The first days of school are essential to establish a positive learning environment and create a strong bond with our students. To make these days exciting, memorable and achieve connection, I present 6 creative dynamics that will help you break the ice and allow your students to get to know each other.

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6 fun dynamics for the first days of class

1. Cooperative puzzle 🧩

Duration: 20-30 minutes

He Cooperative puzzle It's a fun way to encourage cooperation and teamwork from day one. Prepare cards with parts of a picture (for example, a flower) and distribute them to the students. Each student must find their puzzle partners and together form the complete image. This activity is not only fun, but it also teaches the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.

2. Bingo of things in common 🎲

Duration: 15-20 minutes

He Things in common bingo It is a great way to discover shared interests and experiences among students.

Create bingo cards with affirmations, for example: “Have you traveled to the beach this summer?”, “I love football” o “I have a pet”. Students should talk with their classmates to find someone who fulfills each statement and fill out their card. The first student to complete a line or column shouts! “¡Bingo!” and shares what he has learned about his peers.

3. Name map 🗺️

Duration: 20-25 minutes

He Name map is a visually engaging activity that allows students to share personal information in creative ways.

Give each student a blank sheet of paper and ask them to write their name in the center. Then they should draw concentric circles around her name, each representing an important aspect of her life, such as family, hobbies, favorite places, etc. Then, invite students to share their maps with the class, encouraging them to get to know each other more deeply.

4. Crossword about me 🧩

Duration: 20-25 minutes

This dynamic is a fun way to involve students in a playful activity while learning about their peers.

Ask them to create a crossword puzzle with definitions related to their name, hobbies, and characteristics of them. Subsequently, they must exchange their crossword puzzles with other classmates and try to complete them, encouraging them to talk and share information to solve the clues.

5. Truth or lie? 🤥

Duration: 25-30 minutes

This dynamic is a fun way to learn more about your students and encourage attention to detail.

Each student must think of three true statements about themselves and one lie. In a circle, each student will share their four statements with the rest of the class. The other students should listen carefully and then vote on which one they think is the lie. After everyone has voted, the student reveals the lie and the reasons behind the voting choices can be discussed. This activity encourages active listening and critical thinking.

6. All about me! 📋

Duration: 15-20 minutes

This activity allows students to share personal information in a structured and fun way.

Prepare an index card with sections such as: name, favorite color, favorite food, what they want to be when they grow up, a personal quality, and a drawing of themselves. Each student must complete the sheet with the answers and creative drawings of it. Students then take turns presenting their flashcards to the class, sharing their answers and showing their drawings. This creates an atmosphere of openness and familiarity in the classroom.

¡Bonus! 🤩

The educational publisher Twinkl shared in his article Activities, games and icebreakers for Back to School These activities that I just shared with you plus a super extensive compilation with proposals for games and activities for back to school. I invite you to take a look! 👀