INTRODUCTION...

1.  FIRST, ESTABLISH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Consider focusing the 'BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR'-on Getting to Know You. Each day, help children  develop a sense of community.  This can be an extended to a long-range project based on children's interests and input.
 
2.  Encourage students to explore the unique qualities of themselves and of others. Have kids examine their current personal interests such as their “favorite" foods, colors, and activities. Have them think about their family tree and history, cultural backgrounds, etc.
 
3.  Help children identify similarities and differences between people. Highlight the commonalities among people and point out how Variety is the Spice of Life. You can do this by using analogies in the natural world; by referring to the numerous types of animals that exist within a species, such as different kinds of dogs (or flowers).

4.  Provide many opportunities for cooperative learning.

Note: A small number of children exhibit signs of difficulty adjusting to the start of the school year; most of those difficulties are short-lived and come at predictable times in a child's life -- at the start of kindergarten or first grade, in a change to a new school, or during the passage from one level of school to another.

Categories that are a great resource for the 'Beginning of the year'!

• Beginning School Year Activities/Ideas! Most catetgories linked together...
• Connecting Kids all year long
• Connecting Program Staff to Families
• Newsletter Tips and Articles
• Ideas to include on your 'Wish Lists'
• Doing the Days of September
• Autumn/Fall and Back to School Display Board Ideas

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  DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF SCHOOL YEAR...

For School-age to adult...
THE INTERVIEW...This is a great beginning-of-the-year activity---or beginning of summer programs when many of the kids don't know each other...

Have students break into dyads. Each is paired with someone they do not already know well. Allowing five minutes per interview, the students interview each other. Then standing behind the person they have just interviewed, each child tells the group what they have learned about the other, introducing them to the group. 

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 ME PUPPETS
Grade Levels: 1-5

• On the first day of school (unlike the remaining days of the school year), the children are usually reluctant to talk about themselves.
• We make "me" puppets using paper plates for the head, yarn for the hair, and construction paper facial features, with a popscicle stick for a handle.
• Upon completion, we stage a puppet show.
• The children hide their faces with the puppets and tell their classmates all about their families, hobbies, pets, etc.
  Gail W.

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GREAT IDEA! BACK TO SCHOOL MEMORY GAME AND PUZZLES

1. On one of the first days of school-- take each child's picture.
2. Make double prints and laminate each photograph.
3. Make a Memory Game out of the pictures of the kids. (The children would play the game of Memory just like the regular game)

After a few weeks, save one copy of photos for your program 'Memory Book' or if this is for a classroom--give to parents!
Cut the other set of photographs and make a personal puzzle for each child. Submitted by Ilene/California

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GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER WITH T.P. Have kids sit in a circle, with a roll of toilet paper. (If group is large--break children up into a few circles) Tell them you're going to pass around the roll, and they should "take as much as they need to complete the job." Don't tell them what the job is though!

• After everyone has had a good laugh over the amount of paper they took, explain that for every square of toilet paper ripped off, they must tell everyone one thing about themselves.
• The last square must be their name! The kids really love it!
  Adapted from Jac/yahoo.answers

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BALLOON GAME

Purpose- To introduce or learn something about each other; to provide physical activity, have fun, build community spirit  Each child receives a balloon (either inflated or they blow up). Children write their name and decorate balloons with a marker. 

• Put all balloons in a container, box or bag.
• Release all balloons at once. Play some music as children bat the balloons around and keep them in the air.
• When the music stops the children “capture” a balloon and freeze in their position.
• When everyone has a balloon the leader calls on one child and the child says the name of the person’s balloon he/she has.
• The child whose name is called will then say something about themselves.
• The topic can be pre-chosen such as: What is the best thing that happened to you this week?  Or--If you could do anything for a day, what would it be? Or--My favorite class is________?  Ideas are endless.
• If the group is large you can have 3 or 4 children make their statement and then start the music again. This game is actually good anytime of the year!

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DOES YOUR SCHOOL OR CENTER HAVE A MASCOT?

• A neat idea is to get a stuffed animal of THAT MASCOT to play this getting to know you game of: HOT __________!
• Have kids sit in a circle.
• Pass around the stuffed_________ to music.
• When the music stops the student holding the _______ has to say his/her name.
• Continue until everyone has had a chance to tell his/her name.
• You can add features to the game such as: My name is Sara and my favorite things to do is ______.

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STICKER PARTNERS! (Getting to know each other)

• Each student is given a sticker to put on his or her hand upon entering the room, but students aren't told what the sticker is for until the time is right! Be sure there is a partner (matching sticker) for every student.
• Ask students to find their partners and interview them (name, grade, hobbies, etc.).
• Each interviewer is responsible for introducing each interviewee to the rest of the group.
• You might find that students find it less threatening when someone else shares information about them than when they are asked to share about themselves.

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PLAY HUMAN BINGO! 
   • Provide each child with a pre-made bingo handout (divided into squares). 
   •  In the squares write things such as "I have blue eyes" or "I play an instrument." 
   • Kids go about the room and have others (including you) signing their name in one of the squares.
   •  Do this until the hand-out squares are filled in._

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OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Grade Levels: 3-8

• On the first days of school, I introduce myself to the group, and I tell them that they are going to unscramble some words that I have placed on the board. The scrambled words are a list of my favorite things, but I do not reveal that to the kids.
• After the students have worked to unscramble the words, I ask for volunteers to help reveal the unscrambled words.
• After all of the words have been unscrambled, I challenge  children to name a category for all the words.
• If the kids can not guess, I tell them they have just discovered my favorite things. They then create some scrambled words of their own. Each child gets a chance to reveal their list during the first days of school.
  Cara Koen 

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DESIGNING SELF-COLLAGES: Grades 1-6
In order for youth to build self esteem (and get to know each other), they need to know who they are and what is important and unique to themselves personally. Children also need to have a concrete way in which to express this. Children can become resident 'experts' in the program and this is one way of finding out what the range of knowledge is among a group of students.

Using pictures, words, or symbols clipped from magazines that represent things they enjoy doing or own, places they've been, and people they admire--- or careers they desire---have kids create a collage. They place their names on the back, and post the collages around the room. 

Don’t stop there! Have the other children guess which collage belongs to whom and state why they made that guess. This activity gives youth a chance to reflect on who they are and then to share that information in a fun way with the rest of the group.

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TRUTH OR LIE?  Pass out index cards to the children. The students then write down three facts---two truths and one lie (Or two lies and one truth) on the card. Youth then read their cards to the group and the group decides which fact is a lie or which fact is the truth. This activity can be a lot of fun--and is also good anytime of the year!

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TIME CAPSULES TO OPEN END OF SCHOOL YEAR
Make time capsules using paper towel tubes. In it have kids put in a self-portrait and a paper such as “My favorite thing to do is.....".  The tube can then be decorated.
Attach a note … "Do not open until June 12, 2013, (or whatever the last day of school is.) During the last week—give each child their time-capsule.

