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Have you done the same first-day-of-school activities for years? Are you searching for fresh ideas? This week's five lessons might fill the bill! Included: Students discover their learning strengths, create magnificent works of art, have fun following directions, more!

Have you been using the same stale first-day-of-school lessons for the past few years? Want to try some fresh ideas? You've come to the right place!

Why not start by adding interest to the entryway of your school? Provide each staff person -- don't forget custodial and cafeteria workers -- with a half sheet (4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches) of construction paper. Fold the paper in half to create a small book, and invite each staff member to write the title of his or her favorite book on the cover. (Illustrations are strongly encouraged!) Have each staff members glue a photograph of himself or herself inside the small book. Everyone will enjoy guessing which member of the school staff chose each book.

I'll bet, though, that what you're really looking for are lesson plans for the first day or two of school. So let's move on to...

Click each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)

Student Learning-Strengths Inventory
Use an online inventory to determine students' learning strengths, favored intelligences, .... (Grades K-12)

Following-Directions Follies
This fun activity assesses students' abilities to observe and follow directions. (Grades K-12)

An Apple (Pad) for Parents
Students create a special notepad for parent-teacher communication throughout the school year. (Grades K-8)

Going Back to School Can Be Expensive
In this homework activity, parents help students figure the cost of going back to school. (Grades 3-12)

The Art of Me
Students create a work of art to express the most important things they want others to know about them. (Grades 3-12)

Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
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