Make My Jeopardy

First Day of School Jeopardy

Break the first-day ice with school trivia, getting-to-know-you prompts, and your class rules, all in a game that is free to set up with phone buzzers.

6 categories · 30 clues · Final Jeopardy · everyone buzzes in from their phone

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Every clue on this board

This page is public, so anyone can read the answers — copy the board and swap a few clues before game day.

Getting to Know You

  1. $200

    This is the polite word you say when meeting someone for the first time, such as Nice to meet you.

    What is a greeting?

  2. $400

    This is the term for a short activity teachers use at the start of the year to help students learn each other's names.

    What is an icebreaker?

  3. $600

    When introducing yourself, this is the word for the specific city or town where you live.

    What is your hometown?

  4. $800

    This word describes something you are especially good at or enjoy doing outside of school, like playing an instrument or a sport.

    What is a hobby?

  5. $1,000

    This is the word for the number of years you have been alive, a common icebreaker question on the first day of school.

    What is your age?

Around Our School

  1. $200

    This school staff member's office is often the first stop when a student feels sick or gets hurt during the day.

    Who is the school nurse?

  2. $400

    This school professional helps students plan their schedules and talk through personal or academic problems.

    Who is the school counselor?

  3. $600

    This room in a school holds rows of shelves filled with books that students can borrow and read.

    What is the library?

  4. $800

    This school leader is generally in charge of the entire building and staff.

    Who is the principal?

  5. $1,000

    This large room with a stage is where schools often hold assemblies, plays, and concerts.

    What is the auditorium?

Rules and Routines

  1. $200

    This is the polite classroom routine of lifting an arm to signal you have a question or want to speak.

    What is raising your hand?

  2. $400

    This sound or signal marks the start and end of each class period throughout the school day.

    What is the bell?

  3. $600

    This small pass lets a student step out of the classroom during class time, such as to use the restroom.

    What is a hall pass?

  4. $800

    Recited each morning in many American schools while facing the flag, this pledge begins with the words I pledge allegiance.

    What is the Pledge of Allegiance?

  5. $1,000

    Schools regularly practice this safety routine, lining up and walking outside calmly in case of a real emergency.

    What is a fire drill?

School Supplies

  1. $200

    This yellow writing tool has a graphite core and can be erased if you make a mistake.

    What is a pencil?

  2. $400

    This tool with two blades is used to cut paper for art projects and assignments.

    What are scissors?

  3. $600

    This three-ring container holds loose sheets of paper and is often organized with dividers for each subject.

    What is a binder?

  4. $800

    This handheld device with buttons quickly adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides numbers for math class.

    What is a calculator?

  5. $1,000

    This bag with two straps is worn on the back and carries books, folders, and supplies to and from school.

    What is a backpack?

Subjects We Study

  1. $200

    In this subject, students practice reading, writing, spelling, and grammar.

    What is English?

  2. $400

    In this subject, students learn about numbers, shapes, and how to solve equations.

    What is math?

  3. $600

    In this subject, students study living things, chemicals, and how the physical world works through experiments.

    What is science?

  4. $800

    In this subject, students learn about the past, including important events, people, and civilizations.

    What is history?

  5. $1,000

    In this subject, students learn to speak, read, and write in a language other than their own, such as Spanish or French.

    What is a foreign language?

Summer or School

  1. $200

    This yearly event, held in June in most United States school districts, marks the last day before summer vacation begins.

    What is the last day of school?

  2. $400

    This annual tradition sends students home for around two months of vacation between school years.

    What is summer break?

  3. $600

    This required list, often sent home before school starts, tells families exactly which pencils, folders, and other items to buy.

    What is a school supply list?

  4. $800

    This event, usually held before the first day of classes, lets students and families visit their new classroom and meet the teacher.

    What is open house?

  5. $1,000

    This annual celebration in late summer, marked by new backpacks and freshly sharpened pencils, is the opposite of the last day of school.

    What is the first day of school?

Final Jeopardy — School Icons

Painted a standard shade of yellow for visibility, this vehicle carries millions of American students to school every day.

What is a school bus?

How to run this board

First days are awkward by default, and a game gives everyone something to do besides sit quietly. This board mixes icebreaker prompts with light school trivia, questions about supplies and subjects, and a category you should rewrite with your own class rules and routines so the syllabus review becomes part of the fun.

Since nobody knows anyone yet, assign random teams and have each team pick a name before the first clue; it forces a first conversation. Keep scoring loose. The goal is names and laughter, not a winner.

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