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  AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR start a special journal for each student that will be graduating from your program and moving onto middle school or high school. Throughout the year--teachers, parents, community members, peers, and others can write messages to the students in the journals; you can also include activity photographs. Give the journals to the students at an end of the year family event ---or your end-of-the year program/classroom party! Working on these throughout the year, will provide a wonderful keepsake for your graduating youth.

 Or...
Instead of presenting a journal to the students, have the students record their thoughts during the school year in a journal -- things they are thankful for, etc. Present the journal to their parents at the end of the year.

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 JOKE CONNECTER-ICE BREAKER  Set-up: Write a joke on one card and a punch line on another. Be sure to mix the cards up. The number of different jokes depends on the size of the group.

• Give each person a card. Explain that they may have a joke or a punch line on the card. On a given signal, they are to walk around the group trying to find the other part of their joke/punch line.
• When they find their other half, you may ask them to get to know their new partner by asking things like favorite ice cream or dream vacation etc...
• When this is done, everyone can return to a circle and, with their partner, tell their joke. Jokes on KidActivities.

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WHOSE SHOE IS THIS?

All participants take off a shoe and throw it in a large pile in the middle of the room. On the count of three, each person grabs a shoe from the pile, and then finds the person with the matching shoe on the other foot.
Youth then learn the ‘shoe-owners’ name --- as well as three things about them that they didn’t know.
After the interviewing process, each takes turns introducing 'their shoe owner" with name and the three facts...

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THE BIG MEASURE
This is a different type activity for the beginning and/or end of the year! Perhaps you can adapt it to fit your group---
As an extension, it could be started at the beginning of the year---and then updated at the end for comparison...

Instructions: As a special keepsake, create a book based on the MATH FACTS OF ENTIRE GROUP.

•  For starters, add up everyone's height. Write the final total on a left-hand page, then list everyone's height on the right-hand page. On following pages, let students choose other things to measure.
  Some ideas:
  Everyone's pet (or favorite stuffed animal), length of hair, favorite book, foot, hand, etc.
• The last page can be a long sheet of paper with everyone's signature written from one side to the other. First, ESTIMATE how long each signature will measure and how long the sheet will have to be!  (This is from the Mixing Math with Fun Category)

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 SHARING THE SUMMER

Divide a bulletin board into "window panes," using white strips of paper. Create one window pane for each child in the program. Assign a few children to bring in some object each day, such as a shell, picture, stone, brochure, etc., that represents what they had fun doing this past summer.
Put the items in small zip-lock plastic bags. After each presentation, mount the plastic bags on each child's "window pane." This makes a great back-to-school bulletin board and provides children with opportunities to talk about their summer.

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PAPER DOLLS!

•  Have children cut out paper dolls. Each doll is 2 feet tall, and all are alike in the beginning.

 •  Then students "dress" their dolls by coloring or making clothes out of fabric, wallpaper, etc.

•  Tell kids to leave the face portion blank.

•  While students dress their dolls, I use the digital camera to take pictures of all of them.

•  We crop the pictures so that we see only faces, blow them up to fit the paper dolls, and students glue their faces to the dolls.

We laminate them and hang them in the entrance to the classroom across from each child's coat cubby. It's a colorful display! Students and parents love them! At the end of the year, students take their dolls home.
Phyllis Diggins, Rochester, New York

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BUILDING NEW FRIENDSHIPS Bulletin Board

I do an opening week activity that also takes care of a bulletin board for the first month or so. I cut several block shapes (like cement blocks) out of brightly colored paper. On each, I write a declarative statement.

     • I love broccoli. I have broken a bone. I went ice-skating this summer. I have been in another country. I have met someone famous. Be creative with your statements!

Sometime during the first few days, I pass them around and students sign all blocks that apply to them. I sign them also, then circulate them through the rest of the teaching staff, the administrators, the cafeteria workers, custodians, crossing guards, playground aides, etc. It usually takes  about a week to get them all back.

I then "build" a wall with them on a bulletin board under a banner I made on the computer that says "Building New Friendships."

Whenever visitors come into our classroom, I ask them to sign the appropriate blocks, also. This is really a conversation starter and helps the kids find common areas of interest with people they might not have thought of otherwise. Idea of Tami Knight on 'Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards' by Barbara Colvin 

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 Love the above idea!!! I've done something similar in getting kids involved in program planning with an 'I Like Wall". This sample board is from one of my trainings. A real 'I Like Wall' in a program would look better!  Barb

THE 'I LIKE WALL'...

Early in the program year, put about twenty-five sheets of paper on the wall, with a pre-heading of topic sentences such as:  "I like to cook"; "I like to help others"; "I like to play gym games"; "I like to walk", etc. 

These statements can be incorporated with more specific sentences such as "I have blue eyes."  The children will think you're doing a survey;  however, as well as learning more about each other, information will be given to you regarding the children in your program. (Interests, activities, outgoing, etc.)

Extension (if this is for a Day Care or After School Program): Program Planning

After the 'wall questionnaire' has been completed, use the sheets of paper as a spring board for ideas. You can look at the cooking section and say, "I see a lot of kids like to cook. How would you like to have a cooking club?"  You can continue through various popular topics. With this method, it is still advisable to form a "planning committe" using the wall as a source.  This reinforces empowerment in the children. Programs have also used this method successfully well into the school year, to spark children's input of ideas. It is recommended however, to do this at the beginning of the school year--or at the beginning of the second half of the year.

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BULLETIN BOARD TIP...

Cover  boards with fabric at the beginning of the year!  Unlike paper, it doesn't fade and staple holes don't show when you move things around or take it down. Be on the look out for sales-and check the clearance tables at fabric stores. It will look good for years!

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LIFE-SIZE SELF PORTRAIT...
We’ve all made butcher paper drawings, where one child traces another…however,
Making self-portraits, REFLECTS PERSONALITY AND THE WAY ONE PERCEIVES themselves. A fun craft project is to make life-size self-portraits. You’ll need crayons/marking pens, large sheets of butcher paper, and paints.

To begin, have a child lie flat on a sheet of butcher paper with his or her arms and legs placed slightly away from his or her body. Have the other child carefully trace around the outline making sure to include fingers and both feet. Then, have the child that did the outlining lie on some paper while the other child does the tracing.

Have the children decorate their portraits to look like them. Make sure they include the tiniest details such as dimples, curly or straight hair, braces, and any jewelry they like to wear. They can even draw the clothes they’re wearing. When finished, cut out the finished self-portraits.
They can be hung on walls and doors. You can also glue some long sticks to the back of the portraits and make a life-size puppet or paper doll.

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This is a fun project to do at the beginning AND end of the year to MEASURE HOW MUCH THE CHILDREN HAVE GROWN. If there is no room in your program to hang the “self-portraits” have children take them home to hang in their bedroom—
Tell them to save the project so they can compare them to the next one they make at the end of the school year!

