Mr. Giso's Room to Read's Bright Idea #5

ME BAG First Week of School Activity

I've been asked to blog about this great idea I have been doing the first week of school for years, so here it goes!  As a fun way to welcome students back to school, they get a ME BAG on their desks.  It's filled with a few school supplies (pencils, eraser toppers, maybe a small notebook, etc.) as well as some fun things like a bracelet, puzzle, etc).  I also add some easy activities the children can do the first morning as I collect supplies, figure out bus routes, etc.

The students take the bag home and fill it with pictures, stickers and magazine cutouts that tell me all about them.  In school the third day, the bag returns and we cover the outside of the bag with these items brought from home.  It returns home from school a second time and comes back filled with five special artifacts about themselves.  On the fourth day of school, my students get a buddy where they examine artifacts and record and share what they have discovered about their new friends.

Check out my ME BAG!

My artifacts include these.
•Boston College mug:  I went there for undergrad.
•Shell:  I love to vacation anywhere there is a beach.
 •Dunkin' Donuts coffee:  I'm addicted. 
•Orange whistle:  Orange is my favorite color. 
• Photograph of my Christmas tree:  I collect ornaments.

The ME BAGS stay in my classroom until Back to School Night--they make a great display for families and friends.  Just click here to download this item from my store, free all week long!  I hope you enjoy this back to school activity as much as I do.