Starting a new school can be a fun and exciting time both for students and teachers. I try to make my new class feel like family. And I start that day one of school with a class word search.

Check out how I fit these class word search activities in my first week of school plans. This is a free google docs where I have typed up everything I do the first week of school and you can tweak things to your needs. Get your free copy here. It also comes with my Back to School Checklist to help you save time and brain power this back to school season!

Class Word Search

 

Having a word search that involves your students’ names is a fun way to start off the school day. I like to use it as morning work on the first day of school. Students search through the word search to find their name and the name of their new classmates. They get so excited to find their name. They feel included and special. It also helps them get to know their new classmates and make friends.

I also like to see when students work together to find names. I feel like it sets a good tone for the new school year and helps build our classroom culture.

 

Class Word Search Template

 

Making a word search for your class can be tricky, but I made a template to make my life easier each school year. First I type in all of my students’ names at the bottom of the page. That way students know what names they are searching for.

Then I type in student names into the word search part making it so each letter is in one square. I do this with caps lock on so that all the letters are upper case. Then I fill in the blank square with random letters.

Then I make copies, place one on each student desk, and they are ready for the first day of school. Find this template here.

Class Family Word Search

 

Since having a class word search is such a good morning work idea for the first day of school, I keep a similar theme the rest of the first week of school.

But the other ones are more of an I Spy game. I hide each student’s name on a page with a bunch of clip art. Students have to search through the clipart to find all the names. Make this harder for students by adding in random words.

I have a school supplies clipart theme and a kids’ faces clipart theme. Students love it! Find these additional class family word search templates here.

Looking for everything you need for Back to School? Check out this bundle where you get this Class Word Search plus other back to school essentials in this Back to School Mega Bundle here. 

I hope you have seen how fun it can be for students to do a word search that involves all of their names. For more first day of school activity ideas, read this blog post here: 8 First Day of School Activities