Introductory games for elementary school
At the age of six, children begin their school career as i-males in the first grade of elementary school. The first day of school is therefore a very special and certainly exciting day in the life of the children. Depending on how the school is organized, school enrollment takes up so much space and time that it is hardly possible for the children to make contact with one another. But the second day of school is entirely in the spirit of finding a class. It is certainly useful as a teacher to master some games to get to know each other in order to support the phase of getting to know each other.
Familiarization games support group finding
- Whenever new groups arise, games to get to know each other help to liven up the unfamiliar situation. The purpose of the introductory games is that the new group members get to know each other by creating a relaxed atmosphere that helps to break down inhibitions. In the primary school Children often manage to use the relaxed play atmosphere very quickly, so that initial group dynamics can arise.
- The new environment, the group and the teachers make a lot of demands on the child who has just started primary school. It has to orient itself, get to know new people, survive the first power struggles and learn to develop trust. The new elementary school students have only just emerged from kindergarten. Inadequate concentration, a low level of frustration and insufficient self-organization can therefore be companions in the new situation.
- Give the children time to get to know you as a teacher. Introduce yourself to the children in a friendly way, with eye contact. Ask the new elementary school children to help you form a circle of chairs so you can get to know each other. Use the circle of chairs to tell the children about yourself and how much you looked forward to them all. Confirm the children are free to ask their questions.
- Not all children are open-minded enough to want to tell the new group about themselves straight away. It would therefore be awkward to ask for some kind of "round of introductions". Better ask if anyone in the group would like to share something about themselves. Let the children who responded positively have their say. Then, when it comes to a "quiet" point, you should suggest playing some games together to get to know each other through "experience".
These introductory games are suitable for elementary school
- Propose the game "All of them": All group members stand in a circle. The game master stands in the middle and says: "Everyone who is wearing a red sweater turns around ..." In this game, the children stay in their place and feel safe. You play together, but first of all with the focus on yourself.
The first day in kindergarten is definitely something special for children. Some …
- Introduce the game "XY go away". All children stand in a circle. A child walks around the outside of the circle and taps a child. Now it has to be Names of the child: "Bärbel go away" Bärbel now has to walk around the circle to the other side. In the race, both children try to get Barbel's place. Whoever does not reach it is next.
- Play "Journey to Jerusalem". All chairs are occupied. Only one child doesn't have one yet. Now children's music begins. As soon as the music stops, all the children look for a place. If you don't have a place, you briefly tell your name and that it now has to go to Jerusalem. The music starts all over again.
- Finally, play "give away a balloon". All children inflate a balloon. After a short, mutual goodbye, each child can give away their balloon by saying the child's name: "I'm giving my balloon (Anja)".
To make it easier for your new students to start studying together, it is advisable to play a few games over the next few days.
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