10 Exciting Back-to-School Activities for a Memorable Start |

10 Free and Fun Back-t0-School Activity Ideas to Kickstart the Year with Excitement

8/28/2023

As the back-to-school season approaches, teachers everywhere are gearing up to welcome their students back into the classroom. It's a time of fresh beginnings, new friendships, and the perfect opportunity to set the tone for an exciting year of learning. To help you start the school year off on the right foot, we've curated a list of 10 free and fun back-to-school activity ideas that will engage and captivate your students from day one.

1. DIY Pencil Holders

Kick off the school year with a creative hands-on activity by having your students design and decorate their own personalized pencil holders. Not only will they have a functional and unique desk accessory, but this activity also encourages self-expression and creativity.

Provide each student with a plain pencil holder or a recycled container like a tin can or small box. Set up a decorating station with art supplies such as markers, stickers, glitter, and paint. Encourage students to personalize their pencil holders by adding their names, favorite colors, or any designs that inspire them.

Another option is to grab some colorful paddle-pop sticks and get students to glue them together to form a pencil holder.

2. Welcome Back Bulletin Board

Create a visually stunning bulletin board that warmly welcomes your students back to school. Get creative with colorful decorations, inspiring quotes, and photos showcasing exciting learning adventures. This simple yet impactful idea sets a positive tone and creates a sense of belonging.

First, choose a theme for your bulletin board, such as "Our Learning Adventure Begins," and gather colorful paper, borders, and cutouts. Decorate the bulletin board with engaging visuals, inspirational quotes, and student photos. Involve the students in creating the display by assigning them tasks like writing positive messages or drawing illustrations.

3. "Get to Know You" Icebreaker Games

Break the ice and foster connections in the classroom by incorporating interactive games and activities. From "Two Truths and a Lie" to "Human Bingo," these icebreakers encourage students to share about themselves, promote teamwork, and create a comfortable environment for socializing.

Prepare a list of icebreaker games, such as "Two Truths and a Lie," "Find Someone Who," or "Human Bingo." Allow time for students to mingle and interact with each other, asking questions and finding commonalities.

You may like to also check out these FREE Back to School Icebreaker and Getting to Know You activities from my TPT store:

4. Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Transform your classroom into an adventurous treasure hunt by setting up a scavenger hunt for your students. This activity not only familiarizes them with their new learning environment but also encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Design a scavenger hunt by creating clues or riddles that lead students to different areas of the classroom. Incorporate fun facts or questions related to the learning environment. Divide the students into small groups and provide them with the first clue. As they solve each clue, they'll discover the next location until they complete the entire scavenger hunt.

5. Virtual Background Showcase

For those engaging in remote or hybrid learning, make the first day memorable by having students design and create their own virtual backgrounds. This allows them to showcase their personalities and interests, while also promoting creativity and tech-savviness.

Share a tutorial on how to create custom virtual backgrounds using platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Encourage students to design backgrounds that reflect their interests, hobbies, or favorite places. Have a virtual class session where each student can present their background and share the story behind it.

6. Hopes and Dreams Activity

Encourage students to reflect on their aspirations for the school year by having them create "Hopes and Dreams" artwork or written notes. Display these in the classroom as a reminder of their goals and aspirations, fostering a growth mindset and a sense of purpose.

Provide students with art supplies, such as paper, markers, crayons, or colored pencils. Ask them to draw or write about their hopes and dreams for the upcoming school year. Display their creations in the classroom or create a dedicated bulletin board to showcase their aspirations throughout the year.

7. Classroom Community Bingo

Create a customized bingo game that helps students learn more about their fellow classmates and build a strong sense of community. This engaging activity promotes communication skills, empathy, and a deeper understanding of one another.

Create a personalized bingo card with various statements related to students' interests, experiences, or backgrounds. Distribute the bingo cards and have students walk around the classroom, interacting with their peers to find someone who matches each statement. The goal is to fill the entire bingo card by finding classmates who fit each criterion.

