50+ First Day of School Activities & First Week of School Ideas for Kids

The Line-Up Game

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Challenge students to line up in order without speaking! You can have them try lining up silently in the following ways:

• By birth day month
• By favorite animal
• The number of pets
• By favorite school subject

All About Me Worksheets

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

These free printables provide an easy way for students get to know each other and make it easier for more introverted kids to share information about themselves.

Name Activities

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Write each student’s name on an index card and challenge children to try these name-based activities with classmates throughout the day.

• Find a classmates whose name starts with the same letter or the next letter in the alphabet
• Find a student with a name that has the same number of lettters as yours
• Find a student with matching first, middle, or last names
• Find a classmate who has the same name as a family member

Partner Interviews

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Pair students together and provide a few simple questions on topics like their favorite animal, favorite book, or what they did over the summer. After interviewing each other, students introduce their partner to the class and share what they learned about each other.

This or That?

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Create a list of two choice options for students to pick from, such as recess or gym and dogs or cats. Read off the choices and have kids line up according to which option they prefer.

Musical Match Up

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

In this variation of musical chairs, kids move around the classroom until the music stops, then they turn to the person next to them and share a fact about themselves. Before starting the music again, have 3-4 students share what they learned about a classmate.

First Day Exit Ticket

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Writing exit tickets helps students review their first day before coming home to share details with their families and also help teachers understand how the day went for students. Try these ideas:

• Pass out index cards have kids write a number between 1-5, rating their day. Then have them write 2 reasons why they picked that number.
• Have students write the high point and low point of the day.
• Have students draw a face that shows how they feel about the day and add an explanation about it.

First Day Writing Prompts

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

First day of school writing prompts can give teachers insight on their students and provide kids with time to reflect on the school year. Here are a few prompts to pick from:

• What would your perfect school day look like?
• What’s something you’re looking forward to this year?
• Name one thing you feel good about this year and one thing that you hope to feel better about as the year goes on.

The Name Memory Game

Best For: Preschool & Up

Each day during the first week of school, pick 8+ of your students’ names and write each one on a sticky note. Then stick them onto a table or white board in a random pattern.

Give students 1 minute to quietly study the names, then remove one while everyone closes their eyes. Challenge the class to identify which classmate’s name is missing. Repeat with different names throughout the week to help students remember each other’s names and challenge their memories.

Classmate & Classroom Scavenger Hunts

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

From sheets of Would You Rather questions to Classmate Bingo and a Classmate Scavenger Hunt, these free printables make it fun and easy for students to move around the room and get acquainted.

You’ll also find classroom scavenger hunts that kids can complete in pairs or teams as they get familiar with their new learning environment.

The Circle Name Game

Best For: Preschool–1st Grade

Invite students to stand in a circle and say their name along with an action, such as a jump, wave, or silly pose. The class repeats both the student’s name and action before the next person takes a turn. This interactive game helps children remember names while getting everyone laughing and moving.

You can make it more challenging by having students try to remember the names and movements of each student who went before them before sharing their own.

Partner Activities

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Pair students together and provide an activity for them to complete as a team, such as:

• Use plastic cups to build the tallest tower they can
• Draw a picture together by taking turns adding to the scene (this is especially funny if each artist draws blindfolded).
• Tell each other school-themed jokes and sharing their favorite with the class
• Play a game together, like this free matching game from ABCmouse.

Design the Perfect Classroom or School

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Divide students up into small groups and give each one paper, markers, and craft supplies, then challenge them to design their “perfect classroom.” Students work together to decide what rules, learning spaces, decorations, and classroom jobs they would include before presenting their ideas to the class.

Investigate the Teacher

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Turn your students into detectives, and ask them to look closely around your classroom for clues to your personality, style, and likes and dislikes. They might note that your bulletin boards feature bright colors, you have lots of plants on the windowsills, or you keep a stash of diet soda under your desk.

This is such a fun and interactive way to help them get to know you while sharpening their observation skills!

Snowball Fight

Best For: 1st Grade & Up

A chance to throw things in the classroom without getting in trouble? You know students will be into this! Ask each student to write 2 to 3 facts about themselves on a piece of paper, then crumple it into a “snowball.”

At the signal, kids toss the balls gently around the room until you say stop. Then, each student collects one snowball, opens it up, and tries to find the student who wrote it.

My Name Starts With

Best For: 1st Grade & Up

On a plain piece of paper, each student writes the first letter of their first name in big print in the middle. Then, they add words or drawings of things that start with the same letter, and also describe themselves.

For example, a student named James might add things like jam, jellybeans, jumping, jokes, and jaguars. Have each child share their page when they introduce themself.

Emoji Story

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Ask students to choose three emojis that represent their summer and draw them on paper. Then, have them share what each emoji means with the class.

