Make a Big Welcome Book

Art and Language Arts Activity

WHAT YOU NEED

• Large sheets of drawing/construction paper
• Yarn, paper fasteners, or other binding materials
• Optional: camera for taking individual or class photos

WHAT TO DO

1. Help children brainstorm what information they might include in a Welcome Book for new students by asking:
   • What do you like best about your school?
   • What would you tell a new student to help them feel at ease?
   • What rules does a new student need to know?

2. Make a list of children's ideas. Then give each child a large sheet of drawing paper and let them work in small groups to create a big book page for a class Welcome Book. You may want to suggest the following:
   • Draw a picture of yourself with your name at the bottom.
   • Draw a picture map of your classroom. Label Reading Corner, coat closet, desks, bookshelves, or other areas.
   • Write the rules students need to follow in your class.
   • Paste a snapshot of yourself onto a big book page.
   • Paste a snapshot of your class onto a big book page.
   • Write something nice about your teacher.
   • Draw a picture of your teacher, the cafeteria, or the playground.
   • Create a "My favorite . . ." page, which might be entitled "My favorite Game at Recess," "My Favorite Song to Sing in School," and so forth.

3. Help children bind their pages into a class Welcome Book. When a new children arrive, assign a classroom buddy to present the book to each of them to look at together or individually. When new children are ready, encourage them to add their own page or snapshot to the Welcome Book.

TEACHING OPTIONS

The Big Welcome Book could be expanded or adapted for all classes and kept in the main office for any new child.

Children who are new in school and come from other countries might enjoy adding to the Big Book Welcome Book themselves by drawing picture s their school, friends, or something else from their native lands.

As a challenge, children might consider what visitors to the school (including parents) might need to know about to make their visit pleasant. Children can create a Big Visitor's Book to be kept in the main office.