Top 10 New Year’s Activities for Your Classroom

Even though winter break only lasts a week or two, it’s just enough time to get your students out of their normal school routine. They forget the classroom rules and need some reminders when they return to your classroom. The days after winter break are the perfect time for a reset.

Use these 10 activities to welcome your students back to school and to reestablish your classroom routines and expectations.

#1 – New Year’s Escape Room

Your students will love doing an escape room on the first day back from winter break! It will allow them to interact with their classmates and get up and moving. 

In this New Year’s Escape Room, your students will work in teams to solve four clues related to the new year. When they solve the last clue, they will get the code to unlock a number lock and open a box to get a surprise. 

Learn more about how to set up this activity in this blog post.  

#2 – January Reading Challenge

The day after winter break is the perfect time to introduce a reading challenge to your students. Encourage them to set a goal and read lots of books this month with the “Curl Up with a Good Book” reading challenge.

Work with your students to set a class goal for the number of books they’ll read during January. Then, each time your students read a book, they will create a quilt square to show their favorite part of it, and they’ll add it to a class quilt. 

At the end of the month, celebrate if your class met the goal. You could have your students bring blankets and pillows to school for a cozy reading party. 

#3 – Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Winter Math Performance Task

Not ready to jump right back into your math curriculum? This math performance task will help your students review important math skills in a fun way.

They will :

• Review addition and subtraction of money by “buying” parts to build a snowman.
• Practice dividing by sharing supplies with their friends.
• Review the names of geometric shapes by drawing and decorating their snowmen.

There are 3 different levels of activities in the Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Performance Task, so you can meet the needs of all your students. 

#4 – January Early Finisher Activities

Get ready for students who finish activities before the rest of the class with these January Early Finisher Activities. End the days of being asked, “What should I do now?” Your students will just pull out these activities, and they’ll be engaged and learning while you help other students.

The early finisher choice board is filled with 24 winter-themed activities that will help your students practice important reading, writing, and math skills. The students will love choosing the activities they want to complete!

#5 – New Year’s Goal Setting Freebie

Rather than having your students make New Year’s Resolutions that they probably won’t keep, teach them to set goals that are achievable. 

My New Year’s Goal Setting Freebie walks you through the steps to help your students set reading goals for themselves. They will think about what they already do well as readers and what they want to improve.

By setting goals, making a plan to achieve them, and tracking their progress, your students will grow their reading skills in the new year.

Just join The Differentiation Conversation Community to get this resource for FREE!

#6 – New Year’s Vision Board

After your students have written their goals from #5, you can take it a step further and have them create a whole vision board for the year. They can use words and pictures to show the things they want to accomplish in the new year. 

#7 – New Year’s Scavenger Hunt Activity

Read the book Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas and talk about traditions for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Allow the students to share any traditions their families have. Then, have them complete a New Year’s scavenger hunt to learn about different New Year’s traditions around the world.

They will use the included websites to read about different New Year’s traditions. Then, they will count down from 10 to 1 by matching the countries with their special ways to celebrate. 

#8 – New Year’s Writing Activity

This writing activity builds off of number 8. After your students research the New Year’s traditions, have them either write about their family’s traditions for celebrating the New Year or choose one of the traditions from another country and write a story about celebrating the New Year with that tradition. 

All the prewriting, drafting, and publishing materials are included in this resource. Your students can complete the writing activity on paper or on the computer. 

#9 – Rules and Routines Kahoot

Review your classroom rules and routines with a fun game of Kahoot. Make up questions related to the expectations in your classroom and school. Then, challenge your students to play the game to see what they remember.

Spend some time practicing procedures and routines, like bathroom expectations, transitions, and center procedures. Make sure everything is running smoothly before jumping back into curriculum.

#10 – New Year’s Make the Year Math Activity

Have your students write the new year at the top of a piece of paper. Then, have them write ten different number sentences that equal that number. Challenge them to use the skills you’re learning in math class right now and include as many different operations as they can. 

