Orientation Activities for New Students

Starting High School: Orientation Activities for New Students provides a variety of ‘setting up’ and orientation activities that teachers can undertake with their new class in the first few weeks of the new school year. This may be of particular benefit to pupils who find transitions difficult. This is particularly relevant to pupils entering post-primary for the first time. Orientation Activities include topics such as:

• Things I’d like you to know about me
• What’s this school like?
• Where is everything?
• Who are my teachers?
• What stationery do I need?
• Who’s who in my class?
• Where are my classrooms?
• Where am I supposed to be?
• How do I feel about school?
• What are the rules?
• What about homework?
• Is my uniform OK?

There are 25 activities altogether that cover mapping, discussion, writing, designing and research. All activities are on stand-alone worksheets that can be made up into individual orientation booklets. Activities are supported by teacher notes and include suggestions for use.