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Reengaging an entire classroom after a long break—be it winter, spring, or any extended time off—can pose significant challenges for both educators and students. While these breaks are essential for relaxation and rejuvenation, they can disrupt the established routines and rhythms of learning. As everyone returns, it’s crucial to “warm up” the brains for learning and reinstate classroom routines, allowing for a smooth transition back into lessons. Here are some low-prep activities that can energize your students and help them ease back into the academic mindset.
Welcome Back from Winter Break Activities
As the holiday cheer fades and the summer vacation still seems distant, returning to school after winter break can be particularly challenging. Utilizing simple winter-themed transitional activities can assist students in readjusting to school life with minimal preparation.
Rebuild Relationships with Icebreakers and Sharing Activities
It’s vital for educators to create opportunities for reconnection with students after a lengthy break, just as it is for students to reconnect with one another. Look for engaging resources that allow students to share their experiences during the break with both teachers and peers.
Winter Break in a SNAP-Bell Ringer and Share Activity
By Draz’s Class
Grades: K-2nd
Subjects: Writing, Drawing
This engaging reflection activity serves as a bell ringer, a center activity, or a writing piece that helps students transition back to the school routine after their break. It features a page with five sections for students to illustrate their break, accompanied by space for labeling or writing descriptions.
Welcome Back From Winter Break Questions Activity Morning Meeting Icebreaker Fun
By The Sassy Apple
Grades: 1st-3rd
This no-prep activity encourages students to get moving while they discuss intriguing trivia about winter break and the New Year. The resource provides 25 questions, answer pages, and editable slides for customizing additional questions.
Start with Goal-Setting for the Days Ahead
The beginning of the new year presents a perfect opportunity for students to set intentions and goals—be they personal, academic, or collective for the class.
SMART Goal Setting and Identity Unit for Upper Elementary and Middle School
By Root and Sprout Learning
Grades: 3rd-8th
Subjects: Character Education, Classroom Community, Art
This comprehensive goal-setting unit enhances students’ understanding of their identity as a precursor to crafting SMART goals. It includes nine worksheets and two creative art projects.
NEW YEAR: Goals, Resolutions, Activities, Writing Prompts – Interactive
By Literary Sherri
Grades: 5th-8th
Subjects: English Language Arts, Writing
Standards: CCSS W.6.4, 6.10, 7.4
Kick off the new year by guiding students through 15 goal-setting activities and writing prompts, helping them to establish both personal and academic resolutions that refocus their learning efforts.
Review and Reteach Classroom Rules and Expectations
While reviewing classroom rules and expectations at the start of the school year is standard practice, this is also an important step to take after returning from any extended break. The first week back from winter break is an excellent time to assess which routines have been effective and which may need adjustments to ensure a smooth remainder of the academic year.
Classroom Procedures and Routines
By Teaching in Progress
Grades: PreK-3rd
Subject: Character Education
This resource provides journal pages, prompts, and a mini book aimed at solidifying classroom routines and procedures. Students will delineate the steps of these procedures while reflecting on how following them affects their environment and peers.
Welcome Back (from Fall, Winter, or Spring Break) Task Cards
By Miss 5th
Grades: 2nd-8th
This set includes 11 task cards with a single question on each. You have the option to print them as full-page slides or in a smaller format. Students can move around the room to answer each question on their recording sheets.
Welcome Back from Spring Break Activities
As the end of the school year approaches, returning to school after spring break can be particularly daunting. To re-engage and motivate your students, consider incorporating spring-themed activities that will inspire them to finish strong in the upcoming months.
Settle Back into Learning with Simple, Seasonal Fun
Revitalize and enthuse students with enjoyable seasonal lessons and activities that are sure to capture their attention, even if they feel reluctant to return to school.
How to Draw Winter + Spring Animals: Directed Drawing Freebie
By Prince Padania
Grades: K-3rd
Subject: Visual Art
This directed drawing lesson fosters creativity and early art skills, guiding younger students step-by-step to draw a cute penguin and a lovely butterfly.
Spring Reading Comprehension Passages Writing Math After Break Activities
By Think Grow Giggle
Grades: 3rd-5th
Subjects: English Language Arts, Close Reading, Math
Standards: CCSS 3.NBT.A.2, A.3, A.4
This comprehensive set includes spring-themed reading activities, both fiction and nonfiction, differentiated math exercises, and creative writing tasks to keep students engaged throughout the season. These activities are designed to be versatile and can be used at any time in late winter or spring.
Focus on Social-Emotional Learning
Upon returning to the classroom after spring break, students may carry with them a spectrum of emotions that can affect their learning. While some may be thrilled to be back, others might be feeling anxious or stressed about grades and upcoming assessments. Prioritizing social-emotional learning (SEL) through check-ins can help gauge how students are feeling and set them up for a successful return to learning.
Growth Mindset Activities for SEL – Grit, Mistakes, Perseverance, and Resiliency
By Mikey D Teach – SELebration Learning
Grades: 3rd-6th
Subjects: Character Education, Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning
This presentation introduces students to essential SEL concepts such as perseverance and resilience, teaching them how to navigate mistakes with poise and a constructive approach.
Growth Mindset Lesson: Fun, Interactive School Counseling Quiz Show Style Game!
By WholeHearted School Counseling
Grades: 4th-7th
Subject: Classroom Community
This engaging game will help teach students about grit and the differences between fixed and growth mindsets. The resource includes Google Slides and PowerPoint files, making it suitable for distance learning and in-person lessons alike.
Ease Back into Lessons
Although it might be tempting to dive directly back into rigorous academics post-spring break, students may need time to regain their learning stamina. The first week is an excellent opportunity to revisit key concepts learned earlier in the year or to present smaller, manageable assignments that still align with CCSS.
After Spring Break Editing with Digital Easel Activity
By HappyEdugator
Grades: 6th-8th
Subjects: ELA Test Prep, Grammar, Writing
Standards: CCSS L.6.1, 7.1, 8.1
In this activity, students take on the role of “teachers” and correct writing mistakes contained in sentences about a spring break vacation. It includes 25 sentences that feature common errors made by seventh graders.
After Spring Break Writing Activity: Funny Fill-In & Descriptive Writing
By Creativity Overload Lessons and Designs
Grades: 4th-8th
Subjects: English Language Arts, Writing
This comprehensive printable activity invites students to create a humorous fill-in story about their break while using various parts of speech. Following this, they write an authentic account of their spring vacation.
After Spring Break Spanish Writing Activity
By Learning Llama
Grades: 8th-11th
Subject: Spanish
Students will write about their break in the past tense and illustrate their experiences. This resource includes vocabulary, a rubric, brainstorming tips, and teacher examples!
Welcome Students Back with Open Arms and Fun Activities from TPT
There are countless resources available to help greet students warmly as they return from break! From engaging daily questions to lively indoor recess games, select a variety of activities that will encourage connection among students and rekindle their enthusiasm for learning.
