The first few days back after winter, spring, or another long school break can be tough for both students and teachers alike. While the time away from the classroom is important for resting and recharging, it can also throw off everyone’s rhythms. In those first few days back, brains need to be warmed up for learning and routines need to be reestablished. If you’re looking for ways to get back into the swing of things, check out these low-prep welcome back from break activities to get you started.
Welcome Back from Winter Break: Activities to Start off the New Semester
With the holiday festivities over, and summer vacation still a little while away, it’s easy to see how returning to school after winter break might be a challenge. These ideas, however, are sure to make the transition easier for everyone, including you!
Rebuild relationships.
It’s important for teachers to carve out space to reconnect with students after a long break (and for students to reconnect with each other). Here are some resources you can use during your first week back to let students share what they’ve been up to with you and with their classmates. There’s a good chance they did something they’d like to share with you or their peers!
Winter Break in a SNAP-Bell Ringer and Share Activity by Draz’s Class
Grades: K-2 | Community Management
First Day Back from Winter Break Activity New Years Game Morning Meeting by The Sassy Apple | Community Management
Grades: 1-3
Have students set goals for the new semester.
The start of the new year provides a natural opportunity for students to set intentions and goals — whether they be personal or academic, or ones shared across the whole class. Help your students do just that with one of these resources.
SMART Goal Setting and Identity Unit for Upper Elementary and Middle School by Root and Sprout Learning
Grades: 3-8 | Community Management
NEW YEAR: Goals, Resolutions, Activities, Writing Prompts – Interactive by Literary Sherri
Grades: 5-8th | Community Management
Review and reteach classroom rules and expectations
Just the way you’d take the time to go over classroom rules, procedures, and expectations at the beginning of the school year, you should also do a similar exercise after returning from any long break. The first week back from winter break is also a good time to reflect on which routines have worked, and which haven’t, in case you need to tweak some things to make the rest of the year run smoothly.
Classroom Procedures and Routines by Teaching in Progress
Grades: PreK-3 | Classroom Management
Welcome Back (from Fall, Winter, or Spring Break) Task Cards by Miss 5th
Grades: 2-8 | Classroom Management
Returning Back from Spring Break: Activities for the First Week Back
With the end of the school year now in sight, it can be particularly challenging to readjust to school after spring break. Check out these activities to re-motivate and re-engage your students, so you can end the year on a high note.
Incorporate some seasonal fun into the mix.
Energize and excite students with some fun seasonal lessons and activities that are sure to capture their interest — even when students might not “feel” like being at school.
How to Draw Winter + Spring Animals: Directed Drawing Freebie by Prince Padania
Grades: K-3 | Art
Spring Reading Comprehension Passages Writing Math After Break Activities by Think Grow Giggle
Grades: 3-5 | English Language Arts, Math
Ease back into lessons.
While it might be tempting to hit the ground running after spring break — after all, there’s only so much time left in the school year — your students might need some time to build up their stamina for learning again. The first week back is a great time to revisit concepts from earlier in the year or to give them bite-sized assignments.
After Spring Break Editing with Digital Easel Activity by HappyEdugator
Grades: 6-8 | English Language Arts, Writing
After Spring Break Writing Activity: Funny Fill-In & Descriptive Writing by Creativity Overload Lessons and Designs
Grades: 4-8 | English Language Arts, Writing
After Spring Break Spanish Writing Activity by Learning Llama
Grades: 8-11 | Spanish
Focus on social-emotional learning.
As students reenter the classroom after spring break, they’ll likely bring a variety of feelings and emotions with them that can impact their learning. While some students might be excited to get back to it, others might be experiencing anxiety, fear, and stress about their grades or upcoming end-of-year tests. By focusing on strengthening social-emotional skills on the return from break, you can help get a sense of how your students are feeling and set them up for success.
Growth Mindset Activities for SEL – Grit, Mistakes, Perseverance, and Resiliency by Mikey D Teach – SELebration Learning
Grades: 3-6 | Social Emotional Learning
Growth Mindset Lesson: Fun, Interactive School Counseling Quiz Show style Game! by WholeHearted School Counseling
Grades: 4-7 | Social Emotional Learning
Discover more back from break activities on TPT.
