# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Πρώτες μέρες στο σχολείο. Είναι σα να σκάβεις σε ορυχείο χωρίς να βλέπεις ούτε κάτω ούτε πάνω. Αν οργανωθούμε σωστά όμως, ίσως καταφέρουμε να δούμε και κάτω και το φως επάνω. Μαζέψαμε τα καλύτερα παιχνίδια γνωριμίας, παιχνίδια για τις πρώτες ώρες και μέρες στο σχολείο.

Η πιο γρήγορη σύσταση

Μα δεν μπορεί να μην την ξέρετε. Είναι τόσο απλό. Με το 1, με το 2, με το 3, λέμε όλοι μαζί τα ονόματά μας. Αν έχουμε φροντίσει να γνωρίζουμε από πριν τα ονόματα όλων των παιδιών τότε θα τρελαθούν όταν μας δουν να λέμε "εντάξει, τα άκουσα και τα έμαθα όλα με τη μία". Κατόπιν μπορούμε να κάνουμε παραλλαγές σύστασης. Δυνατά, φωναχτά, ουρλιαχτά, ψιθυριστά. Μην το παρακάνουμε: μετά τη μία φορά δικής μας μαγικής επίδειξης, δίνουμε τη σκυτάλη στα παιδιά. Αλήθεια... πόσα ονόματα έμαθες εσύ έτσι;

Ο πρώτος και ο τελευταίος...

Ό λα τα παιδιά όρθια. Χτυπάμε το ταμπουρίνο (ή άλλη μουσική/ήχο). Όταν σταματάμε, πρέπει όλοι να καθίσουν κάτω αμέσως. Για τον πρώτο και τον τελευταίο ή έναν από τους δύο μπορούμε να ορίσουμε μία ωραιότατη σύσταση. Να μας πει το όνομά του; Να πει το όνομα κάποιου που θυμάται; Να πει το όνομα δύο συμμαθητών του; Οι παραλλαγές πολλές.

Το πιο γρήγορο παιχνίδι γνωριμίας

Χαρωπά να σε γνωρίσω προσπαθώ!

Χρησιμοποιώντας το πασίγνωστο τραγουδάκι "Χαρωπά τα δυο μου χέρια" παραλλάσσουμε τους στίχους δίνοντας μια ευκαιρία στα παιδιά να έρθουν σε επαφή μεταξύ τους, να γνωριστούν και να διασκεδάσουν. Και το εμπλουτίζουμε τόσο όσο μακριά θέλουμε να το φτάσουμε! Δείτε όλο το παιχνίδι εδώ .

Ψάχνω μες την τάξη, ψάχνω μες την τάξη

Τα παιχνίδια γνωριμίας -μην ξεχνάμε- αφορούν και στην εξοικείωση με τον χώρο του σχολείου. Παραλλάσσοντας το παιχνιδοτράγουδο "Ψάχνω το λιοντάρι" (δείτε το αναλυτικά παρακάτω) γνωρίζουμε όλους τους χώρους του σχολείου αλλά και τις συνήθειες που θα ακολουθήσουμε. Δείτε το εδώ .

Γνωριμία μετά μουσικής

Ένα απλό και ευχάριστο παιχνίδι γνωριμίας με μουσική και χορό σε ζευγάρια. Δείτε το εδώ .

Σε όσους κλείνω το μάτι

Στο Γιώργο κλείνω το μάτι
και του ζητάω να κάνει κάτι.
Τι όμως είναι αυτό που του ζητώ;
Δωσ' τε μου λίγο χρόνο να σκεφτώ!

Και δείτε το εδώ .

Ανάποδες μουσικές καρέκλες

Αποκτήστε εμπιστοσύνη

Δύο εξαιρετικά παιχνίδια είναι ο καθρέφτης και η τυφλόμυγα. Παιχνίδια διασκεδαστικά που δίνουν χαρά και επενδύουν στις σχέσεις μεταξύ των μελών της ομάδας. Δείτε τα εδώ .

Σου δίνω το μαντήλι μου, μου λες το όνομά σου;

Ένα παιχνίδι γνωριμίας με μαντήλια ή κομμάτια υφάσματος σε μέγεθος μαντηλιού. Δείτε το εδώ .

