Returning from winter break hits differently, doesn’t it? The calendar may say “fresh start,” but in most secondary schools, January means slipping right back into pre-break routines. And while students are often still buzzing with holiday energy, their academic engines need a little time to warm up.
That’s where we, as teachers, make all the difference. With just a few intentional moves, you can help your middle or high schoolers ease back into learning—and set a positive tone for the rest of the term.
Below are my favorite teacher-tested, science-classroom-approved strategies for navigating the post-break transition smoothly and with way less stress.
Teacher Tips to Transition Back to Class
1. Start With a Warm Welcome
The best teacher tip is to start the first day back with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Consider decorating the classroom with positive messages or inspirational quotes to create a positive and inviting space. One way that I do this is to buy a great daily calendar and then keep the pages that I know will resonate with my students. January is a great time to pick up a new daily calendar and start the collection for yourself.
Another option is to visit some go-to websites that already have inspirational quote collections such as this one and this one. And this one has 25 motivational quotations from scientists.
Instead of doing a big overhaul, choose one simple refresh that signals “new term, new energy.” I love adding a strand of soft twinkle lights around the whiteboard or lab station—just enough glow to make the classroom feel warm and inviting in the middle of winter. You could also swap out a bulletin board header, add a mini “Science in the New Year” display, or bring in a small plant or two to give the room a reset without tons of work.
Don’t underestimate the power of greeting students at the door, either. A sincere “How was your break?” goes a long way.
Want to level it up a notch?
Cue the music. Curate a playlist of music related to Earth, nature, or space (I love this one on Spotify from the Seattle Times to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing). Play it as students enter the classroom to create a positive and uplifting atmosphere. Invite students to add their own science-y selections and build a class playlist to use during independent work.
2. Use a Simple Icebreaker to Rebuild Community
Post-break awkwardness is real. Students who were chatty in December suddenly forget how to make eye contact.
Try a low-stress icebreaker like Two Truths and a Winter Tale—two true statements + one story that sounds true but isn’t. Small groups work best and help students ease back into collaboration.
Another option?
A big wall or digital map where students mark places they visited or hope to visit. It’s surprisingly engaging and naturally ties into Earth science themes.
If you’ve got a group that already knows each other well, go for something skill-based like my Can You Follow Directions? activity—perfect for reviewing classroom expectations and sneaking in some literacy practice.
3. Do a Quick Content Recap
A short review before moving forward is one of the kindest things you can do for students (and yourself). Their brains need reactivation time.
Task cards are my go-to for this—collaborative, self-paced, and perfect for easing students back into academic mode. You can use them for literally any topic, so pull out a set that aligns with where you left off.
Read more about using task cards in your classroom with this blog post.
4. Reignite Engagement With Hands-On or High-Interest Lessons
January is a great time to shake off stale routines. Kick off your next unit with a demo, a discrepant event, or a hands-on station-style activity. Anything that nudges students back into curiosity mode.
Not sure what they’re craving?
Use a Stop–Start–Continue sticky-note reflection:
- Sticky note color 1: What students would like to stop doing in class. I present this as an option within reason since they can write down no more tests but that might not be realistic. Instead, have them think about the types of activities they’d done pre-break.
- Sticky note color 2: What they would love to start doing. This is a chance for them to reflect on activities or approaches to learning that have worked for them in other classes regardless of subject.
- Sticky note color 3: What they would like to continue doing in your class. This is a way for them to make clear what activities they have liked in class.
This quick check-in gives you insight into what’s working—and what needs a refresh.
Looking for other hands-on learning activities that are super quick and effective? How about 100 of them? Click here to learn more.
5. Encourage Collaboration (With Built-In Accountability)
Middle and high school students crave community more than they’ll ever admit. Start the term with a short, low-pressure collaborative activity. Even something as simple as giving each group a piece of chart paper to “web” out moments from their break and connect them to subjects or concepts works beautifully.
Teacher Tip: Assign each student a specific color marker. At a glance, you can see who contributed—and who didn’t. It’s one of my all-time favorite accountability hacks.
6. Bring in a Little Technology
January is also a great time to reintroduce tech tools that boost engagement—virtual field trips, simulations, collaborative boards, or short digital investigations.
Virtual field trips especially are a lifesaver for budget, time, and engagement. Students can explore anywhere—from volcano interiors to arctic ecosystems—without ever leaving your classroom.
This bundle of virtual field trips will save you time and money, plus they lead students through a digital exploration of our world through images, videos, audio clips, and sounds.
7. Offer a Meaningful Round of Feedback
Students need to know where they stand as the term restarts. Carve out time during the first week (not the first day!) to give focused, actionable feedback on pre-break work.
Even quick one-on-one check-ins can completely reset a student’s motivation.
8. Tease Upcoming Units
Help students look forward instead of backward. Drop hints about exciting labs, weird phenomena they’ll be exploring, or “mystery images” you’ll reveal over the next few days.
Teacher Tip: Use an image reveal, a jigsaw puzzle, or a word-search clue. They love it far more than they let on.
You can even make this interactive with bits and pieces revealed over the first few days – an image reveal with students having to answer a science-related question, or make it a word search that reveals a hidden message with the leftover letters. This free online puzzlemaker from Discovery Education makes the process easy!
9. Use Interactive, Choice-Based Assessments
If you’re picking up where you left off with an assessment, give students options. Choice-based projects—presentations, podcasts, infographics, models—allow students to show understanding in ways that feel authentic and energizing after break.
Freebie for You: Grab My Choice Board Sampler Pack
If you’re looking to bring more student choice, voice, and differentiation into your classroom—especially right after break—this is the perfect starter.
✨ Grab the FREE Choice Board Sampler Pack here! It includes ready-to-use activities that give students autonomy while keeping expectations clear and manageable.
A Final Word on Returning to the Classroom
January can feel like a strange mix of “new year” energy and “same old routine.” But with a little intention—and a few thoughtfully chosen structures—you can transform those first days back into something smooth, engaging, and genuinely meaningful.
Here’s to a new term filled with curiosity, collaboration, and steady growth—for your students and for you. You’ve got this.
