Kindergarten students often worry about finding their way around school. Help them learn the layout of your campus by asking them to create their own map. Take students around your school and show them main locations such as the office and library. Provide students with a plain piece of construction paper, and have them draw their own school map. Allow them to carry this with them for the first few weeks of school.
It is important to establish a solid class community in your kindergarten classroom. One way of doing so is to get to know your students' likes and dislikes. Create an interest inventory that includes basic questions such as students' favorite movies and TV shows. Because many students may not be able to read, read the questions out loud to students and conduct this activity in the style of an interview.
To encourage your kindergarten class' pride, design a shirt to wear throughout the year. Bring the class together and discuss possible designs. Use your school colors as the basis for the shirt, but allow students to come up with their own class motto and graphics. Allow students to vote for their favorite design, and use this on the front of the shirt. For the back, print a list of names from your class. Take your design to a local printing company, and have shirts printed in various sizes for your students.
Personalizing a name tag allows your students to express themselves and make the space feel like their own. Write the students' names on a small sentence strip. Provide them with a variety of craft materials to decorate their name tag. Ideas include glitter, markers and stickers. Laminate their name tags and tape them to the students' desks or assigned seats at a table.