Το τρένο της γνωριμίας

Το τρένο της γνωριμίας ξεκινάει το μακρινό ταξίδι του. Επιβιβαστείτε εδώ .

Γνωρίμια σε κύκλο, με κίνηση

Παιχνίδι γνωριμίας και συστάσεων με διαφορετικούς τρόπους και εκφράσεις, σε κύκλο. Δείτε το εδώ .

Ποιος θυμάται...;

Μάντεψε ποιος κάπως αλλιώς

Φωτογραφίες μας, παρατηρητικότητά μας και ψάχνουμε... Αλήθεια ποιον ψάχνουμε; Δείτε το εδώ .

Ψάχνω το λιοντάρι

Το μαγικό "Ψάχνω το λιοντάρι", ένα παιχνίδι που αναδείξαμε στο ELNIPLEX και αποτελεί ένα από πιο διασκεδαστικά παιχνίδια για τις πρώτες μέρες στο νηπιαγωγείο καθώς συσφίγγει τις σχέσεις των παιδιών και δημιουργεί κίνηση και χαρά. .

Τα παιδιά μπαίνουν σε σειρά το ένα πίσω από το άλλο. Επιλέγουμε με λάχνισμα ένα παιδί που θα κάνει το λιοντάρι και το οποίο πηγαίνει και κρύβεται σε μια "σπηλιά" (Ορίζει όλη η ομάδα ποια είναι η σπηλιά- Δεν έχει σημασία αν το έχουν δει τα παιδιά προηγουμένως).

Ο εμψυχωτής μπαίνει μπροστά κοιτώντας προς τα παιδιά και τραγουδά:

Ψάχνω το λιοντάρι
ψάχνω το λιοντάρι
που είναι κρυμμένο
που είναι κρυμμένο
καθόλου δεν το βρίσκω.

Και ξαφνικά μπροστά μου τι;

Τα παιδιά περιμένουν ή υποθέτουν! Τους αποκαλύπτουμε αμέσως!

Ένα ποτάμι!

Δε μπορώ από πάνω!
Δε μπορώ από κάτω!
Ούτε δεξιά, ούτε αριστερά!
Τι θα κάνω;

Τα παιδιά κάνουν υποθέσεις! Χαμός!

Κάποιος θα βρει μια καλή απάντηση (θα περάσουμε από τη γέφυρα). Αν δεν τη βρει, ξεμπλοκάρουμε την ομάδα εμείς.

Θα περάσουμε τη γέφυρα!

Τα παιδιά περνούν την αυτοσχέδια γέφυρά μας. Συνεχίζουμε...

Καιιιιι......

Ψάχνω το λιοντάρι
ψάχνω το λιοντάρι
που είναι κρυμμένο
που είναι κρυμμένο
καθόλου δεν το βρίσκω.

Και ξαφνικά μπροστά μου τι;

Το παιχνίδι θα συνεχιστεί με τα εξής εμπόδια:

-ψηλά χορτάρια (θα ανοίξω να περάσω ανάμεσά τους)

-λάσπες (θα σκάψω για να μπορέσω να περπατήσω)

-ένα ψηλό βουνό (θα σκαρφαλώσω, βγάλτε τα σχοινιά σας ορειβάτες μου).

-μια σπηλιά (θα μπούμε μέσα)

Μπαίνουμε στη σπηλιά. Χμ.. Κάνει κρύο εδώ μέσα. Αυτό εδώ... Πιάνω κάτι μαλλιαρό... Και είναι... Το λιοντάριιιιιιιιι!!!

Τα παιδιά τρέχουν ενώ το παιδί-λιοντάρι κυνηγάει να πιάσει έστω ένα τους .

