1st Day of School Activity US History Class Introduction Activity 8th Grade

Are you an US History teacher looking for a 1st day or week of school activity that gives students a visual preview of your course? This activity was "born" from the frustration of all things "chaos" the 1st week of school. It covers early US History through the Civil War.

From schedule changes, to assemblies - that 1st week is nuts. I wanted an activity that would get students excited about what we would learn in class - beyond the normal "get to know you" activities that happen that 1st week.

This is a "two for one lesson" - meaning I've included 2 versions. (see below) Each version can be used as a gallery walk, in stations or simply projected up on your screen.

It covers topics from the American Revolution to the Civil War.

Version 1: I've included 4 images per set. For each set, there are 3 "correct" images and one "incorrect" image. Students will work together to ...

1. identify all images (as best as they can - no penalties for wrong answers)
2. identify the image that doesn't fit with the other 3.
3. Come up with a TITLE that best fits the 3 images that are correct.

Version 2: I've included 4 images that all fit with one title (no incorrect answers - this is the easier version). Students will work together to . . .

1. identify all images (as best as they can - no penalties for wrong answers)
2. Come up with a TITLE that best fits the theme of the 4 images.

What's included?

• 2 versions of the activity - mentioned above
• each version includes 8 sets
• KEY for each version
• Student recording sheet for each version (optional - students can write on notebook paper)
• It's completely editable - in PowerPoint