Young students working on reading and writing skill development are good candidates for morning message activities. Have students write a brief letter, approximately one to two lines. The recipient can be the teacher, another student, a parent or a friend. Providing a theme, like a favorite color or food, gives the assignment consistency and also makes sharing the letters out loud fun for the students. The complexity of this task can be adjusted depending on the grade.
Students arriving early at school can perform needed chores around the classroom. Watering plants, light dusting, and washing the chalkboard are light tasks that students can perform alone or with a partner. Other tasks include passing out assignments for the day, cleaning out desks and sharpening pencils. Selecting one student to write the date and the weather on the board is another idea, and encourages a sense of responsibility for the student.
A brief morning exercise program provides students with an opportunity to exercise for health and fun. Bringing students to the gym and allowing them to play low-impact sports and games is a great way for them to socialize, and it promotes teamwork. Jump roping, stretching, and ping pong are activities that all ages can enjoy, while upper level elementary school students can enjoy more competitive sports like basketball and badminton.
Many students respond positively to art projects, enjoying the creative track of the thought process. Art activities early in the morning open these thought channels and provide students with an outlet of expression. Art projects can be performed individually, with partners, or as a group. Group projects promote teamwork skills and problem solving skills as students work together to create pieces of art. Creating a wall hanging "quilt" is one activity the entire class can work on. Assign each student one or two squares, depending on how large the class is and how much time the project will last. Have each student draw in the square, and assemble the "quilt" on a bulletin board, or have all of the pieces laminated together to hang in the classroom.