Need some group activities for the first week of school?

The first week sets the tone for your entire year—but that doesn’t mean you need to start with lectures or long lists of rules. A better way to build community and teach routines? Group activities that get students talking, moving, and working together.

Below, you’ll find six group activities for the first week of school that help students build relationships, learn expectations, and feel right at home in your classroom from day one.

P.S. If your room still needs some finishing touches, these 3rd grade classroom setup ideas that actually work can help make your space more functional for group work and daily routines.

Why Group Activities for the First Week of School Work So Well

When students work together in small groups or teams, they get the chance to:

• Build classroom community
• Practice problem-solving and cooperation
• Learn classroom rules and procedures in context
• Feel less nervous during the transition back to school

The best part? You can reinforce important routines without having to repeat yourself a dozen times. With interactive group activities, students absorb what they need to know—because they’re doing it together.

6 Easy Group Activities for the First Week of School (That Teach Routines Too!)

1. Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Students work in small groups to find key areas in the room like the turn-in tray, classroom library, supply station, and mailboxes. It’s a simple way to get them moving while learning how your classroom runs.

What You Need:

• Labels on key classroom areas
• A checklist or task cards with classroom areas to find
• Clipboards and pencils (optional)

Step-By-Step Directions:

• Divide students into small groups (3–4 students per grou`p).
• Give each group a checklist or a set of task cards with locations to find around the classroom.
• Students work together to locate each area (examples: turn-in tray, classroom library, supply station, mailboxes).
• As they find each item, they check it off the list or complete a simple task (e.g., write what they might find there).
• Wrap up the activity by reviewing each location as a class.

Why It Works:

• It reinforces routines, builds teamwork, and helps students feel more comfortable in their new space.

2. Expectation Sorting

Students work in small groups to review different classroom behavior scenarios. They decide whether each one shows someone following expectations or needing a reminder. After sorting, groups explain their thinking and help create a class expectations chart.

What You Need:

• Scenario cards or slips of paper
• Two sorting headers: “Following Expectations” and “Needs Work” (digital or printed)
• Chart paper or a whiteboard for class discussion

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Divide students into small groups.
2. Give each group a set of behavior scenario cards.
3. Groups read and sort each card under the correct header: “Following Expectations” or “Needs Work.”
4. Have each group share a few examples and explain their thinking.
5. As a class, create an anchor chart that lists key expectations based on the discussion.

Why It Works:
It makes behavior expectations concrete, encourages meaningful discussion, and helps students reflect on real situations.)

3. Group Icebreaker Bingo

Each group gets a bingo board with prompts like “has a pet cat” or “has been to another country.” Students work together to find classmates who match each square. It’s a fun way to build connections and encourage teamwork.

What You Need:

• Bingo boards for each group
• Pencils or markers

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Divide students into small groups.
2. Give each group a bingo board filled with icebreaker prompts.
3. Students work together to walk around and find classmates who match each square.
4. When they find someone who fits a prompt, they write that student’s name in the square.
5. The first group to complete a row (or the whole board) calls out “Bingo!”
6. Review the answers as a class and highlight interesting facts about classmates.

Why It Works:
It builds relationships, gets students interacting, and provides a low-stress way to start the year.

P.S. Want to try this with your class? I’ve got a ready-to-use Bingo Board for you—and it’s free! Just drop your email below to grab it.

4. STEM Team Challenge

In this STEM-style math activity, students work in groups to build the tallest tower possible using up to 2,000 base-ten blocks. They must decide how to use hundreds, tens, and ones to create a stable, tall structure while staying within the limit.

What You Need:

• Base-ten blocks (up to 2,000 blocks per group)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Timer (optional)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Divide students into small groups.
2. Give each group access to a mix of base-ten blocks (ones, tens, and hundreds), up to a total of 2,000 blocks.
3. Challenge them to build the tallest freestanding tower they can using only those blocks.
4. Once time is up, measure each tower and discuss the strategies each group used.
5. Optional: Have students record how many of each block they used and explain their choices.

Why It Works:

It encourages math talk, teamwork, and critical thinking—all while reinforcing place value in a hands-on way.

5. Back to School Jeopardy Game

Students play in teams to review classroom rules, expectations, and procedures. It’s a fun, interactive way to reinforce key routines without repeating the same directions over and over.

What You Need:

• A Jeopardy game template (PowerPoint or Google Slides)
• Projector or display
• Small dry-erase boards or paper for teams to write answers

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Divide students into teams of 3–4.
2. Display the Jeopardy board and review the categories briefly.
3. Teams take turns choosing a question, discussing their answer, and writing it down.
4. Reveal the correct answer and award points.
5. Continue until all questions are answered or time runs out.

Why It Works:
It reviews expectations in a fun, team-based format and encourages friendly competition and collaboration.

P.S. Want to use this in your classroom? I’ve got a free editable Jeopardy game ready to go. Just leave your email below to grab it!

6. 3rd Grade Adventure Collaborative Poster

Kickstart your school year with a fun and engaging group activity that doubles as a bulletin board display – a collaborative coloring poster! This collaborative coloring poster helps build a sense of community and teamwork—while giving your students something to be proud of from day one.

Each student gets one piece of the larger poster to color. When all the pieces are assembled, they reveal the message: “Our 3rd Grade Adventure Begins.” It’s a creative, low-prep activity that gets everyone involved.

What You Need:

• Printed coloring sheets (poster comes in 12, 25, or 36 pieces)
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Clear tape or glue for assembling the final poster
• Wall or bulletin board space for display

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Print out the poster in your preferred size.
2. Hand out one sheet to each student.
3. Students color their sheet individually.
4. Once everyone is finished, assemble the sheets into the full poster.
5. Hang the final piece on your bulletin board to showcase your class community.

Why It Works:
It promotes teamwork, creativity, and a strong sense of classroom community—plus it gives you a ready-to-go back-to-school display.

Bonus:
This poster is available for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, so you can use it with any class or grade level team!

Tired of Repeating the Same Directions?

This free Back to School Jeopardy game helps you review routines and procedures in a fun, low-pressure way—right when students need it most (think: week 2 or 3).

It’s editable, engaging, and perfect for reinforcing expectations like how to line up, where to turn in work, or what voice level to use—without another lecture.

Your students will love it. You’ll love not repeating yourself.

Enter your email below to get your free copy!

Final Thoughts

Group activities are one of the most powerful tools you can use during the first week of school. They allow you to teach expectations, encourage collaboration, and get to know your students in a way that feels natural and fun.

Whether it’s a classroom scavenger hunt, an expectation sorting challenge, or a free Jeopardy game, these group activities for the first week of school help students ease into the year with confidence—and help you create a positive learning environment from day one.