The first day of school can be an exciting time for teachers and students, but it can be an anxious time, too. What can you do to make sure your students (and you!) feel at home in the classroom on that first day? Here are some teacher-inspired first day of school activities for primary school children and ideas that teachers can use in their classrooms this back-to-school season.

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Do you ever wonder what to do on the first day of school with your students? The first day of elementary school is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for both students and parents in all grades. It marks the beginning of a new adventure as children explore new ideas, make new friends, and learn to navigate their ever-growing independence.

No matter how prepared a student or teacher may feel, it’s normal to have some butterflies in your stomach on the big day. With the right attitude and preparation, however, the first day of any grade in elementary school can be a wonderful experience that sets the tone for a successful year full of growth and exploration.

How can teachers help students make the transition from a summer at home to school on the first day of a new year?

Check out these fun first day of school activities that will help students get to know one another and learn some new things too!

20 First Day of School Activities

Here are 20 surefire tips that will make your first day back to school a success! Scroll to the comments to see even more ideas!

1. Read First Day Jitters by Julie Danneburg

First Day Jitters is a great book to break the ice with your students. There are several activities for the first-day jitters book.

To make it extra special, serve Jitter Juice! Then, have students write YOU a letter with ideas on why you shouldn’t be nervous. It’ll get a few kids thinking about their own jitters, and maybe they can help each other, too!

This is an excellent way for students to reflect on their feelings about the first day of school and make meaningful connections with the text as well.

2. Do a classroom or school tour

Show your kiddos where all the classroom supplies are and help them to know what areas are for them, and what areas are for you only. Are students new to the school?

Take them around and show them where the bathrooms, the gym, the cafeteria, etc. Teach them the computer lab rules and lunchtime procedures. Incorporate a scavenger hunt and you’ve got a fun-filled day!

If your social studies standards include learning about maps, this is also a good time to lay a foundation for classroom and school maps. Take a look at this blog post for some good map skills ideas.

Take it a step further and create a scavenger hunt for students. Creating a scavenger hunt as a first day of school activity is an excellent way to engage students and break the ice on the first day. The teacher can create questions or tasks related to the classroom, school, or surrounding area, and have students work independently or in teams to find the answers.

This simple activity will help students get to know their classmates, the school grounds, and the teacher better – all while having fun! For added structure, time limits or points for successful completion can be implemented. A scavenger hunt can also be used as a creative way for teachers to introduce themselves and have students share information about themselves.

3. Make a picture keepsake

Don’t forget this one! Take a picture of each student on their first day back to school, then take one on the last day of school. Turn it into a keepsake at the end of the year.

Better yet, let students draw a self-portrait on the first day, and then again on the last day. Compare! They might have changed, and their drawing skills will surely have, too!

4. One-on-one time

One of the key first day of school activities that I always make a point to do is to spend a few minutes one-on-one with each student. Get to know them, introduce yourself, giggle, and encourage them. Making that personal connection on the first day is so important! You may get some teacher inspiration and insights into your students that you can use all year long!

As you meet with each student take along a clipboard or sticky notes. Jot down a few memorable notes about the student. At the end of the day, gather these notes together. Reflect on your class as a whole. What makes each student unique? How can they be an integral part of your class?

Take it a step further and turn these notes into words of encouragement. Write on students’ desks and leave a note about what you love about each student.

5. Back to School Craftivity

Ready for some downtime at the end of the first day? You might need some, too! This is one of my favorite activities for the first day of school.

It allows the kids to wind down and still be productive. In this Back-to-School Bus Craftivity Flap Book students tell about themselves, review the rules, reflect on their day, and think about being a good classmate.

It makes a fun keepsake, too. Parents will thank you!

6. Teacher Q&A

Have fun with this one in a couple of different ways. Sit in a circle with your students and let them ask you questions like: What’s your favorite food? Color? Animal? Candy? Etc.

Or, make a quiz and see if they can guess the answers to these questions.

It’s a great way for your students to know more about you, a very important person in their day.

This is also a great opportunity to establish a community circle routine. Using a community circle in the classroom is an effective way to foster empathy and collaboration among students. A community circle creates a safe, non-threatening space for students to discuss their ideas and feelings with each other.

It allows for a greater understanding and appreciation of different perspectives, which can help reduce conflict in the classroom. By creating an environment where all students are respected, learning becomes more meaningful and engaged. Community circles also provide opportunities for teachers to guide conversations by introducing topics and raising questions that will help strengthen relationships. In this way, students are encouraged to think critically and find creative solutions to problems together.

