Ice breakers are an ideal way to get the kids to loosen up and get to know their classmates. Choose simple ice breakers that kindergartners can easily do. One activity to try is "Find Your Partner." Upon entering the class, give each student a sticker with a certain color or animal on it. Two students should have the same sticker. If there is an uneven number, use yourself so that everyone will have a partner. The students must find their partners with the matching sticker and interview each other. Back in the circle, each person gets up and introduces their partner and at least two facts about the person, such as their favorite color or if they have a pet. Another activity to try is "Farm Animals." Give the kids a choice between three or four farm animals. When you say "go," they must make the sound of their chosen farm animal to find other kids in their group making a sound of the same animal.
Establishing rules is important in the first week of school so that the kids understand them from the start. Show the kids around the classroom, explaining rules for each area. Place a classroom rules poster up with demonstrative pictures next to each rule in case the children cannot read well yet. Emphasize the rules through songs, such as "Important Rules," courtesy of Kinder Korner and sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The song goes, "Here are some rules for you and me, see how important they can be. Always be honest, be kind and fair, always be good and willing to share. There are rules we all should know, we follow these rules wherever we go." Using common nursery rhymes will help the children remember the song, and thus the rules, better.
Choose art projects that help the students get to know each other and relate to the first week of school theme. Have the students draw a portrait of themselves and their families. Each student can present their picture and describe their family. Have the students create name cards for their table using heavy card-stock paper. Trace their names on the name card so that they can trace over it in permanent marker. Another idea is to create a tree on a bulletin board, and have the children decorate a paper apple to represent themselves. Each student can then paste their apple with their name on it to the tree.
Read books to the children related to the first day of school or entering kindergarten during the first week of school. Related books include "Franklin Goes to School," by Paulette Bourgeois, about a little turtle's fear's of going to kindergarten; "Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten," by Joseph Slate, an alphabet book about a teacher and her students getting ready for the first day of school; and "Know and Follow Rules," by Cheri J. Meiners, which teaches kids about the importance of following the rules.