5 Back-to-School Activities for MYP Students

The first days back at school are always a bit of a blur. New faces, new routines, and a lot of big MYP words flying around! If you’re an MYP teacher looking for easy, meaningful ways to kick off the year, these five activities are a great place to start. They’ll help you build relationships, introduce key IB concepts, and set the tone for a successful year ahead.

1. Get-to-Know-You Activities

Before we dive into all things MYP, it’s worth taking some time to help students reconnect and feel at ease. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Two Truths and a Lie: A classic icebreaker where students share three facts about themselves — two true, one false — while others guess the lie.

• Find Someone Who: Create a bingo-style sheet with prompts like “Find someone who speaks more than two languages” or “Find someone who has a twin.”

• Emoji Introductions: Ask students to introduce themselves using three emojis and explain their choices.

These activities are quick, low-pressure, and a great way to get students talking and laughing together from day one.

2. MYP ‘Would You Rather’ Icebreaker

This one’s always a hit! I’ve created an MYP-themed “Would You Rather” that gets students thinking, talking, and reflecting, without them even realising they’re flexing those ATL skills already. They work in pairs or small groups to discuss their choices and explain their reasoning. Think prompts like:

• Would you rather be a risk-taker or a thinker?

• Would you rather complete a project alone or collaborate with others?

  It’s a fun way to sneak in conversations about the Learner Profile and different approaches to learning right from the start.

3. Learner Profile Pre-Assessment

We all know how central the Learner Profile is to the MYP, but how well do students really understand themselves through this lens? This simple activity gets them reflecting on their current strengths and areas to develop. You could do this as a self-assessment checklist, a short written reflection, or even a creative visual like a Learner Profile ‘portrait’. It gives you a snapshot of where your students see themselves, and where they want to grow this year.

4. MYP Introduction Quiz

A little quiz can go a long way in clearing up confusion and demystifying the MYP! I’ve put together a light, friendly intro quiz covering things like ATL skills, global contexts, and assessment criteria. It’s a great way to help students start using key vocabulary and to show them that the MYP isn’t as scary or complicated as it might first seem. You could also get them to design their own quiz based on their own research.

5. Start an MYP Daily Reflection Journal

If you want your students to build good reflective habits, start small and start early. A simple daily or weekly reflection journal works wonders for helping students track their progress, make connections to the Learner Profile and ATL skills, and notice how they’re growing over time. You don’t need anything fancy, just a notebook and a few good prompts to get them thinking.

The best way to see the start of a new school year in the MYP is as a fresh opportunity, not just for students to grow, but for us as teachers to reflect, connect, and inspire. These early days are about so much more than routines and rules; they’re about laying the foundation for a classroom culture rooted in curiosity, kindness, and meaningful learning.

Remember: you don’t have to do it all at once. Small, intentional activities, like the ones shared here, can make a big difference in how students feel about themselves, each other, and their learning journey.

As you step into this new year, keep this in mind:

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats

You have the power to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in your students. You’re not just teaching content, you’re helping shape learners who will go on to make a difference in the world.

You’ve got this. 💛

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