With most schools and districts shut down for the foreseeable future, many faculty and teachers are struggling to find ways to connect with their students. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week.
Schools implement theme weeks as a way to build school spirit … and there’s no reason to stop doing so just because the classrooms have been shifted to distance learning. Instead, just have your theme week go virtual too! Post the themes ahead of time and encourage students (or their parents) to email in images or videos, or post them on social media and tag the correct account to share. Students can even use creative photo or video editing if they don’t have the appropriate theme attire to wear. (Note: Theme weeks are meant to be inclusive and we have a resource of theme days that schools should avoid.)
Here are 20 virtual theme day ideas to get you started:
Comfy Sweats or PJ Day
Fostertown put together a theme week and their Monday encouraged comfortable clothing for all students and teachers. We can definitely get behind that!
Inside Out Day
The perfect spirit day to do when the clothes are running low!
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Sports/Game Day
Sports may be canceled, but it doesn’t mean you can’t pull out these sports outfits or support your favorite teams.
Source: @bulldogbae’s spirit week
Work Out Day
Have students post a bit of exercising to share with their classmates.
School Colors Day
Let's have a little twitter fun! Join us in our Virtual Spirit Week and post a picture each day with the following themes. Make sure to tag @Kenwood_SGA Monday-Pajama Day, Tuesday-St Paddy's Day, Wednesday- Whatcha reading? Thursday-Spring, Friday-Bluebird Pride! @BPowell_BCPS pic.twitter.com/sJ1bZ1eq2c
— KenwoodSGA (@Kenwood_SGA) March 16, 2020
Have students show off their school spirit wear or clothing in your school colors.
Stuffed Animal Day
The perfect virtual spirit week theme to showcase the stuffed animals in our lives.
Literacy Day
Woodmont’s Virtual spirit week Day 3- show us what you’re reading or pictures of you reading 📚📖#Woodmonthappenings @MontvilleTwpSch pic.twitter.com/5e78qhskVT
— Woodmont School (@Paws_Pride) March 18, 2020
Have students show off their favorite books, dress up like their favorite characters, or even submit a short video of them reading their favorite book aloud!
Superhero Day
Students can don their favorite superhero costumes, make a cape from a blanket, or even show off their “good deeds” for the day.
Wellness Wednesday
Let’s not forget how stressful these times are. Students can post their favorite yoga moves or meditation clips.
Source: @bulldogbaes
Future Day
Have students think outside the box and put together something that futuristic to share.
STEM Day
Have students share their favorite STEM activity or creation.
Source: @paxtoniael
Celebrity Look-A-Like Day
Has anyone ever said you look like a famous person? Now’s the time for students to style themselves and take on another persona for a day!
Red, White, and Blue
Show that together we stand.
Source: @clark_school_counseling_dept
Decade Day
Have students dig through their parents’ closets to relive a particular decade.
Make a Creation Day
Join us in doing a virtual theme week with your students! Students will send pictures through @ClassDojo and we will choose the 10 best to post at the end of the day! #TheVincentWay #StayingConnected @faziojennifer5 @PaulKishEdu pic.twitter.com/3weGM18YEQ
— Lynne Stark (@lstark25) March 18, 2020
Encourage students to get creative and share their end results.
Global Day
Since everyone is more or less stuck at home, have students pick a country and represent that place for a day. (Perhaps even share a yummy recipe!)
Nature Scavenger Hunt Day
Let’s stay connected. We are going to have a “Virtual Spirit Week”. All you have to do is snap a pic of your child participating in the daily theme and post it under the given post! Have fun!#templeisd pic.twitter.com/U4puUUyTfS
— Thornton T-Birds (@thorntontbirds) March 16, 2020
Pick a color and have students go in search of it outdoors
Neon Day
Have students go all out in neon. Clothes. Hair. Whatever they’ve got on hand!
Crazy Socks
We love that this school attached it to laundry day!
Source: @cragernation
Parent Day
Showcase the parents, have the students dress up like the parents, or even showcase what working from home might look like.
What are your favorite virtual theme week ideas? We’d love to hear about them in our Principal Life group on Facebook.
Plus, don’t miss our theme ideas to avoid .