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SNOWBALL FIGHT!

Grade Levels K-to adult... To get to know each other and have a "ball" at the same time, incorporate a "Snowball Fight" into one of the first days of activities. Give youth a clean sheet of white unlined paper. Have them write 3-5 unique things about themselves. Tell them NOT to put their name on the paper. (If they can't write--have them draw a picture) 
 

Next, have them crunch the paper into a ball. Have them stand in a large circle around the room. Then allow them one full minute to have an all-out snowball fight!
When one minute is up, have them locate a "snowball" nearest to them, unfold it, and take turns trying to guess who it is. They absolutely LOVE this activity! It loosens them up real quick and they will remember it always. Many students say it's  the best minute of fun they had all year! (Adapted from Betsy Pollard)

Note: I actually do a version of this in training sessions! If it's 'baseball season" instead of throwing 'snowballs'...we pretend to be throwing baseballs. Always play themed music while balls are being thrown! With baseball--of course it's 'Take me out to the Ball Game!' (Barb)

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GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER WITH CANDY!  Bring in Skittles or M&M's. Tell the kids to take as many as they want. Most are pretty apprehensive -  it's the first days of school!
They'll usually take about ten to 15 Skittles. You should take some too.

• Next, pick out some fun music.
• For each Skittle taken students must say one thing about themselves while moving to the music. You demonstrate first-
• An option: Each color of candy represents a category students must speak about. 

    Example:
    Orange = Scary memories 
    Red = Great vacations 
    Green = Something about your family 
    Blue = Favorite hobbies, etc.

• The activity is a good icebreaker, and the kids love it! After that, they feel comfortable and know some things about each other.
• Note: Before preparing or distributing any food in the room, make sure you are aware of children's allergies or dietary restrictions and caution children about choking hazards.
  Adapted from Laura MacDonald, Big Creek Elementary School, Berea, Ohio (Adapt as you like...)

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 'GETTING TO KNOW YOU' WITH  ACROSTICS! This  example shows the work of 'BRIA'.... 

 "FACE AND NAME"

Directions: Instruct children to vertically spell their first name--letter by letter.  Children next write a word--usually an adjective--that starts with each letter and describes them...

B = Bubbly, R= Rowdy, I= Intelligent, A=Amazing!  It's completed with a self-portrait! A great activity for the Beginning of the School Year--or of course to go with a "Faces and Names" Theme!

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"START YOUR DAY WITH JOY!"

At the beginning of the school year introduce rules. For your first rule have...  'Enter the room with a smile!'

Discuss how important it is to spread joy and it starts with them. Take pictures of  students smiling. Select different students weekly that are smiling and display them in an area of the hall. Do not tell them who will be selected as "Students of Joy!" for the week.  You may also have other students take pictures if you have a digital camera." (Source:  Nell Clark, Computer Teacher  at teachnology.com )

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WELCOME BAGS

Place the items described below in a brown lunch bag and include this handout:
 
The items in this bag have special meaning:
 
      • The cotton ball is to remind you that this room is full of kind words and warm feelings.
 
      • The chocolate kiss is to comfort you when you are feeling sad.
 
      • The tissue is to remind you to help dry someone's tears.
 
      • The sticker is to remind you that we all stick together and help each other.
 
      • The star is to remind you to shine and always try your best.

      • The gold thread is to remind you that friendship ties our hearts together.
 
      • The rubber band is to remind you to hug someone.
 
      • The penny is to remind you that you are valuable and special.
 
      • The toothpick is to remind you to "pick out" the good qualities in your classmates.
 
      • The bandage is to heal hurt feelings in your friends and in yourself.
 
      • The eraser is to remind you that we all make mistakes and that is O.K.
 
      • The life saver is to remind you that you can come to me if you need someone to talk to.
          Author Unknown

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BACK TO SCHOOL ABC's or can also be used for...
'BACK TO AFTER SCHOOL' ABC's or 'School Age Care' ABC's....

This is an activity that can be done across the grades! Share with students some ABC books from the school or town library and tell them that they will be working together to create a Back-to-School ABC Book.

Assign a letter of the alphabet to each student. Brainstorm with students possible words for each letter or allow each student to choose his or her own word.

Explain that the words must be related to activities associated with school. Of course, the difficulty of the words will vary, depending on the grade level of the students. For example, 'A' might be represented by the words art, abacus, attendance, algebra, addition, advisor, athletics, auditorium, alphabet, answer key, apple, arithmetic, announcement, award, A-V, aide, or assistant principal.

Last, have each student illustrate his or her word. Combine the pictures to create a book. Display the book in the classroom or school library. As an extra challenge, you might limit older students to choosing adjectives; no nouns allowed! (An interesting idea from: educationworld)

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SELF PORTRAIT (A 'Beginning of the School Year' AND 'End of the School Year' Activity)

1. Fold paper in half. Each half is labeled "September" and "June".
2. Children draw self-portraits on the "September" side and store them in their portfolios.
3. In June, complete the other self-portrait and the children's growth in fine motor skills is revealed.

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Click here for 'Using a Digital Camera as a School Tool' and also 'Autumn and Back to School' Display Board Images and Ideas.

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'PRE-K AND K' BACK TO SCHOOL SONGS... Be sure to check out the 'Pre-K to Grade 1' Song Category. There are songs for almost the entire year!

HELLO SONG
(To tune of Three Blind Mice)

Hello, (child's name),
Hello, (child's name)

How are you, how are you?
We're glad you're here to learn and play.
We know we'll have some fun today.
We love school every day
And so will you!

HELLO SONG #2
(Frere Jacques tune)
Hello, (child's name), hello, (child's name).
How are you? How are you?
We're so glad to have you,
We're so glad to have you,
Here at school, here at school.

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WHO IS HERE TODAY?
(Sung to tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Let's see who is here today.
Who has come to join our play?

Everyone sit close at hand.
Say your name and then you stand.

Let's see who is here today.
Who has come to join our play?

When complete, children stand and say their names.

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IF YOU'RE HAPPY AT SCOOL
(Sung to: If You're Happy and You Know It)

If you're happy at school clap your hands.
(clap, clap)

If you're happy at school clap your hands.
(clap, clap)

If you're happy at school and you really want to show it,
If you're happy at school clap your hands.
(clap, clap)

Continue with...

...stamp your foot...
...turn around...
...shout hurray...

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DURING THE BEGINNING WEEKS OF SCHOOL...GET ACCLIMATED!

The first few days of school and after-school care-- should be spent becoming acclimated to each other, learning the class/ program rules, routines, and what is what and expected in centers.

Activities should not be too long or too complicated until behavior management has been established. This doesn't mean you should not plan activities. In fact, 'overplan' to make sure there is enough material and things to do. Each day post a schedule and refer to it.