7. Don’t forget you on the first day of class!

This one’s for you. If you haven’t already done so, go to your classroom well before school starts, organize your desk, pour yourself that coffee, and put all that dark chocolate in your drawer.

This blog post about my favorite Teacher School Supplies will give you a few more ideas to add to your teacher area!

Walk through the school to get a feel for what the school climate will be, and meet the people you will be working with this year.

8. Make a classroom cheer

Who doesn’t love a team cheer? Sit down with your students and brainstorm a catchy classroom cheer you can use throughout the year. Talk about team spirit!

9. Discuss classroom expectations

Do you know what your students expect out of the year? Do they? Make an activity with them to list their own personal goals for the school year.

This blog post has some great anchor charts that show how students define good friends, their role as a student, a teacher’s role, and their parent’s role.  It’s a great starting point for a discussion about classroom expectations.

10. Build community

Make a mission statement or class pledge/promise, and recite this each morning.  Making a class mission statement aligns well with student goal-setting.

Once students define who they are as a community, they can set goals that align with the mission statement.

I love using this Community Building Puzzle on the first day of school. I leave a puzzle piece on each student’s desk first thing in the morning. As students come inside, they find a seat, write their name on their puzzle pieces and decorate it.

11. Name labels

Make name cards for desks, lockers, or cubbies. Allow students to write their own names, and let them decorate a border around it. Laminate, and voila!

Each desk or cubbie has a personal touch. At the end of the year, you could even add the name tags to students’ portfolios.

12. Beach Ball Ice Breaker

Take a permanent marker and write questions on a beach ball. Sit in a circle with your students and toss the beach ball to each other. Each time a student catches the ball, they answer any of the questions visible, then toss it to someone else.

A fun way for students to get to know each other and you!

13. Survey Students

Create a blank bar graph on chart paper or better yet, create a horizontal and vertical bar graph.  Use it throughout the day and week to survey students about various favorite things. Give each student a sticky note.  As a question and have groups of students place their sticky note in the correct columns.

Your students will love the interactiveness of sticky notes and placing them on chart paper! This really is a cheat sheet for you to get to know your students better AND you can weave in some math skill work, too! Teachers will learn about important ideas about their students, too!

When I was a kid, I loved filling out little surveys that asked me all about me! Other than the standard questions about their hobbies, siblings, or their summers, don’t forget to ask some silly questions, too, just to make it extra fun!

14. Encourage your Team

Be a team encourager! Put together a small gift for everyone on your team (or the whole school staff). Include a note wishing them the greatest year ever.

This Pinterest Board as a ton of ideas for Teacher Gifts. 

15. Rules and Procedures and Routines

While you’re busy making this the most fun first day ever for your students, don’t forget the classroom rules and procedures.

Don’t skip this.

It is an essential part to make sure your school year runs smoothly. Knowing what is expected of them is of great benefit to your students. And let’s be honest, with you as well!

16. Party! Party! Party!

How exciting is the first day of school? Exciting enough for a welcome-back party!

No, really! Why wait until the end of the year?

Serve baked goods, orange or apple juice (or jitter juice! See #1), and bananas and grapes.

Include circle time to share summer stories, and dance those jitters away!

17. Eat lunch with your students

Consider eating lunch with your students at least a couple of times a week. Especially on the first day, it is important to show your kids that your class is “family.”

18. Read aloud – lots!

Reading out loud to your students often instills a lifelong love of reading in their hearts.

Choose quality books, ones that take their nervousness away, make them laugh, or build their self-esteem and team spirit.

Don’t be afraid of classics with harder-to-understand language. Kids are able to fill in the gaps, it builds their vocabulary, and when the storyline is riveting, they will get it.

The first day back at school is a great time to relax with your students and just read to them.

19. Student Gifts

Give each student a gift at the end of the day, congratulating them on a great first day. If you have a classroom theme, you might want to consider a gift that matches that theme!

20. Smile

Last, but not least: Smile! Be a positive you. Be approachable, laugh, and enjoy yourself!

Do you have More First day of School Activities?

So do many of my readers! Scroll down below to see even more teacher-inspired activities and ideas for the first day of school.

Do you have any go-to back-to-school traditions or first day of school activities that you do every year?  Leave a comment below to share it with us!

More Back-to-School Ideas and Activities

Are you looking for more back-to-school ideas? Here are a few more: