40 Fun First Day of School Activities & Games

Classmate Bingo

Kids always get a kick out of this one, and it gets them chatting in no time. Each person gets a Bingo card, then circulates the room, looking for someone who fits the description in each square.

When they find a person, they write in their name. Offer small prizes for those who get rows across, down, or diagonally, or just challenge students to fill in all their squares before time is up.

Would You Rather Icebreaker Questions

Print these questions and pass them out. Then have students mingle, asking their classmates Would You Rather questions and circling each classmate’s answer, hopefully giggling and getting to know each other along the way.

Alternatively, read the questions aloud to the class, having students raise their hands to indicate which Would You Rather option they prefer. 

All About Me Worksheets

These are such an easy way to help students get to know one another, and they make it easier for quieter kids to share information about themselves.

There are two versions of the All About Me printable, and one called All About My Friend that kids can complete in pairs.

Back to School Coloring Pages

Our free printable coloring pages are perfect as a bell ringer as students get settled in, or for kids to work on quietly as teachers handle first day paperwork and administrative tasks.

They make terrific keepsakes for kids to take home at the end of the day, too! 

Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Help students familiarize themselves with your classroom with this fun first day of school printable! As students work out the simple riddles, they write in the answers, then locate the items found around their new learning environment. (Answer Key here)

Back to School Word Searches

With versions for beginner, intermediate, and challenge levels, these free printables provide an easy activity for any elementary grade. Tip: Use the words in the searches as vocabulary words for your first week!

Pre-K and Kindergarten Back to School Worksheets

There are lots of activities here to keep little ones engaged and busy over the first few days. You’ll find matching, tracing … even a school bus maze! 

First Day Photo Signs

Make your first day of school photos even more special with our selection of signs! Some of them are designed as coloring pages, so kids can work on decorating them however they like before you take their picture.

Investigate the Teacher

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

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

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.

Two Truths and a Lie

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!

Lines and Blobs

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

Emoji Name Tags

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.

Classmate Name Tags

Students work in pairs. First, they interview each other, asking icebreaker questions to get to know each other. (Teachers can provide a list to guide the conversation.) Then, each person makes a name tag for the other, decorating it to show what they’ve learned. Finally, the pairs introduce each other to the whole class and explain the name tag choices.

Find Your Match

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

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).

This Year, I Want To

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 to talk about what the year ahead has in store.

Classroom Rules Brainstorming

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

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

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!

Classmates Book

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 Group Photo

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

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, glue or staple the strips into one long class paper chain, and hang it from your ceiling or over the whiteboard.

Class Time Capsule

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!

Class Quilt

Give each student a square of cardstock with holes punched evenly around the edges, and ask them to write their name and decorate it any way they like. When all the cards are returned, “stitch” them together with yarn to create a class “quilt” to hang and display.

Class Call and Response Cheer

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

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.

Silly Student Plant Hair

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.

About Me Collage

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.

Photo Frame Prop

Use a piece of cardboard or foam poster board to make a large photo frame prop students can hold up to frame their face. Write the teacher’s name, grade, and the year across the top. Then, invite small groups of students to gather around the frame and add designs and decorations with markers or other supplies. When their masterpiece is done, take some amazing first day photos of each student!

First Day Painted Rocks

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!

Storytime With Back to School Books

Choose your first-day read-alouds intentionally to send a message to your students. Whether you want to reassure nervous kids, make them laugh, or celebrate the diversity in your classroom, you’re bound to find something you love on our list of 60 back to school books.

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.

Math About Me

Ask kids to come up with a series of number-related facts about themselves. Prepare your own example to introduce yourself, then give them time to list facts like:

• This summer I went to 8 baseball games.

• I am 7 years old.

• I have 2 sisters and 1 brother, a total of 3 siblings.

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.

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.

First Day Exit Ticket

To get a better sense of how the first day went, have students complete exit tickets before they leave. Here are a few easy ideas.

• Ask students to write their name on a sticky note, along with one word about how they feel at the end of the day and/or an emoji to describe their experience.
• Give a short writing prompt: “My favorite thing about my first day of school was …”
• Have students rate their first day of school experience on a scale of 1 to 5, and write a short sentence explaining their answer.