Lines and Blobs

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

In this icebreaker, students gather in lines or blobs (groups) according to the prompts called out by their teacher. Some examples:

• Line up in order of height.
• Gather in blobs by your favorite color.
• Line up in order of your birthday month and day.
• Gather in blobs by your favorite pizza topping.

Two Truths and a Lie

Best For: 2nd Grade & Up

Here’s a classic first day icebreaker: During their introduction, each person shares three facts about themselves. Two of the facts should be true, while one is made up. Classmates try to guess which one is the fib!

Emoji Name Tags

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Give each student a name tag or tent. Have them write their name, then add 3 to 4 emojis that best describe their personality. As they introduce themselves, they can explain their choices to the class.

Find Your Match

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Make a collection of notecard pairs, such as peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, shoes and socks, etc. Mix up the cards and give one to each student. They circulate the classroom looking for their pair, then spend a few minutes getting to know each other. Collect the cards, mix them up, and redistribute to repeat as long as you like.

Stand Up, Sit Down

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Create a list of yes/no icebreaker questions like “Do you like pineapple on pizza?” or “Have you ever traveled to another state?” As you ask each question, students who answer yes stand up. Those whose answer is no sit down (or stay seated).

Welcome Station Activities

Best For: Preschool & Up

Set up simple activities at students’ desks, such as Back-to-School-themed coloring pages, small puzzles, wordsearches, or All About Me worksheets, to keep children busy as classmates arrive.

Morning Greetings

Best For: All Ages

Welcome each student with a smile, handshake, wave, or special greeting to help them feel seen and valued. Let kids know where to put their things and where to sit so they know exactly what to do when they walk in.

Classroom Tour

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Walk students through important classroom areas like the reading corner, supply station, cubbies, and classroom library so they know where everything is.

Use our free printable classroom scavenger hunt riddles to put a fun spin on this!

Classroom Expectations

Best For: All Ages

Work together to discuss classroom rules, kindness, and respect. Involving students in the conversation helps create shared expectations from the very beginning.

Create a Welcome Banner

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Invite every student to decorate a section of a classroom welcome banner that can be displayed throughout the school year.

Class Quilt Activity

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to write their name and draw a few of their favorite things on it, then to decorate it.

Tape them together and hang the classroom quilt on a wall.

Tower Challenge

Best For: Preschool– Fifth Grade

Using cups, blocks, or recycled materials, challenge small groups to build the tallest free-standing tower they can.

Human Knot

Best For: First Grade and Up

Ask students to form a tight circle. Everyone reaches across to hold hands with two different classmates, creating a “knot.” The group’s goal is to work together to untangle themselves into a circle while keeping their hands connected the entire time.

Toothpick & Marshmallow Challenge

Best For: First Grade & Up

A STEM challenge is a fun way to get students back into problem-solving mode, and when they work in pairs or small teams, it brushes up on the their cooperation skills too. Give each team 20 mini marshmallows and 20 toothpicks, and challenge them to build the tallest tower they can!

Hula Pass

Best For: Kindergarten & Up

Have students stand in a large circle and hold hands. Place a hula hoop over one student’s arm, then challenge the class to pass it all the way around the circle and back to the starting point without anyone letting go of their neighbors’ hands.

Group Drawing

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Break the class up into smaller groups. Give each group one large sheet of paper and ask them to create a picture together. Students learn to communicate, share ideas, and collaborate.

Puzzle Challenge

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Divide the class up into smaller teams. Have teams race to complete age-appropriate puzzles together.

Flip the Blanket

Best For: Second Grade & Up

Divide the class into teams and give each a blanket to lay flat on the floor. Challenge each team to find a way to flip the blanket over without any of their feet touching the floor.

Build Together Activity

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Provide building materials like LEGO® bricks, magnetic tiles, or wooden blocks and challenge students to create something as a team.

Mystery Object Challenge

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Place a mystery object inside a paper bag or box. Students work together by asking yes-or-no questions to figure out what the object is before making a final guess. Encourage teams to discuss their ideas before choosing each question.

This Year, I Want To

Best For: Second Grade & Up

In the middle of big sheets of chart paper, write open ended statements like, “This year, I want to learn how to …” or “This year, I want to find out …” Hang the charts in different places around the room.

Give each student a marker, and ask them to circulate among the charts and write in their answers. When everyone is done, review the charts together and look for topics that kids have in common and discuss what the year ahead has in store.

Classroom Rules Brainstorming

Best For: 1st–5th Grade

When kids help create the rules, they’re more likely to understand and follow them. Start with a brainstorming session around what a good classroom looks like, and how good students behave. Use those thoughts to help write your class’s rules for the year.

Class Promise

Best For: 1st–5th Grade

Once the rules are in place, write them on a large piece of chart paper. Then, have every student in the class sign their name to show they agree to do their best to follow these rules every day.