Also, make sure everything is prepared so you don't waste valuable time and lose children's attention. The first few weeks of school tend to be the hardest for both students and teachers, but remember that with time and practice a routine will be established! (If you work in a childcare center or after-school program-read "Why Some Activities Don't Work")

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THINGS TO CONSIDER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR or BEGINNING OF SUMMER CAMP...

•  Do you have a NEWSLETTER? If not, get one going and look at the great Tips, Ideas and Content for Classroom/ChildCare/AfterSchool Newsletters!

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Other Categories that are a great resource for the 'Beginning of the School year'!

• There are many 'All year long Connecting and Feel Good Ideas'  that would work at the Beginning of the School Year!
•  Beginning School Year Activities/Ideas! (A few catetgories linked together...)
• Connecting Kids all year long
• Connecting Program Staff to Families
• Faces and Names Theme
• Newsletter Tips and Articles
• Ideas to include on your 'Wish Lists'
• Doing the Days of September
• Autumn/Fall and Back to School Display Board Ideas
• Using Camera as School Tool

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 APPLES

A BRAND NEW BUSHEL OF APPLES by Diedre Davis.... 

AN A-PEELING BUNCH by Mary Ann White

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 OTHER APPLE THEMED BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS...

• 'OUR APPLE ORCHARD'...Cut an apple for each child to glue a photo of themselves on and put on the bulletin board.

• 'A BUSHEL OF FUN!'
-Draw a large basket with apples in it, and once again, have each child's name on an apple.
 
• 'WE ARE A GREAT BUNCH!'
-Apples on a tree with each child's name on an apple.

• THE NEW CROP IS IN!
Place children's photos or names in apples and hang on tree.

• 'WELCOME TO ________!'
May this school year bring
You happiness galore,
And may you enjoy it
Right to the core!
 
Post the above poem and then draw a huge apple core with everyone's names on it!

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Visit our great APPLE THEME! to go with Apple Display Walls/Doors...

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 'SHARING THE SUMMER' BULLETIN BOARD IDEA... This makes a great back-to-school bulletin board and provides children with opportunities to talk about their summer.   

Divide a bulletin board into "window panes," using white strips of paper. Create one window pane for each child in the program. Assign a few children to bring in some object each day, such as a shell, picture, stone, brochure, etc., that represents what they had fun doing this past summer.
Put the items in small zip-lock plastic bags. After each presentation, mount the plastic bags on each child's "window pane."

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CUTE SCHOOL-WIDE/PROGRAM-WIDE IDEA!
MATCH THE TEACHERS WITH THEIR PETS...

1. In order to have the students meet the faculty and staff on a different level-- have  faculty bring in a picture of themselves and a picture of their pet. 
2. Place the pictures on the bulletin board in a scrambled up manner and have the student decide who goes with which pet.
3. Number the pictures and label the pets with a letter. Have paper available for the students to write down their answers. 
You could also tie in a reading theme by adding some book jackets of pet books. 

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GREAT IDEA! Love this one!
'BUILDING NEW FRIENDSHIPS' Bulletin Board...This is an opening week activity that also takes care of a bulletin board for the first month or so. Cut several block shapes (like cement blocks) out of brightly colored paper. On each, write a declarative statement.

• I love broccoli. • I have broken a bone. • I went ice-skating this summer. • I have been in another country. • I have met someone famous. Be creative with your statements!

Sometime during the first few days, pass them around and students sign all blocks that apply to them. Sign them also yourself, then circulate them through the rest of the teaching staff, the administrators, the cafeteria workers, custodians, crossing guards, playground aides, etc. It usually takes about a week to get them all back.

Then "build" a wall with them on a bulletin board under a banner that says "Building New Friendships."

Whenever visitors come into our classroom, ask them to sign the appropriate blocks, also. This is really a conversation starter and helps the kids find common areas of interest with people they might not have thought of otherwise. Idea of Tami Knight on 'Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards' by Barbara Colvin 

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Are you having a FROG THEME? Maybe some of the following will get you 'HOPPING'! Good for a board or door...

• "Welcome to My Pad" (On the door or Information Board)

 • "Take a Leap Into _____!" (Example: Grade 5 or SAC)

• "Leap into ______" (Beginning of Year Welcome)

• Welcome to ___________’s Pad!

• "I'm HOPPY You’re Here!"

• "Toad"ally Awesome ________"

"Leaping into a New School Year!"
Write child's names on frogs and display around large lilypad with class name or grade written on it.

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Visit the 'FROG THEME PAGE' for ideas to go with your display boards!

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AUTUMN-FALL

 AUTUMN IS... Idea from Leopold Primary School

Have children trace leaf shape templates. Use fall colored paper to do so.
Have each child finish the sentence-
Autumn is...
Place the leaves about the tree!

Example: AUTUMN IS...
The days getting cooler and windier
Deciduous trees losing their leaves
Children jumping in piles of crunchy autumn leaves
Wearing scarfs and jackets
Farmers harvesting their crops

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FAll INTO A GOOD BOOK...An Autumn Board to stimulate some good Reading!

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'AUTUMN SUNFLOWER ART' DISPLAY BOARD (See Sunflower Theme)

For this bulletin board/display -- paintings, collage and color mixing work were based around the theme of Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Photograph by Mrs. P on Display Photos

IDEA #2...SUNFLOWER CHILDREN

1. Have each child make a sunflower. Cut out a circle out of brown construction paper. Cut long petal strips out of yellow paper.  
2. Glue one end of each strip to the back of the brown circle.
Wait until the glue dries a bit and then pull the other edge of the paper strip and glue it down on the circle.
3. Cut leaves and stem out of green paper and glue on.
4. In the middle of the sunflower write the child's name out; around it glue down a few sunflower seeds.
Display the sunflowers on the bulletin board and in the middle place the the following poem. (Idea from CanTeach)

The sunflower children
Nod to the sun.
Summer is over,
Fall has begun!

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FALL TREE  MURAL THAT CHANGES WITH THE SEASONS ...

• Make the tree trunk by cutting up brown paper bags. Crinkle the paper and shape it into a tree trunk by stapling it to the bulletin board. Branches may be cut as part of the trunk--or added separately. Allow some branches to buckle out. You can twist some branches before putting down.

FOR FALL... cut out paper apples and staple them on tree branches. Write the children's names on the apples.....And/Or... add tons and tons of leaves with names written on some of them. Add bushels of apples, and pumpkins... If up all year--as you change the tree--also change what is around the tree to go with the season!!! Go from bushels filled with apples, pumpkins, a scarecrow... to snowflakes and snowmen... to a spring scene with kites, butterflies and flowers! If this is a mural on a wall -- attach it with lots of tape doubled over. If you want a plain painted tree--the idea still is good!

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DO SOME WINDOW PAINTING!
Paint a fall/harvest scene on your window. Use the following recipe and the paint is easily removed. Give each child (Or group of children) a window to decorate. (For another paint method and image vist the Paint/Coloring Page.)

