Back in Action: Exciting Middle School Activities for the First Day After the Spring Break
Spring break is a much-needed pause in the middle of a long school year. But when you come back, it can be challenging to get back into the swing of things. That's why it's important to have some fun and engaging activities planned for the first week after spring break. Here are some ideas for middle school activities that will help students ease back into the school routine and re-engage their minds after a break.
1. Reflect on the break
As your middle or high school students return from Spring Break vacation, this two-page reflection writing activity will guide them through remembering their time off and imagining what the upcoming semester might look like.
Through a series of writing prompts, students will reflect on the highlights and challenges of their break, articulate their feelings about returning to school, and set goals for the future. The activity also includes an opportunity for students to illustrate one of their Spring Break memories, providing a creative outlet for self-expression.
2. Have students roll a dice to generate spring-themed creative writing prompts
Celebrate spring with this roll-a-story activity. Students will roll a die to get their story started. They will start with the “Character” column. The number they roll will determine which character(s) their story will be about. Then, they will roll the die again for each of the other categories.
Categories include:
- Character (Example: A chef in training)
- Time (Example: April 1, 1985 at 10 a.m.)
- Place (Example: In a lemonade mix factory)
- Problem (Example: The main character is lost)
This narrative writing activity is perfect for a spring class party, early finisher challenge, writing workshop, etc.
3. Set goals for the upcoming quarter
Empower your students to take control of their academic and personal growth with our printable self-growth evaluation worksheet. This versatile tool is perfect for helping students assess their accomplishments, identify areas for improvement, and strategize a plan of action for personal and academic development.
By utilizing this worksheet, students can develop goal-setting and tracking skills, which can positively impact their mental health and overall academic performance. Whether used as part of a student-led conference or independent study, this worksheet is an invaluable resource for any classroom.
4. Play review games to recap content from the previous quarter
Before moving on to new material, take some time to review past content. You can use Kahoot!, Quizlet, or other online tools to create review games that will keep students engaged and excited about learning. By incorporating fun and engaging games, you will help build student excitement about learning again.
5. Try mindfulness activities
After returning from spring break, using mindfulness exercises in the classroom can have many benefits for students, including increased focus, reduced stress, and improved emotional resilience.
Here are five mindfulness exercises that ELA teachers can try in their classrooms:
- Mindful Breathing: Start the class with a brief mindful breathing exercise. Ask students to close their eyes and focus on their breath, counting to five as they inhale and exhale. This exercise can help them to center themselves and prepare for learning.
- Gratitude Journaling: Have students take a few minutes to reflect on something they are grateful for and write about it in a journal. This exercise can help them to shift their focus to the positive aspects of their lives and develop a more positive outlook.
- Sensory Awareness: Ask students to close their eyes and focus on their senses. Ask them to notice the sounds, smells, and sensations around them. This exercise can help them to become more aware of their surroundings and improve their ability to focus.
- Mindful Walking: Ask students to take a short walk around the classroom or outside and focus on their breath and the sensations in their feet as they walk. This exercise can help them to clear their minds and reduce stress.
- Mindful Reading: Have students take a few minutes to read a passage from a book or article mindfully, focusing on each word and sentence. This exercise can help them to improve their reading comprehension and focus.
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