Friends in First (Back to School Pack)

  I am so excited to share my Back to School packet with you all! I have LOVED creating the activities for this packet. The beginning of the school year is such a fun and magical time for first graders (and for teachers, as well!). It is an important time to establish routines and make new friendships! In this packet, you’ll find all kinds of goodies to help make the beginning of the year a special and memorable one for your students. Your students will have a blast learning the rules of school with the help of the members of The First Grade Expert Club (Respectful Rachel, Responsible Ryan, Ready to Learn Robert, and Really Safe Rita).

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Each member of the club has a special role to share. They explain the importance of their roles in this catchy little story.

 

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After students learn and practice the rules of school, they have the chance to apply to be a new member of the club.

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If The First Grade Experts approve (wink, wink!), then all students will participate in an induction ceremony where they will get to create a fun craft and receive a special certificate.

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In this packet, you’ll also find “All About Me” activities, “Getting to Know You” ice-breakers and games, and lots of printables (and lesson ideas) that correlate with many of your student’s favorite back-to-school books. One of my favorite “ice-breaker” activities in my packet is “Be a Friend Detective.” For this activity, students fill out clues about themselves (example: “I have brown hair” or “I have green eyes”). You tell them NOT to put their names on their paper (or else it will spoil all the fun!). Then, you collect each paper and pass them to out to a different student and have them all become friend detectives by using the clues figure out their mystery classmate. Your kids will LOVE THIS!

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Here are a few of the activities that correlate with some classic back-to-school books. One book that I especially love is First Grade Stinks. The little girl in the story, Hayley, really thinks first grade stinks because it’s different than kindergarten. This is an excellent book to use to compare and contrast kindergarten to first grade. Your students will LOVE thinking of reasons why first grade DOES NOT stink.

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The activities mentioned above (and everything you see in my Preview) can be purchased at my TPT store and my TN store.

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19 Comments

  1. Rachel
    June 30, 2012

    I love this packet! I always read Chrysanthemum!

    rmariemuniz@hotmail.com

  2. Brandi
    June 30, 2012

    Love this pack! My favorite back to school book is The Kissing Hand.

    Brandi
    Successinsecondgrade@gmail.com

  3. Jenn Long
    June 30, 2012

    This packet looks great! Looks like I'm number 3…but I'm still putting it on my wish list at Teachers Pay Teachers so I remember to purchase it in a few weeks! 🙂

    A Pirates Life for Us

  4. LOVE it! I love The KIssing Hand =)
    (Too late to the party though as usual! lol)
    Jennifer
    laughinbrunette@hotmail.com
    First Grade Blue SKies

  5. how cute!!! Is there a 2nd grade version??? 🙂

  6. Jennifer
    June 30, 2012

    I love First Day Jitters!

    Jennifer
    jenniferlalsip(at)yahoo(dot)com
    The First Grade Dream

  7. Lisa R.
    June 30, 2012

    This is super cute Lyndsey! This is absolutely perfect for the first week of school. On to the wishlist it goes!
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

  8. Natalie
    June 30, 2012

    Looks awesome, girl! Now, here's hoping that I will get to teach first grade somewhere next year 🙂

    Natalie
    TeacheryTidbits

  9. This looks fabulous! You have picked some great books for this unit. Your kids are going to be so excited for school!
    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

  10. Olivia Cason
    June 30, 2012

    Hi! I've passed on The Lovely Blog Award to you. Please visit my blog to pick it up: Liv to Teach

  11. Lisa Mattes
    July 1, 2012

    This is so super cute! Kevin Henkes is my guy for back to school…Wemberly Worried & Chrysanthemum, especially.

  12. Patti
    July 1, 2012

    Hey, Lyndsey! Love your back to school packet! Any chance for a second grade version??? Moving up this year!
    pattib203@yahoo.com

  13. Jennifer
    July 1, 2012

    I love your blog! I gave you the One Lovely Blog Award. I actually gave it to you last week. I have been super busy and forgot to let you know earlier. So sorry.

    Jennifer
    Grade2Happenings

  14. Ashlee
    July 2, 2012

    I awarded you the one lovely blog award!! Go check my blog out to see it!

    Ashlee
    Sweet Seconds
    aldaniels15@yahoo.com

  15. OMGOSH!!! That back to school pack is soooo stinkin cute!!!!

    I'm pinning you!!!
    Too bad you didn't use my graphics or I'd have pinned you twice..hehehe

    Michelle
    The 3AM Teacher
    Visit My TPT Store
    Visit My FB Page

  16. lkuster
    July 2, 2012

    Thank you all!!!! I'm emailing out the packets to the two winners now. 🙂

    @Michelle: Thank you!!! 🙂

  17. Sarah Paul
    July 3, 2012

    This pack looks amazing! On my wish list!!!
    Sarah
    Sarah's First Grade Snippets

  18. Mrs. Livers
    July 21, 2012

    I love this packet amd your post cards, schedule cards, and binder cover freebies! I have all the above on my to do list that I can check off! Thank you for commenting on my blog which led me to all of these goodies! Look forward to following you:)

Comments are closed.