Shiny new year 7 form class

[Whichseason]

Next year I will have a year 7 form class. My current year 11s I inherited a few years ago. Does anybody have any suggestions for things to do on a weekly basis to help them bond and form positive memories as a class. I was thinking along the lines of a class achievements board.

Will you get any team building time?
Do you have a designated lesson with them?
I'd be inclined to book out the gym/ hall/ drama room and do some fun team building exercises with them.
Just litanies fun and games, see what PE have got that you can borrow, like spider webs etc we do this with out intake and it's great for getting them working together.

Top Trumps! I have 15 packs, and once a week we have a Top Trump form time, where they play with a different person each time.

Love that idea, reluctant!

Set half termly challenges- mine have done things like: learnt the alphabet in sign language, redesigned their learning space at home, there are more but my mind has gone blank!

Get them each to make a passport in the first session, where they 'map' the 'journey' they want to make this year. It might include things like learning a new language, a new sport, making new friends etc, as well as their hopes for the future etc.

Google simple dice games - they can be played quickly and you just need some dice, so they are v cheap too!

Learn to count together in several languages, sing a song in another language together, make a map of the world with books that they have enjoyed set in different countries as well as countries they have visited/want to visit/foods they like from different places etc.

These are all excellent ideas. Thanks.

I will have a couple of lessons with them in a couple of weeks but due timetabling changes I won't get them as a class.

If you have any children with SEN ensure they are well integrated from the start. I know you know this and I'm not being patronising. I speak as a parent from bitter experience.

Get them to write a letter to their future self to be sealed and hidden then opened when they are about to leave in year 11.

Look at the website formtimeideas.com too for things to get them doing together every day.

I have a mixed form, so they are all split up for different lessons. I like to make sure that they mix with students from different teaching groups in form time.

I like the idea of learning to count to ten in other languages.

Regular circle time helps 'bond' and I introduced a class teddy (piglet) who was used a lot to comfort and console in first weeks! Also a sense of unity against other tutor groups help!!'