Welcome to First Grade

Art/Social Studies

Children will give a tour of their classroom to incoming kindergarten students, and introduce first grade.

What You Need

• Bulletin board
• Paper
• Markers, crayons
• Art projects
• Class memorabilia

What To Do

1. Tell children they will introduce kindergarten classes to first grade by setting up a display of some of the things they have done and learned and giving the kindergarteners a classroom tour.
2. Have children brainstorm a list of things that they learned about in first grade, and fun things that they did during the year as a class, such as projects and field trips. Write a list on the board or chart paper.
3. Tell children they will be making an exhibit, with drawings of field trips or outings, postings of fun facts, examples from projects (things the class made or built) and materials from classes (favorite books, maps, models) to show the visitors. Assign drawings, materials, and fun facts to interested children.
4. Once the drawings and other parts of the exhibit are ready, have students arrange them around the room and label them if necessary.
5. Suggest other things to do, to welcome the kindergarteners to first grade:
   • Compose and sing a welcome song.
   • Sing a song children learned during the year.
   • Set up a question and answer session so the kindergartners can ask children questions about first grade.
   • Stage a quiz show to tell about what the class learned in first grade.
6. Arrange for the kindergarten classes to visit. Have students give a tour of the classroom and present their displays and other activities.