Recipe for Window Paint

 2 Tbsp powdered tempera paint, 1 Tbsp warm water, 1 tsp Joy dish washing liquid Measure powdered paint into a container.Mix in water thoroughly to achieve a smooth paste. Add JOY, mixing completely, but gently, to avoid making paint too sudsy.  Dries on windows in 5 - 10 minutes. Washes off easily with a solution of water and vinegar.

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'RECIPE FOR A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!' (or...'OST YEAR', 'SAC YEAR', etc.) Just copy the sample image!

Source: Clayton County Public Schools by Deanna Rogers

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 BULLYING AWARENESS PREVENTION WEEK is in October or November each year! See display board ideas with images in the Anti-Bully Category near the bottom of the page!

KINDNESS DAY AND WEEK is in November. Visit the 'Kindness Catergory (page bottom) for Display Board Ideas with images..

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THREE KINDNESS  WALL IDEAS THAT CAN START RIGHT NOW! It stays up all year!

#1 KINDNESS BRICK WALL -When a child receives RAK recognition, take their photograph and put it on a construction paper brick shape. If unable to take a photo, write their name and deed on the brick and put it on the wall of kindness. Each week the kids will see the brick wall grow. A large area will be covered by the end of the school year!

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#2 IDEA....KINDNESS CONNECTS US ALL!

• Design a pre-cut person, hand, or heart shape. When children are caught being kind, take the design with their name and deed on the shape. 

• The shapes are taped together in a chain or patchwork style connecting the kids of the program or classroom.

This is a good project for the entire school---connecting one end of the school to the other! Check it out with the school to see if they'd like to join you!

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#3 KINDNESS BULLETIN BOARD
Created by Toni in Missouri

1.  Youth brainstorm ideas for unexpected, kind things to do for people--people who would not expect children to do a favor/kindness for them.
2.  Each idea is put on a shape and put on the board.
3.  When a student completes a RAK, they sign their name on the act that is posted on the board.
4.  By the end of the year, hopefully all of the brainstormed acts will have at least one signature on them to signify that someone acted in that manner for someone.

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OTHER IDEAS...

1. "Blasting Off Into a New School Year"
Write student's  names on rocketships.

2. "Grade ________ is Tee-rific!"
Each child writes their name on a tee-shirt pattern and decorates it. Hang  tee-shirts on a clothesline attached to the display area.

3. Cute idea for Pre-K and K
CHICKA, CHICKA, BOOM, BOOM! "Look Who's in Our Room!"

Decorate board with a palm tree and put each child's name in a coconut on tree. Use letters of the alphabet as a border. (Of course read the book and plan a couple themed activities!)

OR...Copy this sample  by Kindergarten teacher Stephanie Gubbini, of the former blogsite, Aloha Kindergarten...'Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom~ Welcome to Your New Room!'

 

4. PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD...
Have children trace their shoe or foot on colored construction paper and cut it out. Have each child write a school or program goal. If kids can't write have them dictate a goal to an adult or older child to write on their footprint. Place 'feet' under the title.

5. "__________ is the Place to Bee!"- Put childrens' names on bees buzzing around a hive.

6. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Each child decorates a paper doll to look like himself/herself

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ADAPT THIS TO THE SEASONS...This triptych art inspired example for a room with no windows (or a wonderful mural) is the creation of Michael Cardimen, SAC Associate (trainer) for Rochester, Michigan Community Schools.

 It's a very special piece of art for the Kindergarten K-Club children who spend time in this room! Michael searches the internet for pictures that he likes--copies and/or enlarges them. He then pieces it all together (fills in where necessary) on large sheets of roll paper.

What makes this mural special is the capacity for it to be interactive. As shown, fall leaves are beginning to appear at the top of the windows. Michael shares that the children modify the mural with each season and theme. At times there may be pets and animals at the base--or a snowman and children playing out in the landscape area! 

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Check out the Category of A Professional  Environment.  Good Tips and photos! 

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DISPLAY BOARD TIPS...

1. NOT MUCH SPACE IN YOUR PROGRAM TO HANG ART WORK? Staple it to ribbon!

1. Take a long roll of wide ribbon and at the top of the wall near the ceiling, securely tape the ribbon to the wall.
2. Next tape the ribbon at the bottom of the wall.
3. Staple children's art work and pictures vertically down the ribbon.
4. Do as many ribbon lines as you have room...
5. Regularly update art work.

2. COVER BOARDS WITH FABRIC! 

Cover  boards with fabric at the beginning of the year!  Unlike paper, it doesn't fade and staple holes don't show when you move things around or take it down. Be on the look out for sales-and check the clearance tables at fabric stores. It will look good for years!

3. ANOTHER NICE BULLETIN BOARD TIP...

LAYER your bulletin board paper at the beginning of the year. 
Example:
Start with pink for spring... Top it with a layer blue for winter...and green on top for back to school.  Each time you're ready for your next board, carefully take down the first layer and the next layer is already up!!!
Source: Vickey Moore

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 What Should We Display in our Classrooms and Child Care Programs?

• Children's work
• Unit or theme pictures/seasonal materials
• Photographs of children/pictures from home
• Upcoming events/activities
• Program-Classroom planning/daily schedules
• Photographs of activities and children in action (First get parental consent)

 Suggested Display Areas…

• Bulletin boards  
• Windows
• Hallways   
• Posters
• Draped materials  
• Sheets
• Oil cloths   
• In/on Parents Center/Table
• From ceiling  
• Directly on Walls (attractive when colored roll paper taped to wall like a board, surround by border; items then adhered to paper)
• Doorway Entrance/Door
• Large Chalk board/white board
• Tri-Fold Boards

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MORE AUTUMN IDEAS...
     

LET'S HARVEST GOOD CHARACTER...This idea works well with a Fall Harvest Theme but also addresses Anti-Bully Week and World Kindness Week each Autumn . (Nice idea for the first three months of school!)

 

Each time a deed of 'Good Character' (Kindness) is noted-it is recorded on a small card and placed on a pumpkin and through-out the garden! Great for September through November...  

This board was created by Barbara Huttle for University Christian School. Thank you Barbara for letting KIdActivities display your wonderful idea!

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'THANKFUL' BOARD SAMPLES ...(From Thanksgiving Category)

  TWO VERSIONS OF AN 'I AM THANKFUL HANDPRINT TREE'
Gather colored paper (red, orange, brown, green, yellow) Trace the children's hands onto several sheets of several colors. Cut out.

Cut out a brown tree trunk branches in proportion to the amount of leaves. Have the children glue the hand shapes to the tree trunk to form the leaves of the tree.

Have child think of things to be thankful for and label the hand/leaves. Thankful Tree Display is a sample from Mann School Art Appreciation.

