to know each other and feel comfortable in the classroom. All activities include directions and teaching tips.
How to Use the Back to School Activities Middle School Packet
TeacherVision’s Back to School Activities Middle School packet is perfect for middle school teachers of any subject or grade. Play the games within this packet throughout the first week of school to welcome your new students to the class and help them get to know each other and you.
What Activities are Included in This Packet?
The Back to School Activities Middle School packet includes the following games and activities, and more:
1. All About the Bag
This activity helps your students get to know one another better, whether they’re new to the school or they’ve known each other a while. Sometimes, even if the students have gone to school with each other for years, they may be surprised to find out something new about their classmates that they’ve never known before.
Directions
- Hand out a paper bag to each student.
- Tell your students to fill the bag with 4 objects that will help others better understand who they are.
- Students can decorate the bag with their favorite sports team, draw on it, glue pictures or cutouts from magazines to it, or simply write their name.
- The students will bring the bag home, put the objects in it, and bring it back the next day to show the class.
- If there isn’t enough time for each student to share, you can split this activity into two days if needed.
2. Pass the Beanbag
Getting middle schoolers to open up is hard, but this activity is a great way to help them open up.
Directions
- Have students stand in a circle.
- Students will pass the beanbag around the circle to music.
- When the music stops, whoever is holding the beanbag has to tell the class something fun they did during the summer.
- Encourage the students to really listen to each other and raise their hand if they share a common experience as the student who’s sharing.
3. Would You Rather…
This is an activity that encourages students to answer the question, “Would you rather?…”
Directions
- Students will select a notecard from the stack you’re holding.
- On the card will be their “would you rather…” question.
- On the other side of the card, they’ll write their answer and then share it with the rest of the class or with a partner.
More Back to School Resources for Teachers
Looking for more resources for the new school year? Visit our back to school headquarters for full lesson plans, activities, guides, and new teacher resources!
If you’re a new teacher, be sure to also check out TeacherVision’s New Teacher Resources.
