Create a book with the children that is all about them. Include pages in the book with simple sentences such as, "My name is (blank)." Take pictures of the children or allow them to draw their own pictures. Other pages will include favorite activities or things that happened over the school break. Share the books with each other and with the class as a whole.
Review jobs with the children at the beginning of the school year, such as wiping tables, putting away materials or leading a line. Set up creative job charts, such as mailboxes with working doors, where children can receive each day's job in an envelope. The children will review each job to make sure all jobs are understood, and they will learn responsibility throughout the year.
Use poster board to cut out the shapes of people. Give each child a person shape and instruct children to use markers, crayons, stickers and stencils to draw faces, hair, images of favorite hobbies and pet names on the person. The children can represent anything that describes them as individuals. Hang the people on the wall when they are complete. This activity gives children an opportunity to share the things that make them unique.
Use this activity to help children become familiar with the classroom. Take an object from each learning center and set it on a table in front of everyone. Pick a few children to take one of each item and return the item to its home. Give children as much time as they need to find the home of each object. This game should be played during the first week of school so children will become familiar and comfortable with their surroundings.