On the first day of school challenge the students to a competition.
Who can remember the most about the other.
1) The students start, taking turns they each stand up and tell at least 5 facts about themselves. For example: "My name is Shelley. This is my first year at this school. I have 3 sisters and one brother. I have a pet goldfish
called "Fluffy", and I like soccer."
2) Then tell at least 30 facts about yourself. For example: "I'm married. I have 2 teenaged children, a girl
Kelly and a boy, Doug. I have a pet dog called "Baby" and about
50 walking stick bugs, etc etc."
3) When you are finished introducing yourself. The children get to
start, (heh, they're younger). let them volunteer answers and give
them a tally mark for each new fact they remember about you. After they have exhausted all possibilities, (usually around 39 facts for a
room of 28 grade 6/7 students) go around the room and try to
remember facts about them.
What's Your Name?
One student sits in the front of the classroom (usually in the teacher's comfortable chair) with his back to the other students. The teacher then points to students in the class and asks "What's your name?" The student indicated must respond "My name is__________" with either his own name or the name of someone in the class. The student in the front cannot see who is speaking. The teacher says to him, "Is it___________?" and he must say "Yes, it is" or "No, it isn't". If the student in front is correct, he gets to stay there, but if he's mistaken, he changes place with the student who fooled him.
To make the game more interesting, the students are encouraged to disguise their voices.
I always do this with my beginners at the beginning of the year, but always at the end of the class, and for not more than 5 to 10 minutes.