Back to School Get To Know You Discussion Task Cards Activity for Middle School

This is a simple but meaningful way to help students build connections at the start of the school year. Using these thought-provoking conversation kickstarters, students engage in structured discussions that encourage sharing, listening, and respectful interaction from day one. Designed with middle school students in mind, this back to school get to know you activity creates a low-pressure environment where students can learn more about their classmates while practicing speaking and listening skills. Working in partners or small groups, students select from 30 discussion task cards and take turns responding to engaging prompts such as “If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be?” or “What’s the strangest or funniest dream you’ve ever had?” The activity also introduces clear discussion expectations so students understand how to participate in group conversations in a respectful and supportive way.

Included in this Back to School Get to Know You Activity:

➡️ Back to School Discussion Task Cards: This set includes 30 thought-provoking questions covering a wide variety of fun, reflective, and student-friendly topics. The prompts are designed to spark natural conversation, encourage students to share about themselves, and help classmates discover common interests early in the year. The cards can be used in pairs, small groups, or even as quick whole-class discussion starters.

➡️ Conversation Kickstarters Guide: This student-friendly guide clearly explains how the back to school get to know you activity works. It outlines the discussion process, expectations for participation, and simple ground rules that promote active listening, respectful responses, and balanced participation among group members.

How to Use This Activity in Your Classroom:

Working with a partner or in a small group, students select one of the conversation kickstarter cards to begin. The student who selects the first card answers the question and shares their response with the group. Once that student has finished, other group members can ask follow-up questions, share connections, or add their own thoughts to extend the discussion.

After everyone has had an opportunity to contribute, the next student selects a new card and the process repeats. This structured rotation helps ensure that all students participate while keeping the conversation moving naturally. As the activity continues, students become more comfortable speaking with one another, building confidence, and developing positive communication habits that will support collaboration throughout the rest of the school year.

What Teachers Are Saying About this Back to School Get to Know You Activity:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kids enjoyed working through this, and it was helpful for me to have a ready-to-go resource!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a fun way to start the new year and getting kids talking and meeting one another.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I used this resource as a way to build community at the beginning of the year. My students enjoyed getting to learn about each other.

Try our most popular ELA Bell-Ringers
→ A Year of English Bell Ringers

© Presto Plans

➡️ Want 10 free ELA resources sent to your inbox? Click here!