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The back-to-school season brings new beginnings, new students, refreshing classroom decor and hope for a great year ahead. While it’s time to introduce rules and set expectations, it’s also a great opportunity to build strong relationships and a positive classroom cultural foundation.
Your first day of activity activities can help students feel safe, see and connect. Invite students to share themselves and understand their classmates’ simple, thoughtful activities can have a lasting impact from day one.
Start with the Icemakers attracting students’ strong ones
Icebreaker is an easy and effective way to build classroom connections. You can try these as a morning warm-up or during the first week of downtime to set a positive tone for the next year. Try an icebreaker for a high school student who matches the level of ability of a student or an icebreaker.
Talk to students interview
Even if students know each other since previous years, each classroom brings new dynamics. Help them build new connections by pairing them for short interviews. Students are encouraged to talk to newcomers to inspire meaningful conversations and even new friendships.
Return to school icebreaker to learn about your activities
by K’s classroom Kreations
Results: First
Standard: CCSS SL.1.1A, 1.3
Build a classroom community in the classic “All About Me” event with this interactive spin. Students will pair, interview each other, and share names and things they like. This is an easy way to break the ice and start making connections.
Build a positive team environment
Creating an interconnected, secure classroom environment is the key to a successful year. Icebreaker and children’s team building activities help build trust and develop collaboration. Use them during teaching or when your brain is interrupted to strengthen relationships and increase engagement.
Meet you! {30 icebreakers and team building activities}
Christine Statzel
Results: K-6th
These 30 first-day school activities are designed to help students feel confident and comfortable. Each activity includes clear instructions and a list of materials to make setting up quickly and easily.
Discover classmates’ preferences and make new friends
Building a classroom community can be more challenging but still critical in senior grades or music-specific courses. Connect with students and learn from them as individuals can enhance engagement. “Would you rather?” game provides an easy way to see students’ personality while keeping fun and low pressure.
Would you rather have a music classroom?
Music through melody
Results: 1-5 years old
Use these “Would You?” cards during the first week of music class to learn more about your students. Each student chooses between two options and then explains the reasoning they trigger conversations and build classroom rapport.
Build connections through activities involving you
After the excitement of the first day, encourage reflection and meaningful sharing with the home-school game. These gradual understanding tips can help students better understand themselves and their classmates.
Encourage meaningful discussions
The first day of persistence allows students to talk to each other and you. They encourage discussions on interests, hobbies and school life to create common ground for the class. Thought-provoking questions during circle groups and morning greetings are faster than you expected.
40 Understand Your Task Card – Back to School – Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
MATA Mathematics and Science
Results: Fifth to 12th
During the first week of school, learn about 40 tips for students that trigger conversations. Use them as exit tickets, circle out time for discussions, and even adapt to math workshops and centers.
Go back to school to learn about your activities
By Room 213
Results: 6th to 12th
This activity has creative development of knowledge problems that can help older students learn from each other while collaborating on creating classroom rules. The two-page PDF is designed for 30-minute courses and simple classroom use.
Plan to know your own project
Showcase your students’ ideas for back-to-school bulletin boards to create classroom connections from the start. Showcase all over your own projects around the room to create a gallery walk where students can explore their classmates’ work. This encourages dialogue, emphasizes shared interests and cultivates a sense of community.
All Pennant Banners About Me Back to School Events, Meet You
Kim Miller
Results: 1-6
Start the first day of school by collecting key information about students. This resource includes two printable versions and one Google Slideshow option. Students can share their names, birthdays, favorite things, and even draw a self-portrait.
Try meeting with your students with teacher activities
Teachers often glimpse students’ personalities through quick corridor chats or classroom moments. But what do your students know about you? Make these early connections by sharing some interesting facts, your hobbies, favorites, or quirky preferences. This is an easy way to show your side and invite students to open up in return.
A template for Spanish meets the teacher on one page – Back to school
The first generation dream
Level: Not specific
Use this set of “Meet Teachers” templates to introduce yourself to students and families. The resource includes six unique designs that offer brightly coloured and printer-friendly versions, perfect for open-plan homes, home-to-school nights or the first day of class.
Will focus on the first day of introduction to students’ attention
Not every student is ready to speak up immediately. Some are open to writing, painting or private reflection. Provide students with flexible ways to share their identities.
