Day 2 — CLass Culture
That first week of school is the most important days of school. Day 1 is obviously huge - it’s your first impression, your first chance to set the tone, set the vibe, set up who you are.
But day 2 is where everything really starts.
Trail Summary
Warm-Up: Kahoot! on your school’s history → build pride and connection.
Phone Talk: Students reflect on screen time, debate phones, and connect it to Math is SCENIC.
Classroom Scavenger Hunt: Get familiar with the room and your teacher’s personality.
100 Numbers: Group activity that emphasizes collaboration, laughter, and competition.
Downloads
Lesson: PowerPoint , Plan
Worksheets: 100 #’s , Scavenger Hunt , First Day Survey
FULL Trail report:
Warm Up: Kahoot! on the History of your School
Why: There’s lots of variables on what your school specific Kahoot! could look like, depending on your school history and the grade of your students, but it’s an awesome way to show that YOU are part of something larger than just your classroom. And it reminds the kids that THEY are somewhere important.
Trail Marker: It’s a game, for fun, about your school.
Activity 0: Phone Talk
Why: This also varies based on your school policies, but my school is setting a hard no phones rules. I know teenagers hate rules, hate restrictions, and really hate not having their phones. So whenever I can, I try to engage the students and explain, from my own perspective, why a rule is enforced. If students can understand the why, then they are far more willing to follow through.
What you do:
Since students phones were already out, I asked the question, “How long are you on your phone?” I told them to look at their screen time and share out what their’s was. The audible excitement from all of them was so funny. They read their’s out, I put some of them on the board (mine included), and we admired our class totals.
I then asked students, “What are you doing on your phone?”. I had them shout out the apps and activities they were doing that led to this screen time, and I wrote them on the board.
Then came the fun part. I had them turn and talk to their group and answer the question, “Do you think phone/screen usage is a problem for teens today? Why?” Man, this was so fun. They were so engaged, so passionate, so aware of their own issues, and very willing to share out and contribute. Honestly, I have never had such a single question generate so much conversation so early on in the school year. I wrote down their ideas, both sides of the argument, commented and offered facts I had saved up in my brain when they were necessary, and then transitioned to my speech.
I talked about why I don’t want phones in the classroom, and the buy-in and attention was immediate. I showed one stat, and then, using SCENIC as the background, I explain how no phones allows us to SEE more, and to CONNECT more. Boom.
Trail Marker: Get kids talking about their own phone use, their opinions on the matter, and connect it all to “Math is SCENIC”.
Activity 1: Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Why: After ending with how no phones allows us to SEE more, what better activity to go with then something that requires kids to literally LOOK for things. Plus, let’s be honest, students never have any idea where things are, so getting them familiar from the start his huge. Include some important places students will need to know, as well as some fun stuff that’s around room that shows off more about your own personality.
Trail Marker: Students explore the classroom.
Activity 2: 100 #’s
Why: After students have connected with the space, it’s time to connect with each other. Get them back into their groups, and set the scene for the 100 #’s activity. It continues the engagement, emphasizes key aspects of group work, and gets them laughing, competing, and having fun to end the day. Read through Sara’s article to understand the activity better than I can explain it.
Trail Marker: Do an exhilarating group activity to end the day.
AfterMath: Student Survey
Why: Now that students have gotten to know their school, their classroom, and how to work as a group, it’s time for you to collect some data on them. Get the basics, how they feel about math, what they like/don’t like, what they need from you, etc.
Trail Marker: Before students exit, have them complete a survey about themselves
