Introduction Activities for High School Students
Help Students Introduce Themselves at Beginning of School Year
Planning a self-revealing, interactive lesson for one of the first days of school can be a rewarding activity for everyone involved. Not only is it an excellent way for a teacher to get to know her students, but a fun activity can set a positive tone while helping students get to know their classmates as well.
Students Describe Themselves Through Media
High school students are media junkies. Teachers can use this natural proclivity when planning an exciting lesson to facilitate introductions in their class. Here are two options that can be presented to students on the first day of school.
Movie Clip Introductions
This activity should allow students at least two days of preparation. During the first day of school, teachers should instruct their students to identify a movie clip that reveals at least one aspect of who they are, how they define themselves, or something they feel is very important. Students should plan to show the clip or read a short transcript from a movie.
On the first day of school, the teacher can present a movie clip to reveal something about herself to provide a model for the class as well as to foster a positive, sharing environment.
Here are some obvious movie suggestions for teachers.
- Dead Poets Society
- Lean on Me
- Dangerous Minds
- Mr. Holland’s Opus
- Stand and Deliver
Favorite Song Presentations
Students should select a song that has meaning for them and plan to play one minute of the song for the class. Students can also prepare a PowerPoint presentation or overhead transparency containing the song lyrics. Then, students should either explain why they selected the song or ask other students to interpret what it may reveal about them.
Opportunity for Creative Connection
Opportunities for creative self-expression do not need to be limited to art class. Teachers can encourage students to reveal one or more important qualities that make them unique by selecting one of the following options.
Self-Expression Collage
For this option, students will design a collage on 8 x 11 poster board that reveals from a variety of perspectives one defining characteristic of themselves. Once students complete their collages, they should find another student who shares a similar point of view expressed through his collage and discuss the similarities with that student. Then, the pair will present their two collages to the class.
Two-Way Interview: Super-Hero and Favorite Color
This introduction activity can be completed on the first day of school. Teachers can provide students with a list of question and instruct them to interview at least five other students. They should write down each student’s response to the questions and later share them with the class. Here are some possible questions.
- If you were a super-hero, what would be your special power?
- What would you use it for?
- How do you think you could make a difference in the world with that power?
- What is your favorite color?
- Why do you identify with it?
- With what emotions do you associate it?
Journalistic Tactics
Students should be instructed to get “just the facts” with a teacher-provided questionnaire. This includes uncovering the who, what, where when and how of each interviewed student. Questions can include the following.
- What is your full name?
- What is your favorite subject?
- What career goal do you have?
- Where have you lived throughout your life?
- When did you move to this area?
- How do you feel about this upcoming school year?
The primary goal of any of the above introduction activities is for students to develop a level of comfort with their classmates. After all, they will be engaged in discussion and collaboration with each other throughout the year. The additional benefit is that teachers can learn about their students quickly and use unique information to help them remember students’ names and interests.
Student Introductions
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