I hope my teacher knows {now your teacher knows}
Sarah Plum
Level: Not specific
This free package can help you create a safe, enthusiastic classroom community by providing students with a private way to share everything they want you to know. It comes with anchor charts, directions and teacher notes in reply.
Me, my identity and me: a student diary
By Caffeine and Education
Grade: 5th to 8th years
Creating a strong sense of community through this self-identification journal resource to begin the school year, it is an engaging way for students to explore who they are and express themselves. The resource has 28 diary slides, 9 blank slides, and instructions.
Free student information form to go to school on the first day – “Meet You”
By Hyundai Mayberry
Results: Seventh to 12th
This free resource includes everything you need to start learning about students and collect information about parents. It is printable, easy to use, and is perfect for the first week of school.
Warm up the classroom with the first day of writing activities
Start the year with a writing activity that builds relationships and friendships. These short projects are informal writing assessments and provide you with an early understanding of each student’s personality and communication style. They are an easy way to start a meaningful connection while staying consistent with your course. You can easily write your writing activities with CCSS.
Start with the “Everything About Me” project
The writing tips for “everything about me” are a great entry point: they are easy for students and provide structure while still allowing creativity. Use them to inspire self-reflection, collect critical student information, and introduce writing routines in a low-pressure way to naturally fit your ELA block.
Icebreaker on the first day of the return to school and sample ELA writing from the beginning of the year
Brenda Kovich
Results: Third place
Collect annual writing samples with “My Classmates” and “All About Me” worksheets. These first day course activities help students learn from each other while providing you with clear snapshots of writing skills.
Return to School Student Survey – Learn about your activities – Digital/Printing
Author: Addie Williams
Results: 6th to 10th
This resource features interesting, reflective questions that make things easy while providing meaningful insights. Available in PDF, Google Apps, and Easel Active Formats for ease of use.
Tell students to do writing work
Unique and creative writing activities bring ELA learners at all levels. With a small amount of adjustments, tips designed for elementary school students can be adapted to challenge high school students through critical thinking and analysis. They are also an effective way to understand your students and build trust, easily adapt to downtime, group work, or quick exit tickets.
Back to school Writing Tips and Word Work Activities – Google Slides™ and PDF
Classroom by Mrs. Beattie
Level: Twenty-fourth
These trailer-free writing and word work activities are perfect for the first week of school. The series includes fall-themed tips and word work center ideas to make it suitable for children’s fall activities.
Grade 3 Daily Grade Grade ELA Spiral Review Morning Work Sentence Edit
Join the teacher through your thrift
Grade: Third place
Use these oral language sentence editing worksheets as daily bells or morning work to enhance language skills year-round. Returning to school season with daily grammar practice helps to build routines and set clear expectations.
Day One of School Activities – Back to School Icebreaker and Writing Tips
Kalena Baker – Teaching to be practical
Results: Second place
Standard: CCSS SL.2.1A, 3.1B, 4.1B
Try 24 fun questions that are perfect for first week activities with partners, groups or morning meetings. Use them to help students practice speaking and listening skills when connecting at a deeper level.
Use the first day of crafts and games to start learning
What’s interesting is the name of the game. As students’ minds are still in summer mode, participation and exercise are key to getting them back to their learning mindset, especially for young primary school learners.
Start with simple lesson plans and crafts
Many teachers need more than one activity. It’s great to have a little variety so you can really match the class vibe. These are activities you can use to connect with the event of the end of the day to show students how much they are growing.
Kindergarten’s first week activities and centers
Keri Brown
Results: Prek-K
This back-to-school resource will help organize your kindergarten lesson plan with your kids for the first week. It includes the memory sheets for day one, handwriting, handprints, games and coloring sheets.
Return to School: Interactive flip book to plan a successful year
By Sherri
Grade: 6th to 8th
This ready-made flip cover includes activities designed to help you understand students and their interests during your return hours. You will receive a cover, goal setting tool, clear instructions and a scoring criteria, which is a handy resource.
Try these tried first day activities
Starting this year with fresh original events, it’s always great, but sometimes every classroom loves simple, tried-and-tested favorites. These simple things never break the ice and make students smile.
Celebrate the first day of school with TPT events
Whether you are a new teacher or an experienced professional, there must be an engagement activity to build teamwork and classroom communities in the first few days of the new school year. Stay energetic and students participate in the school resources ready for the first day of school. From interactive slideshows to creative crafts and meaningful projects, you’ll find everything you need to start the year, as every teacher deserves some support to get started right.
