Easy Back to School Activities for the First Day of School

While this feels like it has been the longest summer ever (thanks to weeks of 100-degree-plus temperatures), it always kind of takes me by surprise when it’s back to school time. The good news is a lot of smart people have come up with good getting to know you and first day of school activities that you can use in the classroom if you haven’t had time to plan something.

This collaborative poster idea from Top Teaching Tasks is a fun way for kids to share a little something about themselves in words or pictures and make a visual representation of how the classroom comes together to make a whole unit.

For younger kids you can download name coloring pages from Stevie Doodles, which has free printable coloring pages of thousands of names. (You could make your own in a similar style for anyone with a more unusual name.)

Inspired Elementary has a fun 3D all about me activity where kids can draw their face and include information on their favorites, goals and other information on a flip page. (This is a paid resource but you can read about it on their website.)

The Imagination Box has a bunch of cool paid all about me templates that older kids will like, with themes like cell phones, sneakers and hoodies.

Digging Deeper Teaching Resources has a fun about me writing prompt activity that involves Skittles and writing down particular things based on the colors of the candies they receive (you can use fun packs or make your own to ensure that everyone gets at least one of each color). Example: write about a hobby for each green Skittle. I’m sharing this one even though it doesn’t look like the printable writing planner is still there because you can probably come up with ideas for kids to write about on your own.

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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