Icebreaker activities are a great way to start the party and will allow new kindergartners to get to know their fellow students. One icebreaker game you can play is "Stand Up." Have the entire class sit in a circle. Ask questions such as "Whose favorite color is blue?" and any student whose favorite color is blue should stand up. This will let students see which other kids in their class have similar interests. You can also play a game in which you give each child a Starburst candy, and tell them that each color of candy means they have to answer a different question about themselves. The questions should be simple enough for a kindergartner, such as "What's you're favorite animal?" After everyone has had their turn, the kids can enjoy their tasty candy snacks.
Snacks are one of the most important aspects of a classroom party. Serve healthy snacks to the kindergartners such as fruit salad, celery sticks with peanut butter, or trail mix. Serving snacks on the first day is also the perfect opportunity to introduce new students to classroom rules when it comes to snacks. Introduce all of your rules and classroom standards before letting kids eat. For example, if you have individuals assigned to be helpers that hand out napkins to other students, assign one. If you serve treats to the class only once the students have lined up, introduce this rule at the party. This will establish standards for the classroom for the rest of the year.
Once the party has gotten started, play a game with the students that will show them where their seat assignments will be for the year. Make cut-out apples for each student prior to the first day, put a student's name on each apple, and decorate the apples -- each with a different color, pattern or design. Cut each apple down the middle in a zigzag line, like a puzzle piece. Place one half of the apple on a desk and give the other half to each student. When they find the apple half that matches theirs, they will know where they sit. You may have to help some students with the task. Tape the puzzle pieces together once the child has found the proper seat, and the apple can be their first name tag.
Most kindergarten students love craft time, so incorporate a craft activity into your first-day party. Give each student paper, markers, crayons, glitter and other arts and crafts supplies. Encourage each student to draw a self-portrait that looks as much like them as possible, using as many colors and supplies as they want. When each student is done, write their name in big letters at the bottom of the picture. Hang all of the pictures up on a bulletin board, with a sign that says something along the lines of "Our Class." This will not only serve as decor for the classroom, but will help students learn each other's names.