Even a simple activity can help students bond if they're asked to work together. When students are just meeting, randomly arrange them into pairs and explain a problem that pairs must solve. For instance, write a vocabulary word on the board and ask pairs to come up with 10 different ways to use it in a sentence, or describe a dilemma that a child might have and ask pairs to come up with solutions. When pairs are done, ask them to share their ideas with another pair. By the end, each student will have met three others.
Even shy students can enjoy getting to know one another if you turn it into a game. Play get-to-know-you games with the entire class if possible so everyone can have a fun shared experience. With the children in a circle, hold onto one end of a ball of string. Share a fact about yourself, then toss the ball to another child in the circle. Once she shares something about herself, she can hold onto a part of the string and throw the ball to another child. By the time you're done, you'll have created a string web.
Creating books at the beginning of the year not only helps students get to know one another, but it helps you evaluate each child's writing skills. Each child can write an "All About Me" book. You may also ask students to include photos or drawings, then staple the pages of each child's book together and pass the books around for everyone to read. Children may write short stories about their lives, write about their families or choose to focus on the best day of their lives.
Elementary students who feel shy or nervous around new students will be comforted to realize how much they have in common with their new classmates. Creating visual representations of their similarities and differences also teaches students to appreciate one another's differences. Hang poster paper up and divide it into sections based on any characteristic you want. For instance, label a chart "Eyes" and divide it into sections labeled with eye colors. Ask each student to come up and write her name in the appropriate category. Make charts about favorite foods, number of family members or any other characteristic you can think of.