Maybe if you did not want to do some sort of game you could have everyone draw a number out of a basket when they came in & midway through the class you could draw a number or two out of the basket & the drawn number(s) could win a prize (fat quarter or pattern or maybe you could make something like a sewing machine caddy with pockets that hangs down in front of your machine to hold small gadgets used in sewing) Maybe also during this time the students could drink or snack on something & mingle around to look at each other's progress.