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Bringing families and classroom/program staff together develops a "Sense of Community…

SOME QUICK IDEAS

 

1. Pizza & Game Night: Pizza can be a variety made by children and staff (Boboli, English muffin and Bagel or purchased by the program. Parents can also sign up to bring a pizza or other goodies! Games can be in the gym (See Gym Games) and or more quiet Table and Thinking Games.

2. Potluck Dinner

3. Theme Night (Party)

4. Roller Skating Party

5. Ice- Skating at inside rink or outside 

6. Bowling

7. Breakfasts

8. Talent-Variety Show: Open this up to a variety of choices! Showcase children and children with their parents; also include staff members!

9. Drama Production Theater Night - Children perform original or well known skits and plays. 

10. Readers' Theater Performance

11. Carnival or Circus with Centers and Games

12. Parents and Kids Gym Night

13. Family Participation in a Community Service or Earth Day Event

 

14. Art Show or Art Auction (Below is Silent Auction idea & Spring Art Show)

15. Picnic/Barbecue (See below idea)

16. Create an After-School Experience for  Parent Participation. Use centers and open gym--provide snacks; have parents do what the children do! 

17. Pastries for Parents- Hold this in the evening or during an afternoon at SAC. 

18. Goodies for Grandparents: Any time would be a good time; however, Grandparents Day is the second Sunday in September.  How about doing this in September?

19. Muffins for Mom
For a Mother's Day celebration, Mom (or a favorite person) spends some morning time at the program. Children can give presents and cards they have made. Also offer muffins, fruit, etc. 
 
20. Mother’s Day Tea
The same as above except in the afternoon with tea and cookies!

21. Father’s Day Happy Hour

 
Around 4:00 (or later) in the afternoon, fathers have root beer and popcorn with their children and teachers. The children can invite a "Favorite Guy” if Father is not available. During this time the children present gifts and cards that they have made...a great way to get more Dads involved!

22. Ice Cream Social:  Ice-Cream Socials are great family events! Consider adding the below silliness to you festivities:

Ice Cream Eating-No Hands Used!
Give each child a scoop or two of ice-cream in a bowl. Have them sit comfortably at a table ....
The fun is that they keep their hands behind their backs and eat the ice-cream with only their mouths! It's NOT a speed eating contest--just silly fun!
      • Be sure to Video Tape and Take Pictures!
      • Have Dads participate

'I Scream For Ice-Cream'!  Pair this up with your ice-cream social.
Teach the kids:
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Divide the group into teams (number of teams depends on number of youth)
   • Which team can say it the loudest?
   • Have a third party judge...

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EVENT IDEAS FROM YOU...

Two years ago we had a Silent Art Auction. Invitations went out well in advance to everyone the children knew...For more than a month children were involved in all types of art projects: drawing, paint, fiber, batik, water color, ink,  clay and jewelry making.

• We matted the children’s  art and displayed it from 5:00 until 7:30.

• We indicated the opening bids in dollar amount. Families wrote down their offers and put it in a slotted box next to the items.

 • Soft music played; we had water, cider, cheese and crackers. A few parents also brought cookies (Lots of visiting, and chatting! too!)

 • Make sure the children are there to get their family to bid on their things! IT WAS FUN AND THE CHILDREN HAVE ASKED WHEN WE CAN DO IT AGAIN--but we'll wait a couple more years to repeat it. Cassie in Michigan

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A very large program in Montclair, N.J. (38 staff and 225 children attend daily) offers a PAJAMA CLUB!

On Friday nights, staff members operate a pajama club for all students and their siblings, 3 years of age and older. The pajama club offers parents a night out from 7:00 pm–10:00 pm -- twice a month for a charge of $12 per child, paid in advance.

Children are encouraged to come dressed in their pajamas for stories, art, and music. Every month, the club “travels” to a different country and explores it together. Local restaurants have begun to offer discounts for families whose children participate in the club. (Parents dine out while children are at the club!)

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One of the ways Tasha in California has connected with parents is to "give them a night out" a few times a year! I imagine parents love her for it! Where can you go out and pay child-care of $10.00 for four hours? 

From Tasha ... I have had Parents' Nights Out, in which we charge $10.00 from 6 pm -10 pm. For one ‘Night Out” Example: Instead of having a party for Halloween during our program time, I had a Halloween Party during a 'PARENT'S NIGHT OUT'. 55 out of 100 students attended and about another 10-15 students from the school came (they paid the 10.00 fee). I then used the money to pay for extra things on site for parties, etc. -- A WIN WIN!

Tasha additionally wrote: We also have a 'Parent's Night Out' during other times of the year --such as a 'Sweetheart’s Ball' to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This gave parents a chance to go out for the special day. There was lots of participation because my kids loved dancing.

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Family Picnics
We invite families to come to a local park and ask for volunteers to bring different items. (Plates, utensils, napkins, desserts, hot dogs, buns, chips, drinks, etc) We post a sign up sheet for all to see... and Set up centers, play games, music, eat, dance, have fun!!!
Breezie

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Community Get Together
Something we do is choose a place that will donate a percentage of all the proceeds for a night (for us it's 15%) to our organization.
All the center families get together; enjoy some pizza, laughs and have conversation! It's great for moral and also a great way to bring everyone together to support the center/program!
Shutterbug1410

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As suggested by Roberta Newman in” Building Relationships With Parents and Families in School-Age Programs, 2nd Ed., have a White Elephant Auction Night - Each family contributes a usable item (or a mystery object) that they no longer want. One person serves as a "goofy" auctioneer and others bid on the treasures until all are sold. Proceeds can go to purchase an item for the program.

 

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BRAG NIGHTS (This child care center has regular Parent Events)
 From Shutterbug1410
I think that Parent-Teacher meetings are often hard for parents to attend or they just don't "feel like it"---so I came up with the idea to combine the meetings with a "Brag Night". I use these as a VITAL key in my program.

• For the first 20 minutes we watch a VIDEO PRESENTATION of the kids playing and at centers, activities, games, etc. from the past month as well as SHOWING OFF photos, artwork and the projects we have been working on.

• Next, we TALK about what the THEME UNIT will be for the next few weeks/ month, etc. and talk about ways parents can GET INVOLVED --as well as opportunities to go on field trips, etc. that they can take advantage of...

• During this time we also set up a "PROJECT TABLE" for the children to enjoy while we go over normal things such as center policies, etc.

• We also enjoy REFRESHMENTS together! We serve coffee, etc. but I always include a few things that the kids have on a regular basis, such as fun snacks that go with their theme, etc. This gives the parents a chance to see what we eat.

• It always turns out well and the parents love seeing their child in their environment as well as with their friends... and they love getting together with other parents and their teacher!

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 YOUR NEWLETTERS...

help connect your program and staff memebers to the families you serve. Make them as interesting, upbeat and complete as possible. Click here  for Tips, Ideas, and Articles to include in your News!

 

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SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR IDEAS for Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer... 

