Here are some activities that are very helpful when your classes are just starting up, or when you get an influx of new students:

Classroom Interviews  (thanks to Jack Bailey and Marit ter-Mate Martinsen at Santa Barbara City College)

Materials: Half sheet papers with 4 questions with space for writing each response.

Procedure:

1. Give each student a "classroom interview" handout.
2. Go over the directions and questions.
3. Do an example classroom interview.
4. Tell the students to stand up, walk around the room, and interview 4 people.
5. Elicit from a few students what they learned during the interview.

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