Η μπάλα και η πατάτα που καίει

Γνωστή η πατάτα που καίει. Παίζεται σε παραλλαγή με μπάλα ή οποιοδήποτε άλλο αντικείμενο (το μαντήλι μου πήρε φωτιά, το καπέλο μου καίε κτλ). Παίζουν όσοι θέλουν. Τα παιδιά σχηματίζουν έναν κύκλο. Με κλήρωση ή κάποιο λάχνισμα επιλέγεται ο παίκτης που θα ξεκινήσει. Η μπάλα έχει πάρει φωτιά. Δε μπορείς να την κρατήσεις στα χέρια σου. Με το που στην πετάει κάποιος, πρέπει αμέσως να την πετάξεις στον επόμενο παίκτη ή σε όποιον επιλέξεις. Δε μπορείς να την κρατήσεις. Δε μπορείς να σκεφτείς. Είπαμε: η μπάλα καίει. Ο παίκτης που θα αφήσει την μπάλα να πέσει ή του φύγει ή τη ρίξει λάθος σε άλλον ή την κρατήσει πολλή ώρα στα χέρια του, πρέπει να πει το όνομα του ή το όνομα δύο παιδιών. Ή να μιμηθεί ένα ζώο. Ή να τραγουδήσει ή να χορέψει. Ή αποφασίστε επιτέλους τι θα κάνει! Αλλά πρώτες μέρες είναι. Δεν είμαστε για να έχουμε χαμένους και νικητές!

Μάντεψε τι

Γνωριμία με τα αντικείμενα/υλικά που θα μας χρειαστούν κατά τη διάρκεια της χρονιάς. Δείτε το εδώ .

Μαζέψτε... αέρα

Τραγουδήστε

Και λίγο πιο μετά...

Μόλις αρχίσει να δένει λίγο η ομάδα, μην ξεχάσετε τη καταπληκτική Θάλασσα-στεριά , να περπατήσετε στο δάσος και να διασκεδάσετε με τον κυνηγό, να καθιερώσετε από τις πρώτες κιόλας μέρες την τρομερή παπουτσοσαλάτα αλλά και άλλες σαλάτες που θα βρείτε εδώ , παίξτε με τις εφημερίδες και βάλτε πάνω από όλα τη χαρά.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Παιχνίδια γνωριμίας μεταξύ παιδιών και εκπαιδευτικών

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Πρώτες μέρες στο σχολείο. Είναι σα να σκάβεις σε ορυχείο χωρίς να βλέπεις ούτε κάτω ούτε πάνω. Αν οργανωθούμε σωστά όμως, ίσως καταφέρουμε να δούμε και κάτω και το φως επάνω. Μαζέψαμε τα καλύτερα παιχνίδια γνωριμίας, παιχνίδια για τις πρώτες ώρες και μέρες στο σχολείο.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This article presents a selection of useful activities for the first few days during the beginning of the new school year. These activities are aimed at getting to know eachother by breaking the ice with the students, learning their names, understanding their motivations and boosting the relationships and interactions among them, as well as discovering their fears and improving their self-esteem and respect among colleagues and teachers.

Let's begin by starting with something basic in every relationship: get to know the name of every student and let them know ours.

1. Pass the ball

For this activity, we all, both the teacher and the students, will make a circle. The teacher begins by saying their name and passing the ball to the person on his right, so everyone will have a turn until the whole circle is completed. After that, the person with the ball has to throw it (carefully) to another classmate by saying the first classmate's name. The dynamic must be quick to make it fun. Also, the game needs to be managed to ensure that every student receives the ball several times.

2. Connected names

This activity consists on writing the names of the whole class on the blackboard, by using at least one letter already written of another name. We can start by writing the teacher's name. The teacher will go up to the blackboard, present themselves and write their name. Then, every student will follow - by going up too, present themselves and write their name by using at least one letter of another name written on the blackboard. With this activity the students focus their attention on how to write their classmates names while the group sense increases since all the names become linked.

Next are the activities to learn more about each student in the group.

3. Present your partner

For the first few days of class, we must create pairs of stamps, papers or stickers following a pattern: for instance, a pair or two related objects (a stamp with a flower and another stamp with a watering can, canoe/paddle, pencil/sharpener, etc.). We distribute the stamps among the students and ask them to look for the other element to create the pair. Once pairs are formed, each student interviews their partner, with suggested questions like: What is your favorite color? What do you like to do the most? What is your favorite subject? Then, each student will present his partner to the rest of the class.

