5 Ways to Ring in the New Year With Your Students
With the New Year at our doorstop, it's a great time to start thinking about fun and educational activities to do with your students. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Create a "New Year's Resolution" bulletin board: Have each student write down a goal or resolution they would like to work towards in the new year. You can hang these up in the classroom to serve as a reminder and inspiration throughout the year.
Hop over to my TpT store and have fun with the engaging and interactive activities found in the “Happy New Year Math and Language Pack” (click here for the Google/Powerpoint version and click here for the Smartboard version). I love using technology in meaningful ways in the classroom, and enjoy the added bonus of knowing I can sashay back into my classroom in the New Year without having to prep a bunch of materials - just open the file and VOILA - I am ready to go!
Make a "Time Capsule": Have students bring in items that represent their hopes and dreams for the new year. You can then put these items in a box and bury it, with the plan to dig it up and see how their goals have progressed at the end of the year.
Take a "New Year's Nature Walk": Get outside and take a walk around your school or neighborhood, looking for signs of the new year. This could include things like new buds on trees, animals starting to come out of hibernation, or changes in the weather.
Host a "New Year's Book Club": Have students bring in their favorite books from the previous year, and have a discussion about what they liked about them. You could also have students make predictions about what they think will be the most popular books of the new year.
Overall, the key to successful New Year's activities with elementary students is to make them fun and interactive. By involving students in the planning and execution of these activities, you can help them feel a sense of ownership and excitement about the new year.
Happy New Year!
