Invite fourth graders to play "Getting to Know You Bingo." Provide bingo cards with general statements such as "Was born in another state" or "Is happy to be back at school" written on different squares. Include statements that help students find similarities such as "Has the same number of siblings as you" or "Plays the same sport as you." Mix it up with unusual statements such as "Likes anchovies on pizza" or "Has fallen out of the top bunk of a bunk bed." Provide time for students to gather signatures and share their discoveries.
Write names of famous pairs of people/characters on index cards, one name per card, so you have enough cards for everyone in class. Ideas include George and Martha Washington, Scooby Doo and Shaggy, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Lewis and Clark, and Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Tape one card to each student's back. Provide time for students to go around the room asking classmates yes or no questions to try and determine the names written on their cards. Once students identify who they are, they can pair up with their famous partners.
Take students outside or clear a large area in the classroom for this activity. Have students stand front to back in a tight circle. The circle should be close enough so the front of one person touches the back of the next person. On the count of three, have students try to sit down. If the circle is tight enough, everyone will end up sitting on each other's lap without falling over. Once students successfully create a lap sit circle, challenge them to take steps in order to make their circle walk.
Pass out index cards to fourth-graders. Invite students to write three statements on the cards about themselves -- two true statements and one false statement. Have students write the statements in any order. Encourage students to write things that others may not know about them or things that are unusual. Allow students to read their statements aloud. Invite classmates to try to figure out which statements are true and which statement is a lie.