Arrival on the very first day of school is different than any other day of the year. It normally takes about 20 minutes for my whole class to assemble due to late buses, parents who needed just a few more photos, and students who accidentally found themselves in the wrong room. This is the perfect activity while we wait for everyone to arrive. When students come in, they find a seat where this word search and a newly sharpened pencil are waiting. My third graders always enjoy searching for their own name along with those of their new classmates. After 10 minutes or so, students naturally begin helping each other, opening those very first lines of communication. Try making a Who’s in Our Room? puzzle at Discovery Education’s Puzzlemaker.