4. The star

For this activity a star is drawn on the blackboard. Each student goes up to the blackboard and writes his name next to the start and on each point of the star a piece of information about themselves. For instance: blue, 3, pizza, bicycle, London. The rest of the students guess with yes or no questions to find out what corresponds to each clue:
- Is blue your favorite color?
- Yes! - Is 3 your favorite number?
- No!
- Do you have three siblings?
- Yes!
This continues until each piece of information has been guessed for every member of the class. We recommend that the teacher starts with their own information to make it easier to understand the rules of the game and to make students know more about us.

An alternative activity that helps strengthen the interaction among students is:

5. The spider web

For this activity we will use a ball of wool or a roll of rope. Students will sit in a circle and one of them will start with the ball in his hands saying his name to the rest of the group and a piece of information about himself, such as what they did on vacation, something they like or don't like.
- My name's Mariah and I spent my holiday by the seashore.
Every other student familiar with that information can raise his hand. The chosen student will say his name and explain why he's related to the information shared by the other school mate:
- My name's Peter and I also went to the beach during the holiday. I also learned to ride a on a bicycle.
Pedro receives the ball of wool while Mariah retains one of the strings. As students share these details, they pass the ball and retain the string, so they create a wool web that represents the relationships among the class members. The objective is that students can share personal information and weave a net showing that we all are connected somehow.

But it is not only about knowing each other and establishing relationships. Here are to improve self-esteem and respect to others.

6. The "I can't" Funeral

For this activity we distribute a piece of paper to each student, in which they have to write at least one task they think they cannot uphold. For instance: "I can't learn the times tables for seven" or "I can't read words well in Spanish". Then, all papers are collected and kept in a shoe box or something similar. The group goes to the garden or park and celebrates the "I can't" Funeral. With a solemn ceremony, the box is buried while the group chants as follows:
Here today,
The "I can't" of group _____
Are buried.
We suffer their loss
And we will miss them,
But we will remain strong
And learn to live without them.
Digging up the box at the end of the course is an alternative to this activity, so each student sees how those "I can't" have now become, "Yes, I could".

7. Toothpaste to teach respect

Before sharing with the students the class rules we'll play a game. We will distribute to each student, or to groups of 2 or 3 students, a toothpaste tube and a plate. We will ask them to take all the toothpaste out of the tube and that they then try to put it back inside again without the help of any other object. Students won't manage it, but we will let them to work on it for a while. Afterwards, we will explain that, as happens to the toothpaste, whenever we say a bad word to our colleagues, we won't be able to take it back and it will stay with them forever. On the basis of this reflection, we will be able to link the conversation with other rules of behavior for the rest of the course.
And last but not least, a motivating activity for teaching Science, which is one of the specialties of Elesapiens.
8. Discovering scientists

A good way to start the subject of Science is discovering scientists. For this activity we will give a blank piece of paper to each student and ask them to imagine what a scientist is and draw it. Then we will ask them to write what they think a scientifist does in his work, by using single words or brief phrases, such as: "A scientist reads, study, mixes, makes experiments, observes ..." When students share their written words these will be noted on the blackboard. Then we will ask students if they read, study, mix, experiment, observe ... The objective is to make them realize that scientists don't have to all look the same or particularly different, so students become conscious that they also do things that scientists do and that, therefore, they can become scientists too.
This activity can be complemented with these Elesapiens' videos: Darwin's Theories, awarded by NESCent (USA) or Newton, the Superscientist. If you want to discover other activities for your Science classes to become even more fun, Elesapiens' offline activities propose extraordinary and handy experiments, debates and group games related to curriculum-aligned content about Natural Sciences, Life Science, Earth Science and the space, Physics or Chemistry.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This article presents a selection of useful activities for the first few days during the beginning of the new school year. These activities are aimed at getting to know eachother by breaking the ice with the students, learning their names, understanding their motivations and boosting the relationships and interactions among them, as well as discovering their fears and improving their self-esteem and respect among colleagues and teachers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
6 Activities I Use To Build Connections With Students At The Beginning Of The Year For specific training and professional development around technology integration, contact TeachThought Professional Development to bring Jackie Gerstein and other TeachThought professionals to your school today.
Most classes, starting with about middle school, begin the school year with reviewing the content to be covered, expectations regarding grades, and other academic information provided by the teacher or instructor. The human or social element is often disregarded.

What is interesting is that most learners enter the classroom wondering who is in the course. They want to know about the teacher and the people in the class not what material is to be covered. What this says to me as an educator is that it all begins with a social connection - between the educator and the learners, and between the learners themselves.

