Activities for Starting Your Class

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I Found

 Name Game

 Scavenger Hunt

 Syllabus Test

 Name Bingo

 Class Card Info

I FOUND

 

EXPLANATION:

This activity is designed to get students on their feet and communicating with each other. It is a simple introduction that can be used for many purposes.

Procedure:

Have students write their names on the top of separate sheets of paper. After they have written their names, have them write down one thing that no one in the room could possible know about them, but they would not mind the class knowing later. These statements could be things such as :

  • I had green beans for supper last night.
  • I was born in Michigan.
  • I am married with four children.
  • After this is done, take the sheets and shuffle them into one pile. Put them on your podium or desk and hand out the "I Found" sheet. ( a sheet with grids -like a bingo card -with enough spaces for each students to have a space. For 25 students five squares across and five down.) After each student has a sheet, inform them that you are going to read each statement on their sheets but not their names. They are to use each block on the "I Found " sheen to represent one person.

    Example: When you read, "I had green beans for dinner last night," each students should write that statement in one block..

    Instruct the students to write down all of the statements, even their own. After you have read all of the statements, instruct each student that they are now to move about as rapidly as possible and find a name to go in each square. They must ask each person a question worded as such:

    "Did you have green beans for supper last night?'
    They should not ask:
    "Which one are you?' or "Which is your statement?"

    Give them five minutes to move about the room and find the people for each square. After five minutes call time and have them take their seats. At this point,tell them that we will now find each person to match the square. As you read each statement, one by one, ask the students to who the statement fits, not to give them selves away. Have them wait to see if anyone found them.

    When you ask,"Who had green beans for dinner last night?" see if anyone found that person. When someone identifies Jane as that person, this is a great time to have Jane tell the class something about herself such as her major, hometown, hobbies. etc.,

    The student who"finds" the most people in the class is the winner.

    There or, of course follow up exercises. If you don't finish. Assign students to complete the chart before you begin the next class.

     

     

     

           

     

     

           

     

     

           

     

     

           

     

     

           

     

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    NAME GAME

    Begin by having each student think of something unique about themselves--something that no one else in the room can say-- or something that no one would ever guess about them as in the exercise above. The instructor should begin. . . " I am Dr. Jones and I play the hand bells at my church." The first student says , "I am Sam and I have a pet snake, and this is Dr. Jones and he plays the hand bells at his church." The second student says, "My name is Asaka and I am have only been in the United States for six weeks. This is Sam; he has a snake. This is Dr. Jones; he plays the hand bells. "

    This is an excellent way to set the tone for the class. We're all in this together and the more we know about each other , the more comfortable we will be.

     

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    SCAVENGER HUNT

    EXPLANATION:

    This activity is good for getting students to meet other students in the class. It also allows students to talk about themselves and be introduced to the class.

    Procedure:

    Simply distribute the scavenger hunt sheets , give students five to ten minutes to complete the exercise and then allow each student to introduce the students on their sheet:

    Questions could include:

  • A student from out of state _____________________________
  • Someone who is a parent ______________________________
  • A business major ___________________________________
  • Someone whose name ends with "S" ___________________
  • A student who lives on campus _______________________
  • Someone who works in the food industry ______________
  • The person farthest from home _________________________
  • A married student __________________________________
  • Someone who won a scholarship ______________________
  • An athlete ________________________________________
  • Someone who has been in a play _____________________
  • Someone who has read a John Grisham novel ___________
  • Someone who has been out of the country _____________
  • Someone who owns a Jeep _______________________
  • Someone who lives off campus ____________________
  • Someone who owns a computer ____________________
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    Variation:

    Name Bingo

    Print a Bingo Card with the one of the above in each block. During a given time period, have students sign in a block that fits them. (Each student may sign only one block) Then have a BINGO game by calling out student's name. Have the students stand up when their name is called.

     

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    Syllabus Test

    EXPLANATION:

    After the first day of class when you have gone over your syllabus in detail, to ensure that your students fully understand the ramifications of absences, late work, tardies, grading, etc., you can issue them a take home syllabus test for a grade or extra credit. It is a great way to ensure that they have taken the time at home to review the syllabus and its content.

    Sample Test Questions

     

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    CLASS CARD INFO/QUESTIONS

    EXPLANATION:

    Have each student put the following information on an index or paper either the first day of class or to return to you on the second day of class .

    (On back of card if not there already)

  • Where you went to high school
  • ACT scores (verbal, math, and composite)
  • GPA in college ( if any)
  • For each parent:
  • Name
  • Educational degrees and places
  • Occupation
  • Three adjectives that would describe them
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