Let’s play a game. Think back to your very first day of school—as a student. Do you remember what your teacher said?
No? Me neither.
But I bet you remember how they made you feel.
That’s why the first few things we say as teachers aren’t just filler. They’re a vibe. They’re setting the tone for the next 180 days of chaos and curiosity in the science lab.
So today, I’m sharing some of my favorite back-to-school sentence starters—the ones that open the door to trust, curiosity, and classroom culture without sounding like a stale syllabus script.
Why Sentence Starters Matter
Back-to-school week can feel like a mess of procedures, name games, and asking “What’s your favorite color?” 74 times. But here’s the thing:
Students are forming an opinion about your class—and YOU—within the first 10 minutes.
The words you choose in those early days help build:
- Trust and approachability
- Student confidence
- Expectations (without sounding like a drill sergeant)
- A sense that this class might actually be… fun?
That’s a win.
My Favorite Sentence Starters (and Why They Work)
1. “In this classroom, we…”
This is a low-key way to drop classroom norms without reading off a list. It sets expectations gently, but clearly.
“In this classroom, we ask questions—even weird ones.”
“In this classroom, we clean up our own messes. Because science is messy.”
“In this classroom, we laugh, we learn, and we don’t make fun of people’s mistakes.”
This builds culture and a sense of safety.
2. “One thing you should know about me is…”
Students want to know who you are, not just what you teach.
“One thing you should know about me is I love science puns. You’ve been warned.”
“One thing you should know is that I will never give up on you—even when you give up on yourself.”
“One thing you should know is I make mistakes too. And I own them. You’ll see.”
This gives them permission to show up as humans, not just students.
3. “I wonder…”
This models curiosity from Day 1, and sets the tone that questions are welcome—not a sign of weakness.
“I wonder what would happen if we dropped this from the roof…”
“I wonder why more people don’t love learning about cells. Let’s change that.”
“I wonder how many of you will teach me something new this year.”
Now they’re wondering too—and that’s a beautiful place to start.
4. “You might not believe this, but…”
This one hooks their attention and breaks the ice—especially with middle schoolers.
“You might not believe this, but I used to be TERRIBLE at science.”
“You might not believe this, but I once caught a table on fire during a lab. Don’t worry—it wasn’t here.”
“You might not believe this, but science class used to bore me. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you.”
Authenticity > perfection.
5. “By the end of the year, I hope you…”
Give them a glimpse of what you want for them—not just what you expect from them.
“By the end of the year, I hope you’re asking bigger questions.”
“By the end of the year, I hope you’re confident enough to teach someone else something cool.”
“By the end of the year, I hope you think science is a little less scary—and a lot more interesting.”
Boom. You just gave them a mission.
Use These Starters In:
- First day slides
- Syllabus scavenger hunts
- Get-to-know-you games
- Anchor charts or word walls
- Science journals for student reflection
- Bulletin boards titled “In This Classroom…”
Want Help Setting the Tone Without Reinventing the Wheel?
These EzPz resources pair perfectly with your first-week vibes:
- Class Get-to-Know-You Activities –start the conversations and build your community
- Class Ice Breakers Activities – break the ice and build a team
- Sentence Starters (for the science student) – give your students support to feel confident to speak up in class
Your voice matters—and the way you start the year sets the stage for everything that follows. So don’t stress about being perfect. Just speak with purpose.
You’ve got this.
ezpz-science.com 