Welcome back, students!
The first few weeks in middle school are rough on everyone. With brand-new-to-the-school 5th graders learning how to use lockers, kids' schedules changing, re-learning expectations, etc. it's always a hectic time. This is why I like to start off the year with a postcard assignment. Not only does it help me get to know something about my students, it also is a little open-ended, so the variety of the finished pieces is great.
My 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students were to write a postcard to me describing their summer vacation. It's always super interesting to see what places they have visited or what things peaked the interest of 12 year olds... like twisty tube slides and curly fries. (Honestly, who doesn't love them?) Hope you enjoy a few examples of these as much as I do!
