FIRST DAY ACTIVITIES Author: Laura Smeltz FIRST DAY ACTIVITIES: Me Boxes TEACHER'S NOTE: I have my children bring "Me Boxes" (shoeboxes) to school the second week of school. (They have the weekend to fill it with 6 or 7 things to tell about themselves.) 1) I introduce the homework project by sharing your own "Me Box". 2) Share the boxes with partners the first day and then with the whole class the rest of the week. 3) After everyone has shared their box (it takes a couple of days!) have students brainstorm all kinds of ideas to write about during Writing Workshop. TEACHER'S NOTE: The kids write their own list of things they can write about in their writing folders. They refer to these ideas throughout the year. It is a great way to get kids writing about what they know! Laura