Since the first day of school is scary for most students, I try to make their day more relaxing and less stressful with a fun activity that requires art and writing. I give each student one white piece of paper (Xerox paper is perfect). I tell my students that we are going to draw faces — not just ordinary faces, but wacky faces. First, I have my students write their names on the back, and then I tell them to draw a very large oval; they can add ears but nothing else. Then the students hand their paper to the left. Then the students add eyes and eyebrows to the existing face oval and ears. Then, pass the paper. Next, add a mouth. Then, pass the paper. Next, add hair and any other finishing touches. (I tell the kids that tattoos are not acceptable.) I also give them 5-6 minutes to draw and colour each facial feature they add. When the face is completed, it is given to the student whose name was on the back.
Now the writing begins. The picture of the face is a new student at your school. The students must write what it is like for this new student on his or her first day of school. Here are some writing suggestions: Was this person scared to come to the first day of school? Could he or she sleep the night before? What did he or she wear? Who took him to school? Did she meet anyone? The wonderful things about this project are that it brings out creativity, it's fun, and students soon forget any first-day jitters they may have! Also, it makes a wonderful item to display at Back-to-School Night!
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