First Day of School Investigate the Teacher Activity - Engaging - Print/Digital

Engage your students with this unique first day of school activity where students "investigate" the teacher and make inferences based on what they observe in the classroom. This kinesthetic activity is the perfect way to mix things up on Day 1 and set the tone for an engaging, student-centered year.

If you want your students to get MOVING around the room, COLLABORATE with their peers, engage in INQUIRY-BASED learning, and practice INFERENCING + CRITICAL THINKING skills, then the "Investigate the Teacher" activity is for you!

Starting the school year with hybrid or distance learning? No problem! I've included an editable Google slides version of this resource so you can use this engaging activity no matter what!

During this activity, students will "search" your classroom or digital "gallery" for clues about your personality, teaching style, expectations, hobbies, etc. If you don't have many decorations or natural "clues" in your classroom, you may want to consider planting "clues" or bringing in "artifacts" for students to observe.

If you teach ELA, use this to preview inferencing, symbolism, and "reading between the lines." Science teachers, this is a perfect way to discuss what it means to be observant! Other content area teachers: This is a fun way for your students to get to know you while practicing critical thinking. It has the added bonus of taking the pressure off you and making Day 1 stress-free, enjoyable, and meaningful. PS: You'll definitely get a smile or a laugh out of your students' conclusions about you! :)

When you purchase this resource, you will receive the following:

• Teacher Information & Frequently Asked Questions
• Lesson Plan with Sample Objective
• Student Worksheet
• A Digital, 1:1 or Distance-Learning Version (Google Slides + Form)

I will never go back to the days of the first-day slideshows and syllabi! I have used this activity for 5+ years, and so have thousands of other teachers. Here's what they're saying about it:

"I did this with my sophomore classes on the first day of school last year and I loved it! I even had a few students at the end of the term say that it was their favorite thing that we did that term!" -Kiley F

"This is my FAVORITE activity to do on the first day of school. It gets students up and moving, while also assessing their inferring skills. So creative and so fun!" -Tuare C

"This was great! Instead of me doing all the talking, my kids had to use some critical thinking skills right out of the gate. Thank you!" -Jeffrey L

"This is easily one of the best activities I've ever purchased from TPT. I feel that I already have better relationships in the second week of school than I have in the past, and that's partially due to starting the year with this activity. You get to see which students are more outgoing and willing to take risks, and I made quick connections with kids who found what we had in common. It was also fun getting to hear them justify their incorrect inferences. Can't wait to do this again next year!"

Thinking about purchasing this resource? It's included in this back-to-school bundle for a discounted price! For other back-to-school resources, like get-to-know-you speed dating, creative syllabus templates, and more, click HERE.