Those first few weeks of school are critical in forming student/teacher relationships and setting the stage for the rest of the year. How to do that best is the big question. Going over the rules and reading the student handbook won’t cut it. And teachers definitely don’t have time to come up with creative and connecting activities on their own. That’s where First Five comes in.
First Five from EdTomorrow offers teachers free, ready-to-use daily activities designed to spark fun and build connections in the first five minutes of class. Each day offers a different activity that focuses on learning more about others, self-care, care for others, and the development of character:
- Meme
- Check-in question
- Way to greet your students at the door
- Quick Connection question to get students thinking and discussing
- Mindfulness exercise
- Quote of the day
- Positivity activity
- Age-appropriate video
- Brain game
Question Set for Secondary on August 11, 2025
Select which one/ones you think will work best for your students that day. They are designed to work with a projected screen or on a whiteboard, but you can also download them to use in your LMS.
Mindfulness Moment
First Five is available for grades PK–1, 2–5, 6–12, and in Spanish. You can register (free) to get a daily email with the activities (arrives at 6:00 a.m. Central each morning) and access to their extensive database with hundreds of engaging activities to choose from. They also have a great blog with features like “What’s the Best Way to Use the First Five?”
This is a truly great resource for busy educators. Register for your free account today to get help connecting with your students!