 

SEPTEMBER-- GOODIES FOR GRANDPARENTS: Any time would be a good time; however, Grandparents Day is the second Sunday in September.  How about doing this in September?

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SEPTEMBER--BEGINNING OF THE YEAR POWER POINT SLIDE SHOW... The first couple weeks of school, snap photos of students in all ACTIVITY AREAS—such as working and playing with other kids, team building activities, outside and gym play, etc. Include this with the slide show. Make sure you get ALL children in photographs! The presentation can be included with a question and answer session… Light refreshments- such as cookies and punch- are always a nice touch. This idea is from the Back to School Category. See other ideas ...

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OCTOBER--'LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL--- In 2012 it is October 18-There are also many ideas in the Lights' category that will work for Family Social Events. Click here

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NOVEMBER--HAVE A THANKSGIVING BUFFET-- 

Weeks ahead Post and Hand-out a Save-the date. Invite parents to attend and have them sign up to bring in foods traditional to Thanksgiving.Serve: Turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, pies, fruits, etc.

Estimate the amounts you will need—and put out a sign-up sheet with how much you’ll need. Example-
Pies
1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________ 

Parents then sign up for their choice. Be sure to tell them to bring their contribution ready to go and serve! The program can provide juice, water, sturdy plates, napkins and utensils.

***Think about this! Time is short for us all--however-- there are many excellent food stores that make good turkey breasts, chicken pieces, potatoes, fruit, etc. Inform families their contribution does not need to be home-made!

Craft Activity: For the Feast, make themed place-mats and decorations the weeks before... See Thanksgiving pages

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JANUARY--WINTERFEST FAMILY EVENT...

Invite families to see how children spend their time!

What is needed?
   • Invitations made by the kids or computer
   • Materials to make snowflakes;
   • Balloons/helium; ribbon
   • Hot cocoa/warm cider, cookies and treats;
   • Special friends and family.

Begin to prepare for “Winterfest” when you return to school after the Holiday break. Early February would be a good time to hold it.
→ Make invitations NOW. Invite families and VIP's to join for an evening of fun, music, and treats to eat.

→ Start the event after dinner time but provide goodies that parents can sign up to bring.

• If your budget is low—you can also include items such as hot cups, napkins and utensils.
• You can provide the cocoa and/or warm cider punch and water. 

Set up “centers” for the event. Each group or team of children with an adult facilitator can choose what they want to do.

• One group may want to invent winter theme carnival games for guests to enjoy.
• One group may decide on an easy craft project or two and have everything prepared for their guests to create the projects with them.
• One group can facilitate gym games.
• If your group is large group, you may need another center. 
• Another idea is to have an area with “quick” table games or some of the circle games you play. How many centers are set up depend on the size of your program.
• Guests rotate through the centers.

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THE EVENING CAN END HERE WITH REFRESHMENTS OR........

After an hour of enjoying individual activities in centers, gather in a large area for a sing along led by the children—this is also goodie time!

• Maybe hot cocoa and warm cider punch? Have a yummy treat table which can be supplied by a previous sign-up sheet with family donations. Be sure to instruct families to have all snacks and treats ready to serve and eat.

Each team can make their own decorations for each center, but have all children decorate the main gathering room.

• Children can make a variety of snowflakes from tissue paper, doilies or cut-outs.
• The day of the event fill balloons with helium. Hang some of the snowflakes and balloons alone and float some balloons attaching snowflakes to them with different lengths of ribbon. If the ceiling is not too high, let these go in the room and they can float to the ceiling. A nice ideas is to hold your sing along under souvenir balloons/snowflakes with children's name on them!

Individual songs can simply be led by the children or different Teams. You can sing to Cd’s, a piano or keyboard. Maybe the music teacher can join the celebration and assist?!!! Just have fun!

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN FEBRUARY--Share it with your families! (This would also be a fantastic idea for May! May is "Inventors Month"!)

In celebration of this month--challenge the children to come up with unique and useful inventions!

1. Open up your recycled supply area and provide materials such as- pieces of wood, used CD's, milk containers, straws, tape, pipe cleaners, paper clips, yarn, string, paper, glue, poster paint, markers, crayons, elastic, fabric scraps, construction paper, pom-poms, rubber bands and safety pins.
 
2. Children can work individually or in small groups; Give them plenty of time to brainstorm ideas. Challenge children to come up with unique,  creative, and useful items.
 
3. The kids may need more than one day to complete their projects; however, when complete- share the inventions with the group. 

• What is it?
• What does it do?
• What materials are used to make it?

5. SHARE IT...This is an activity that takes time and thought. Honor the children's work by inviting parents and visitors to view the display. A written description of each "invention" would also be a good idea.

This would be a nice "sharing with families time"; it could be held through-out the program afternoon or as social time after the program ends. Add punch and cookies and have a social event...

If awards are given out, be sure that each child or group recieves one--the most unique, smallest, largest, useful, fun, amusing, original, helpful, practical, handy, amusing, entertaining, most materials used, least materials used, colorful, heaviest, lightest, etc. (Look up synonyms for descriptive words)

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MARCH--How about a St. Patrick's Party with a GREEN ICE-CREAM BAR? Consider making it an ICE-CREAM SOCIAL FAMILY EVENT...

 Ingredients:
  • Pistachio and/or Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream; lime sherbet 
  • Green M&M's 
  • Green Gummy Worms 
  • Green Sprinkles 
  • Green Shamrock Cookies 
  • Green Maraschino Cherries 
  • Chocolate Syrup 
  • Whipped Cream

Set up the ingredients in bowls on a buffet table for the families to create their own sundaes. YUMMY! Play some of the fun St. Paddy games from this site!

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APRIL--EARTH WEEK ART AND PROJECT EXHIBIT

This will need to be starts weeks before Earth Day which is April 22… Display photography, sculpture, drawings, pastels, etc., as well as crafts, toys, and nature projects made by the children. FOCUS EVERYTING ON THE ENVIRONMENT or MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS.

    • Set up your "Exhibit" and Hold a FAMILY EVENT after school. You can also invite school classrooms to walk through and view.

    • Serve refreshments/snacks with an Earth theme...Ideas for snacks are in the Earth Day-Every Day Category.

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A WARM WEATHER ART SHOW...

Families enjoy their children's art as well as their children's titles and writings. Consider a springtime sidewalk art show to share children's explorations with art and writing.

Involve children in mounting and displaying the artwork on the sidewalk or along a hallway.

Put up a clothesline and help children hang their mounted works with colorful clothespins. Try attaching children's names to the clothespins for easy recognition. Ask children to draw "invitation cards" sent home to families with the date and time of the event.

Serve some easy refreshments...
Make a video of the event as families enjoy the art and writing...

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MAY

MUFFINS FOR MOM

For a Mother's Day celebration, Mom (or a favorite person) spends some morning time at the program/school/classroom. Children can give presents and cards they have made. Also offer muffins, fruit, etc. 
 