You’re Invited!

Looking for new ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite New Year’s activities to do with your students?

Let us know in the comments.

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The post Top 10 New Year’s Activities for Your Classroom appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and that means it’s time to pick the perfect valentines for your students. The most exciting part of Valentine’s Day is exchanging valentines, and your students look forward to seeing what they will get from you. Keep reading to find the best non-candy valentines for your students.

The Best Non-Candy Valentines for Your Students

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.

As you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, there are a lot of things to consider. What fun lessons will you teach? What activities will you do at your Valentine’s Day party? 

And most importantly of all. . .what valentines will you give your students? There are so many different options, and it can be difficult to choose. These are some of the best non-candy valentines that your students will love!

#1 – Valentine’s Day Cards and Zipper Bracelets

These Valentine’s Day Zipper Bracelets are so much fun! Your students will love wearing them and using them as fidget toys. They come with adorable Valentine’s Day cards that are perfect for your classroom exchange. Just attach the zipper bracelets to the cards, sign your name, and you’re ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your class! This set comes with 30 valentines, so there will be enough for your whole class.

#2 – Valentine’s Day Cups

If you want something a little larger, these Valentine’s Day Cups are the perfect treat for your students. Fill each cup with stickers, a pencil sharpener, stamps, stickers, erasers, and pencils. Your students will get a cute valentine from you, and they’ll be stocked with school supplies to use for the rest of the year. This set comes with enough supplies to make valentines for 28 students.

#3 – Mochi Squishy Toys

If your students love desk pets or mochi toys, these mochi squishy toys will be the perfect valentines. Put a mochi toy inside of a little heart for each student. You could even give them time during your Valentine’s Day party to create homes for their new desk pets. This set comes with 28 mochi toys, plastic hearts, and valentine cards.

#4 – Dinosaur Egg Hatching Valentines

If you study dinosaurs with your class, they will love these hatching dinosaur egg valentines. Each student gets a card with a little dinosaur egg. When they put the egg in water, it will hatch, and a dinosaur will grow. There are 30 valentines in this set.

#5 – Building Block Valentines

If your students love building with LEGO blocks, these building block valentines will be a hit! There are 36 different designs with land animals, marine animals, and dinosaurs. You could even match your students with their favorite animals.

#6 – Erupting Volcano Valentines

Use your valentines to instill a love of science in your students with these erupting volcano valentines. They come with a volcano model, eruption powder, and glitter pigment – everything your students need to create an erupting volcano. Just tell your students to add water after they put the other materials into the volcano, and it will erupt. This set comes with 24 volcanoes.

#7 – Pop-It Fidget Valentines

Pop-its are fun and popular. If your students enjoy playing with pop-its, they will love these pop-it fidget valentines. The heart shape is perfect for Valentine’s Day. There are 24 valentines in this kit, and they come with keychains, so your students can attach them to their backpacks.

#8 – Foam Airplane Valentines

Turn your students’ valentines into a fun party activity with these foam airplane valentines. Your students can assemble their airplanes and have a contest to see which one flies the farthest during your Valentine’s Day party. This set comes with 28 valentines.

#9 – Invisible Ink Pen Valentines

If your students have been learning about mysteries, these invisible ink pen valentines will help them feel like detectives. They can write secret messages to their classmates and use the UV light to read them. There are 24 valentines in this set.

#10 – LED Finger Light Valentines

These finger light valentines will provide hours of fun for your students. They can keep the lights at school for reading glow parties. My students love tracking the words they read with the lights. This set comes with 28 valentines.

A Fun Way to Hand Out Valentines

If you’re looking for an interesting way to hand out your valentines to your students, try this Valentine’s Day Unlock the Box Mystery. Your students will work in teams to solve 4 Valentine’s Day clues. After they solve the last one, they will unlock a box and get your valentines. You can even have your students hand out their valentines after they solve the second clue to avoid the chaos of everyone handing them out at the same time. 