Rules Skits

Best For: Kindergarten-5th Grade

After you present your classroom rules, break students into groups and assign one rule to each. Their goal is to come up with two short skits: one that demonstrates what it looks like when you break the rule, and one that shows what it means to follow it. Kids always have a blast hamming up the broken rules skits!

Class Group Photo

Best For: 1st–5th Grade

Tell the class you’re going to take a group photo, but you want to make it fun. Ask them to come up with ideas for posing (everybody jumping, everyone making a funny face, leaning back-to-back, etc.). Write down all the ideas, then vote to choose a favorite or two. Once you’ve got the finalists, it’s time to take that first day class photo!

Class Name Paper Chain

Best For: Kindergarten–5th Grade

Give each student a strip of paper about 8 inches long and one inch wide. Have them write their name on the strip, then decorate it with markers, crayons, or colored pencils. Finally, have the class work together to glue or staple the strips into one long class paper chain, and hang it from your ceiling or over the whiteboard.

Class Time Capsule

Best For: Kindergarten-5th Grade

Give each student a notecard and ask them to write their name, plus one thing they hope to accomplish in the year ahead, and one thing about their first day of school they want to remember. Place all the cards into a box or jar, and open it to re-read all the cards on the last day of the school year!

Classmates Book

Best For: 1st–5th Grade

Use worksheets like the All About Me pages shown above, or have each student create their own page from scratch. Bind the pages together and make a cover for it, then pass it around so kids get to know each other. You can even scan in the pages to make a digital version to share with parents!

Class Call and Response Cheer

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

Call and response chants are a useful classroom tool. For instance, the teacher might say, “Macaroni and cheese!” The class responds, “Everybody freeze!” (And hopefully they do!) Ask your class to help you create a call and response cheer you can use just with them when you need their attention or want to pep them up. They’ll have fun coming up with all kinds of ideas—then take a vote to determine the winner.

First Day Crown

Best For: Preschool & Up

Cut simple pointed crown shapes from different colors of construction paper, and let students choose one. Have them write their name (or help younger students), then decorate using crayons, markers, stickers, or other art supplies.

Finally, staple each crown together, and take snapshots of each student on their first day.

Student Silly Hair Activity

Best For: Kindergarten & Up

Take pictures of each student and print them out. Glue them to a plastic cup, and fill the cup up 2/3 of the way with potting soil. Plant a few seeds, cover slightly with soil, water, and set in a sunny window. Watch as each students sprouts hair!

About Me Collage

Best For: 1st–5th Grade

Provide lots of old books, catalogs, or magazines and let kids cut out words and pictures that describe them. Then, they use their cuttings to create a collage, with their name in the middle. Use them as kids introduce themselves, or hang them on a bulletin board for students to look over later.

First Day Painted Pebbles

Best For: Preschool–5th Grade

You’ll need washed river rocks and paint markers or acrylic paints and brushes for this one. Ask each student to write their name on a rock and decorate it however they like. Display the rocks in a large bowl or jar. You can even start a huge collection of rocks in one container for all the students you’ve ever taught!

Tip: When you need pick a student at random, just stick your hand into the bowl!

Back-to-School Apple Craft

Best For: Preschool–Kindergarten

Trace a large apple onto cardstock, then glue red or green buttons inside the outline until it’s mostly filled. Add a stem and leaves with markers, and let the glue dry before displaying the finished apple craft.

Reading Activities

Read a favorite back-to-school picture book and invite students to predict what will happen, identify favorite characters, or retell the story through drawings or sequencing cards.

Math Warm-Ups

Practice counting, sorting, patterning, number recognition, or simple addition games using manipulatives, classroom objects, or interactive math centers.

Back to School Song

Younger students will especially enjoy being welcomed with this cute song. Learn to sing it together, and encourage them to share it with their families when they get home at the end of the day.

Book Tasting

Give students an introduction to the books on your classroom shelf with book tasting. Place books at various spots around your room, and give kids paper and pencil (a clipboard can be helpful). As they circulate the room and look over the books, ask them to write down the title and author, and make a few notes as to what the book is about and whether they think they’d like to read it.

One Word Goals

Words can be powerful things, and a unique way to set intentions for the year ahead. Ask each student to choose one word to describe their goals for the year ahead. Start by having them brainstorm lists, then narrow them down until they find one that’s exactly right for them.

STEM Challenges

Encourage students to work together to solve hands-on engineering challenges, such as designing a paper bridge, building the tallest block tower, or creating a structure that can support a small toy.

Writing Prompts

Invite students to draw and write about topics like “My Favorite Summer Memory,” “What I Want to Learn This Year,” or “If I Were the Teacher for a Day.” These prompts help teachers learn more about students while practicing early writing skills.

Science Observations

Try a few simple science experiments with kids working in pairs. Pick from our Plant Science Experiments or Science Experiments for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners.