You made it through the holiday hubbub and the new year has arrived. Winter break is over and kids are heading back into the classroom for the first time in 2019. What's a fun way to welcome the new year? With a little celebration and some classroom resolutions, of course!
The new year can be a great theme for the first day back in school. Most preschool classrooms start the school day by talking about the month, day and year, followed by the weather. This is the perfect time to talk about how it's a brand-new year full of brand-new possibilities. Because preschoolers often find it difficult to grasp the concept of time, they may not completely understand what 2019 versus 2018 means. Really, just take the lesson in stride and let them know it's a special new time to dream big.
When deciding on activities for the day, perhaps try a writing lesson where kids trace 2-0-1-9. Then incorporate a craft activity that supports the celebration of a new year. An affordable and fun activity is to hit up your local party supply store for plain-colored hats in bold colors. Then let kids decorate each with craft supplies to make monsters and other silly faces. Googly eyes, stickers, pom-poms and more let each child create a custom hat just for them. Let dry and then wear the hats during snack time or lunch period.
Another excellent New Year's activity is to make class resolutions. You'll first need to explain that a resolution is a goal or a dream a person or group has for the future. You might share your own resolutions for the new year as an example, such as exercising every day, reading a book every month or eating more vegetables. Next, have kids raise their hands if they have any ideas for their own resolutions. Keep in mind, you might get some pretty silly answers ... and that's OK. It's all about sharing and having fun.
Next, it's time to shift the conversation to classroom resolutions. You may need to explain again that the classroom family is very special, and in order for everyone to learn and have fun, they need to work together. Then come up with some smart classroom resolutions together. You may have to direct students, but with a little gentle nudging they'll start to come up with ideas on their own. Write down ideas for all to see, such as:
- Sharing toys
- Cleaning up after making messes
- Helping each other
- Using kind words
- Always trying your best
- Raising your hand before speaking
- Having fun every day in class!
Customize your answer to fit your unique classroom personality. Then, after class, make the resolutions into a poster-board you can place on the wall for everyone to see. This activity will help foster school pride and give kids a sense of community as you look forward to all the possibilities of the new year.
You made it through the holiday hubbub and the new year has arrived. Winter break is over and kids are heading back into the classroom for the first time in 2019. What's a fun way to welcome the new year