Want More Valentine’s Day Ideas?

Valentine’s Day Activities for Your Elementary Classroom

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Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite valentines to give your students?

Let me know in the comments below.

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The post The Best Non-Candy Valentines for Your Students appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

Why Choose a Halloween Escape Room?

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.

This Halloween Unlock the Box Mystery will encourage teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving. Your students will love working together to solve clues and to get a surprise.

Here are some benefits of doing this special Halloween activity:

1. Engagement: Halloween-themed activities naturally capture students’ attention and enthusiasm. An escape room adds an element of mystery and excitement, making learning more engaging.

2. Teamwork: Escape rooms require students to work together, fostering cooperation and communication skills among your students.

3. Critical Thinking: Solving clues and puzzles in an escape room encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.

4. Fun: Most importantly, it’s incredibly fun! It provides a break from traditional classroom routines while still offering educational benefits.

Setting Up Your Halloween Escape Room

Setting up a Halloween escape room may sound intimidating, but it’s really very easy. With just 4 simple steps, your Halloween Unlock the Box Mystery will be ready for your students.

1. Prepare the Materials

Print the grouping cards and a set of clues for each group. Cut the grouping cards apart, and tape them under your students’ desks. 

Put the clues into manila envelopes. I like to label the envelopes with the group number and the clue number. That way, I can use them for our next Unlock the Box Mystery.

Put a special prize, like these UpBrands Halloween Zipper Bracelets, inside a toolbox that has a hole for a lock. You can get one toolbox for each group or you can put all the prizes in one toolbox and relock it as each group solves the last clue.

Set 4-digit number locks to match the answer to Clue #4. Use them to lock the toolboxes. 

Hide the pumpkins for Clue #2 around the classroom.

Now, you’re ready to start the Unlock the Box Mystery!

2. Make Groups

Have your students reach under their desks to get their grouping cards. They should read the word on their paper and look for classmates who have a word that describes the same Halloween costume. Once they’ve found all the members of their group, give them Clue #1 and have them find a place to work.

3. Have the Students Solve the Clues

The students should work together to solve the four clues. Here’s a breakdown of what they will have to do in each clue:

#1 – Use critical thinking to solve a logic puzzle and match the children with their Halloween costumes.

#2 – Go on a scavenger hunt to find paper pumpkins around the classroom, and unscramble the words on the pumpkins to make a sentence.

#3 – Unscramble the names of common Halloween treats.

#4 – Solve Halloween math problems involving addition, subtraction, and time.

As the students solve each clue, use the Teacher Cheat Sheet to check their answers. If they are correct, hand them the next clue.

4. Unlock the Box

After your students have solved Clue #4, have them use the code to unlock the number lock. Then, they can open the box and get their prize.

Extra Tips for Running Your Halloween Escape Room

• You might want to give your students a time limit to make it more challenging. I usually give my students 45 minutes. 
• If a group is really struggling with a clue, you can offer them a hint. When a group gets a hint, they can’t work for the next 2 minutes.
• The Halloween Unlock the Box Mystery is a perfect activity for a Halloween party. It is also a great way to keep your students engaged prior to the Halloween party.
• Once your students do one Unlock the Box Mystery, they will beg to do more. Luckily, there are plenty of others available. Click the links below to discover more.

Ultimate Escape Room Bundle

Holidays Escape Room Bundle

Math Escape Room Bundle

Using a Halloween Unlock the Box Mystery is an excellent way to engage your students while promoting teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It’s a memorable and fun experience that they will cherish for years to come. So, this Halloween, consider transforming your classroom into a thrilling adventure, and watch your students embrace the spooky spirit of the season while learning and working together. 

Need More fun Halloween Ideas?

5 Fun Halloween Activities for Your Classroom

Halloween Read Alouds for Your Classroom

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What is your favorite engaging Halloween activity to do with your students?

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post Halloween Escape Room: A Fun and Exciting Teambuilding Activity appeared first on Teach Without Tears.