Because of this belief, I begin all classes focusing on having the students make connections between themselves and me. I want students to learn about one another in a personal way. I want to learn about my students so my instructional strategies can be more personalized and tailored to their needs and interests.

Based on age/grade level, I have begun my classes in a variety of ways. What follows is a sample of activities I have used to begin the school year or even college course.
1. Team Contract
Class members meet in small groups to develop guidelines for making the classroom a safe place to learn and to take risks. The groups then create a visual project that represents their guidelines.

The activity in the pictures is called Puzzling Moves Tangrams - a favorite of students of all age students.
All About Me Activities
Some example activities I have done:
2. About Me Posters
These provide a great way to get to know students. After they are completed, I ask students to share them with the rest of the class and allow time for questions of each presentation.

For the older students, I had them randomly select another class member and they used the Biography posters to create a biography for the selected student. These were posted on one of the classroom walls drawing immediate attention of classroom visitors.
3. I Am Poems
Students created I AM Poems using magnetic poetry.
4. Personalized Wallet
Students began by creating an origami wallet. They then drew self-portraits and included identifying information.
5. 'Roomination'
When I taught 6th grade, I did not spend the week prior to the school year decorating the classroom for the students. I just piled the furniture and wall decorations in the middle of the room. In small groups, students developed blueprints for the classroom. Teams presented their designs to the rest of the class and their favorite design was voted upon. Students arranged the room according to the winning design.
6. Building Cubbies
After the Roomination exercise, students built and painted their own cubbies. I provided the wood pieces and specifications, but the students built them needing to assist one another to do so. They individualized their cubbies through painting them as they desired.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Activities I Use To Build Connections With Students At The Beginning Of The Year -

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
6 Activities I Use To Build Connections With Students At The Beginning Of The Year For specific training and professional development around technology integration , contact TeachThought Professional Development to bring Jackie Gerstein and other TeachThought professionals to your school today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
10 Team-Building Games For A Friendlier Classroom
by TeachThought Staff

10 Team-Building Games for a Friendlier Classroom is a fantastic resource for developing relationships and a positive tone in the classroom.

Included are 10 team-building games to get you started towards a friendlier, more positive classroom. This resource was developed by our own TeachThought Professional Development provider Jackie Gerstein, whose fantastic blog User Generated Education has fantastic resources on Maker Education, Growth Mindset, and more.

Her 26 years of experience in the classroom teaching at the K-12 and higher education level have allowed these team-building games to be in a wide range of classrooms, and have met the approval of teachers nationally.

The games appear below-the first three as graphics, and the final seven as text below.
10 Team-Building Games For A Friendlier Classroom 4. Balloon Juggle-and-Sort
Challenge participants to keep inflated balloons (1+ per person) in the air. This gets the group moving and cooperating.

Once they've got the hang of it, make it harder by adding in more balloons or placing restrictions (e.g. no hands to keep balloons up.)

Then ask participants to keep juggling the balloons but sort them into colors (works best with large groups.)
5. Catch Me If You Can
The group is divided into two and then asked to face one another in two lines.

The groups are given approximately one minute to look at the opposing team, taking in all details about the individuals in the other group.
6. Are you more like...?
Ask members to stand in the middle of the room.

Have them move to either side to indicate their choice (they must pick one.)

4. More yes or no?
7. Flip the Sheet 8. All Aboard 9. How are we the same?
Group members are paired and asked to come up with four commonalities.

Two pairs are then formed and they need to communicate with one another to discover four commonalities among them.
10. Line up! More Information
This is the first set of team-building games in an ongoing series, each set designed for a specific purpose, audience, or effect.
Other Included Materials
* Game names and instructions for teacher
* General recommendations for choosing game
* 1 Editable presentation
* 1 PDF File
10 Team-Building Games For A Friendlier Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Making Friends: 10 Team-Building Games For Students -

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
10 Team-Building Games For A Friendlier Classroom by TeachThought Staff 10 Team-Building Games for a Friendlier Classroom is a fantastic resource for developing relationships and a positive tone in the classroom. Included are 10 team-building games to get you started towards a friendlier, more positive classroom.