Five Fun Ways to Kick off 2019 in the classroom

Getting back into the classroom after being on 'holiday mode' can be challenging for most students and teachers. Setting a fun tone into easing back after the break will make the transition easier. In this post you will find some teaching resources and ideas to making kicking off 2019 in the classroom fun and breezy for everyone!

1. New Year's Resolution Scavenger Hunt
On a sticky note, instruct each student to write down one New Year's resolution for 2019.  They must keep what they write a secret. 
Tip: to keep everyone's New Year Resolution notes a mystery, instruct students to fold their sticky note before placing into a box or bag. 
Once all resolutions are in the bag, shuffle them up and hand one back out to each student. Then let the scavenger hunt begin where they must find who's new year resolution they are holding. 

2. How many ways to make 2019
Challenge your students to make the number 2019 in as many ways they can think of within a time limit. In this open-ended math task, encourage students to use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, draw, place value models, expanded form, roman numerals, etc. Encourage them to get mathematically creative. Award students who think outside the box for this math task too and not only the ones achieved the highest quantity. Some kids will amaze, and I like to award quality as well as quantity for this competition. 
For more tips and ideas with this activity click here to read more!

3. A New Year Math Mystery
As the clock struck midnight, a city spread cyber crime attacked everyone's electronic devices! The Case of the Millennium Bug will require your student detectives to use their math skills to unlock clues that will help them find the New Year hacker! 
This activity is ideal for spiral math review, consolidation, math centers, early finishers, or the sub-tub.
Click here to learn more about this New Year Math Mystery!

4. A Party Literacy Mystery
While not specifically a New Year party, one of the guests at Mrs. Richman's annual costume party has stolen her precious diamond necklace! This Private Eye CSI Literacy Mystery will require your students to read carefully, comprehend, apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to solve the case! Ideal for reading centers, enrichment, ELA sessions, early finishers, or the sub-tub, this print and go activity will make learning fun as you ease into the new year! Click here to learn more about the Case of the Masked Menace!

5. CSI DIGITAL MYSTERY GAME
If you like to incorporate games and solving crimes in your classroom, but one of your new year resolutions is to reduce paper usage, you can try this multiplication facts game that will resolve all of the above! 

• No paper needed!
• Solve a crime!
• Play a game!
• and gain lots of multiplication facts practice!

All you need is a steady Internet connection and browser to use. Find our first ever created digital mystery game here to kick off your new year in the classroom in a fun way!


Wishing you all of the best for 2019! We truly hope this year will bring you lots of love, laughs, and prosperity! We hope to bring you more engaging and unique educational resources that will make learning fun! 
​Happy New Year!