This time of year always gets me thinking about exciting and interactive ways to get to know new students and introduce them to psychology. We're talkin' first-day or even first-week activities!
Here's some ideas:
True/False or Fact/Myth activity
Have students decide whether they think a variety of statements about psychology are true or not and then reveal the answers. This can be done individually, in groups, at desks, outside (walk one way for true or the other way for false), get creative! I have 16 Fact or Myth activities in my store. This one is great for the beginning of the year.
What is Psychology?
Give students a few clues and ask them what they think psychology is. Clues can include any props you have in your classroom for teaching throughout the year, hopefully things that link to multiple units.
For example: a brain model, perception goggles, some articles or abstracts from recent research, the DSM or any other psychology related book you may have, any other physical objects or visuals you can print out, anything you happen to have on your walls (like these posters!)
Have items set up around the room as a gallery walk that individual students can explore before answering the question, or put students in groups with a few items for each group and have them decide what psychology is together. If you have time, have groups each share with the class at the end.
Textbook Scavenger Hunt
If you have a classroom set of textbooks or even just a few of them, have students explore them looking for a variety of topics and things that interest them. If you want something ready to print and handout to your students, check out my Psychology Textbook Scavenger Hunt.
What are you planning for the first week back? Or if you're already past it, what did you do? Share in the comments.
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