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Last updated

21 July 2025

pdf, 413.41 KB
pdf, 413.41 KB
pdf, 157.43 KB
pdf, 157.43 KB

Start your first week of ELA classes with purpose and engagement from Day 1! This set of Back to School Task Cards is perfect for breaking the ice, building classroom community, and encouraging student voice in your English classroom.

This resource includes 5 sets of task cards, each with 10 thought-provoking, open-ended prompts that help students explore who they are as readers, writers, thinkers, and learners.

Designed for middle school and high school ELA, these activities go beyond icebreakers - they build community, spark discussion, and give you valuable insight into your students’ relationship with English Language Arts.

What’s Inside?

50 task cards

Teacher guide with ideas

These color-coded cards feature 5 unique categories to help students reflect, share, and get excited about English class:

Reading Reflections
Let’s Talk Writing
Words Matter
Storytelling in Everyday Life
English Class and Me

Each category invites students to speak or write about their personal experiences, ideas, and attitudes toward reading, writing, and language learning. These prompts are versatile and work great for pair work, whole class discussions, bell ringers, exit tickets, or writing warm-ups.

Perfect for:

First day of school or first week of school
Middle and high school ELA classrooms
English warm-ups, bell ringers, or journal prompts
Getting-to-know-you activities with academic depth
ESL/ELL students practicing reading and writing reflection
Skills & themes covered:

Reading habits, genre preferences, and favorite characters
Creative and academic writing attitudes
Vocabulary use, grammar opinions, and punctuation
Storytelling in real life - presentations, podcasts, advertising
Self-awareness in English class and goal setting for the year
Set the tone for a creative, reflective, and student-centered ELA classroom -starting from the very first day of school. These back-to-school English Language Arts worksheets help your students reconnect with reading, writing, and their own voice.

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 20%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

Back to School ELA Activities Bundle | Icebreakers, Games, & First Week Fun

Start the school year off strong with this engaging Back-to-School ELA Bundle — a big collection of interactive, no-prep activities to help your students build connections, feel comfortable, and get excited about your English Language Arts class from the very first bell! Whether you're teaching middle or high school, these activities are ready to go and easy to implement, helping you create a warm, connected, and academically focused classroom right from the start. **What’s Included in This Must-Have ELA Bundle?** This versatile pack offers a variety of icebreakers and creative prompts to support classroom community, communication skills, and ELA content from day one. **Four Corners: Getting-to-Know-You Activity ** This movement-based icebreaker gets students up, thinking, and talking. Students pick a corner that reflects their opinion or preference and share their reasoning. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to build relationships and classroom culture. **Back-to-School ELA Discussion Cards **Designed to promote critical thinking and reflection, these ELA-focused question cards work well in pairs, small groups, or class-wide discussions. They touch on topics like reading habits, writing goals, classroom expectations, and personal expression. **Would You Rather: Speaking Icebreaker Cards ** Get students talking with fun and sometimes thought-provoking “Would You Rather” questions. Perfect for warm-ups or quick class breaks, these cards encourage students to explain their reasoning and connect with peers in a lighthearted way. **This or That Game – General Edition ** An easy, no-prep favorite! Students choose between two options and justify their choices. It’s a great way to uncover shared interests and help students feel seen and heard — while having fun! **This or That Game – ELA Edition** Put an ELA twist on the classic game! Students pick between genres, writing styles, literary elements, and more. A playful way to preview course content and explore student interests in English. This bundle is: Interactive & Student-Centered – Activities that promote movement, conversation, and meaningful engagement Low-Prep & Easy to Use – Ready to print and teach, perfect for busy teachers during back-to-school Flexible & Adaptable – Use for icebreakers, discussion starters, sub plans, or ongoing community building Middle & High School Friendly – Appropriately challenging and age-relevant Enjoyed this resource? Leave a quick review to help me make more quality products!

£9.50

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