MOTHER'S DAY TEA

The same as above except in the afternoon with tea and cookies!

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MAY IS INVENTORS MONTH...Also check out the Inventions Idea above in February's Black History Month! May is Inventors Month! The inventions activity for a Parents Event would be awesome!

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JUNE

FATHER'S DAY HAPPY HOUR

Around 4:00 (or later) in the afternoon, fathers have root beer and popcorn with their children and teachers. The children can invite a "Favorite Guy” if Father is not available. During this time the children present gifts and cards that they have made...a great way to get more Dads involved!

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I used to have fun with the following idea at our Father's Day/END OF THE YEAR PARTY EVENTS. (Sorry, I don't remember where I first saw this--but it's fun! Cassi in Michigan) This would also be fun at a large family get together.

Get together a few families and play the FATHER'S DAY/CHILD GAME. Divide into four father/child teams. Ask the fathers to leave the room while the children sit in chairs. Ask the same four or five questions to each child about their fathers. Bring in the fathers and ask them the same questions. Will the father and child have the same answers? Switch places and see how well the father's know the children. Award a red rose to the winning father/child team.

Question Ideas: Favorite color, movie, candy bar, color of toothbrush, memorable moment with you, best friend, hobby, talent, food, animal, cartoon, pizza topping, ice cream topping, restaurant. Most embarrassing moment. Favorite holiday.

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JUNE THRU ALL OF SUMMER...Check out the #22 ICE-CREAM SOCIAL!

Return to top of page

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How do bees get to school?
 By school buzz... 

How do the fish get to school?
By octobus!

What does a gorilla learns in school?
His Ape B C's.

What does a snake learn in school?
Hiss tory.

Why is 2+2=5 like your left foot?
It's not right.

Did you hear about the cross eyed-teacher?
He couldn't control his pupils!

Teacher: Can anyone tell me how many seconds there are in a year?
Student: 12! January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd...

Teacher: Johnny, which month has 28 days?
Student: Every month!

Q. What did the glue say to the teacher?
A. "I'm stuck on you."

Q. What do get when you cross one principal with another principal?
A. I wouldn't do it, principals don't like to be crossed!

Q. Why was the music teacher not able to open his class room?
A. Because his keys were on the piano.

Q. What do you do if a teacher rolls her eyes at you?
A. Pick them up and roll them back to her!

Q. Why are school cafeteria workers cruel?
A. Because they batter fish, beat eggs, and whip cream.

Q. What flies around the kindergarten room at night?
A. The alpha-BAT.

Q. What did the ghost teacher say to his class?
A. "Look at the board and I'll go through it again!"

Q. Why did the students study in the airplane?
A. Because they wanted higher grades.

Q. Why doesn't the sun go to college?
A. Because it has a million degrees!

Q. Why is it dangerous to do math in the jungle?
A. Because when you add four and four you get ate (eight).

Q. Why did the jellybean go to school?
A. To become a smartie!

Q. What is a math teacher's favorite dessert?
A. Pi!

Q. What object is king of the classroom?
A. The ruler!

Q. What do you call a boy with a dictionary in his pocket?
A. Smartie Pants!

Q. Why did the teacher draw on the window?
A. Because he wanted his lesson to be very clear!

Q. Why did 6 hate 7?
A. 7 8 9.

Q. Why did the boy go to the top of the school?
A. Because he wanted to go to high school.

Q. What did the math book say to the other math book?
A. "I've got problems."

Q. What did the calculator say to the other calculator?
A. "You can count on me!"
 
Q. Why didn't the class clown use hair oil the day before the big test?
A. Because he didn't want anything to slip his mind.

Q. Why do teachers give you homework?
A. Just to annoy you.

Q. What did the bully have for lunch?
A. He had a knuckle sandwich!

Q. What's the difference between a train and a teacher?
A. The teacher says, "Spit your gum out" and the train says, "Choo-........choo!"

Q. Why did the Cyclops close his school?
A. Because he only had one pupil.

Q. Why did the boy eat his homework?
A. Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake.

Q. Why did the boy take a ladder to school?
A. Because he wanted to get to high school.

Q. Why is arithmetic hard work?
A. All those numbers you have to carry.
 
Q. What did the student say after the teacher said, "Order students, order?"
A. "Can I have fries and a burger?"

Q. Where did the pencil go for vacation?
A. To Pennsylvania.

Q. Why did the new boy steal a chair from the classroom?
A. Because the teacher told him to take a seat.

Q. When is a blue school book not a blue school book?
A. When it is read!

Q. Where do New York City kids learn their multiplication tables?
A. Times Square.

Q. Why did the student drown?
A. All her grades were below C-level!

Q. What tools do you need for math?
A. MultiPLIERS.

Q. What's the best place to grow flowers in school?
A. In kindergarden.

Q. Why was the voice teacher so good at baseball?
A. Because she had the perfect pitch.
 
Q. What happened when the teacher tied all the kids shoe laces together?
A. They had a class trip!

Q. What's the worst thing that can happen to a geography teacher?
A. Getting lost.

Why did the teacher wear sunglasses?
Because his students were so bright!

Where do monsters study?
In ghoul school.

Who sits in front of the class in ghoul school?
The creature teacher

Knock Knock!
Who's there?
Dewey.
Dewey who?
Dewey have to go to school today?

Have you heard about the teacher who was cross-eyed?
She couldn’t control her pupils!

Teacher: Name two days of the week that start with "t".
Pupil: Today and Tomorrow.

What school supply is always tired?
A knapsack!

Teacher: I see you missed the first day of school.
Kid: Yes, but I didn't miss it much.

Teacher: Could you please pay a little attention?
Student: I'm paying as little attention as I can.

Teacher: James, where is your homework?
James: I ate it.
Teacher: Why?
James: You said it was a piece of cake!

Teacher: Why is your homework in your father’s handwriting?
Pupil: I used his pen!

Teacher: You’ve got your shoes on the wrong feet.
Pupil: But these are the only feet I’ve got!

What’s the difference between a teacher and a steam train?
The first goes “Spit out that chewing gum immediately!” and the second goes “chew chew”!

Today my teacher yelled at me for something I didn’t do.
What was that?
My homework!

What is white when its dirty and black when its clean?
A blackboard!

COMPUTER JOKES

What do you call a computer superhero?
A Screen Saver.

Why did the computer cross the road?
To get a byte to eat. 

Who chases computer criminals?
A hacker-tracker. 

What do you get if you cross a computer with an elephant?
Lots of Memory.

What do you get when you cross a dog and a computer?
A machine that has a bark worse than its byte.

Why was the computer so angry?
Because it had a chip on its shoulder.

Why did the computer get glasses?
To improve its websight.

Why did the computer sneeze?
It had a virus.

Where do computers go to dance?
The disk-o

Where do cool mice live?In mouse pads.

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