8. First-Day Photos

Capture the excitement of the first day of school by taking memorable photos of your students. Compile these photos into a class collage or display them on a bulletin board as a visual representation of their collective journey throughout the year.

Prepare a designated photo area in the classroom with props like chalkboards or signs saying "First Day of (Grade Level)." Take individual or group photos of each student on the first day. Print out the photos and display them on a bulletin board or create a class collage to commemorate the beginning of the school year.

9. Classroom Rules Collaborative Poster

Involve your students in the creation of classroom rules by having them contribute ideas and design a collaborative poster. This activity promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility within the classroom community.

Engage your students in a discussion about classroom rules and expectations. Provide materials such as large poster paper and art supplies. Have the students collaborate on designing a visually appealing poster that showcases the agreed-upon rules. Hang the poster in a prominent place in the classroom to remind everyone of the shared expectations.

10. "All About Me" Time Capsule

Have students create a time capsule filled with items and memories that represent who they are at the beginning of the school year. At the end of the year, open the time capsules together and reflect on how much they have grown and achieved.

Give each student a small box or envelope to decorate. Instruct them to gather items and memories that represent themselves at the start of the school year, such as drawings, photographs, or written notes. Collect the time capsules and store them in a safe place. Towards the end of the school year, revisit the time capsules as a reflective activity.

Conclusion
As teachers, we have the power to set the stage for an exciting and successful school year. By incorporating these free and fun back-to-school activity ideas, you'll not only create an engaging learning environment but also foster a sense of belonging and unity among your students. Remember, a positive and enjoyable start sets the foundation for a year full of growth, learning, and endless possibilities. Let's make this back-to-school season one to remember!

You may also be interested in some of these fun Back-to-School Activities:

Back to School Word Search Puzzle

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This back to school resource is a fun and challenging Word Search Activity to help reinforce qualities of a super classmate. Use this puzzle to introduce a positive classroom atmosphere and to set student goals for attitude and behavior at the beginning of the school year.

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Back to School Math Problems Prompt Cards - FREE

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These Back to School themed 'What's the question?' cards are great to help your students create themed math word problems. Differentiate this card set by setting the challenge to make word problems involving either multiplication, division, negative numbers for higher grades OR keep it to basic addition and subtraction for lower grades.

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Back to School Literacy Mystery - The Case of the Pilfered Pencils

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Make learning fun with this Back to School Private Eye CSI - Literacy Mystery: Case of The Pilfered Pencils.

Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.

This ELA teaching resourceTARGETS

- Reading

- Comprehension

- Main Idea

- Vocabulary (Definitions, Synonyms)

- Drawing Conclusions

- Analyzing Text for Clues

- Making Inferences

- Critical Thinking

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Back to School Reading Mystery: Once Upon a Crime, Teacher Toads!

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Back to School Reading Mystery: Once Upon A Crime, Teacher Toads

(Teaching Resource - Worksheets pdf + Video Hook)

Grade Suitability: 2nd, 3rd, 4th

(This varies depending on the reading ability of students. Some guidance may be required for younger students.)

Your students will have fun solving this school themed mystery while learning skills in reading, comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning!

Distance Learning Update: I've added a Word Document within the folder that contains a Google Doc link to share this resource with your students via Google Classroom or Drive.

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Back to School Math Mystery: Case of the School Invaders - 1st Grade Edition

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Back to School Math Mystery: the Case of The School Invaders -1st Grade Edition. Students must review math skills from the previous grade to help get rid of the stinky, slimy Geometron aliens invading Mathhattan Elementary School!

NO PREP, print and go!

(Please note that the Grade 1 math mysteries contain a smaller possibilities list, and include profile pictures with the information).

Students must use their math skills to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of locations to find the aliens' transponder device!

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Back to School Math Mystery: Case of the School Invaders - 2nd Grade Edition

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Back to School Math Mystery: the Case of the School Invaders. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.

Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.