Beginning of the Year Class Book Idea

A few days ago I read Lisa's blog over at First Class with Mrs. Mac (I'm a Mrs. Mac too!) and she shared a great idea for the beginning of the year to make a "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" type book with the kids and let them draw things they see. Click here to see her post and get a copy of her printable book.

With her permission, I changed it just a little so that each child will "see" another classmate. It will be a great way for kids to practice writing their own name and learn each other's names. The first thing my kids will do when they arrive on the 1st day of school is color/decorate their name in bubble letters (that I've printed for them). Then we'll use these later that day or the next to make this book.

Click the image below to get your copy and directions. On the last page I typed a few names in a bubble letter font as an example, of course you don't need to print this page since you'll have to type your own but the font is called "Basic Font" (you may know of a better bubble font though).

(I posted about this again with an updated cover for the new school year, 2012-2013. Click here to go to that post.)

What other great activities is anyone planning for the first few days? Or is school starting so far off that you aren't thinking about it yet? I have 3 and a half weeks of summer left. Sounds like a good amount of time but I know it'll fly by!