For a great start of year 
and end of year activity - JEOPARDY!  

At the beginning of the year, working in small groups, have each group create a back to school jeopardy game, as Miss Cantillon's Fifth-Grade Class did. Then play the games, by switching groups around. Your students will get to know each other, learn the rules, and have some fun. Put the games away, but save them for later. 

At the end of the year, revisit your games. Again, working in small groups, assign each group all of the jeopardy games. Have each group select the best questions, or add new ones, for each category. Then, as a class, vote on which questions to include in one final Back to School Jeopardy game. Add a last page or two with everyone's good luck wishes to the new class. And you've got it.

A fun activity to open and close the year effectively.