30 First Day of School Activities for Elementary Students
The first day of school activities, you choose, sets the tone for everything that follows. Students are nervous, curious, and watching everything you do — and the right mix of icebreakers, community building, and creative activities can turn that anxious energy into something that actually works in your favor.
These are 30 first day of school activities for elementary classrooms that help students feel at home, learn each other’s names, and give you a real picture of who you’re working with this year.
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Icebreakers and Name Games for the First Day of School
The earlier students know each other’s names, the faster the classroom starts to feel like a community. These icebreakers are low-pressure, easy to run, and genuinely fun — even for students who are shy.
1. Beach Ball Icebreaker
Write questions on a beach ball with a permanent marker before the day starts. Sit in a circle, toss the ball, and whoever catches it answers any question visible on the ball before tossing it to someone else. It gets students talking without putting anyone too much on the spot. Works at every grade level. Grades K–5.
2. Just Like Me
Sit in a large circle. One student stands and shares something they did over the summer. Any student who did the same thing stands up and says “Just like me!” enthusiastically, then sits back down. Students quickly discover what they have in common, and the energy in the room picks up fast. Grades K–5.
3. Human Bingo / Find Someone Who
Give each student a bingo-style card with squares like “flew on an airplane” or “has a dog.” Students walk around the room, finding classmates who fit each square and writing their name in it. The first student to fill the whole board wins. This is also called Find Someone Who — you can grab a free version to use right away. Grades 1–5.
4. Two Truths and a Lie
Each student shares three “facts” about themselves — two true and one made up. The class guesses which one is the lie. Prepare for some creative answers and a lot of laughter. It’s also a good way for you to learn surprising things about your students early on. Grades 2–5.
5. Teacher Q&A
Let students ask you questions — favorite food, favorite color, favorite animal, anything they want to know. You can answer on the spot, or turn it into a quiz where they guess your answers first. Students love knowing something personal about their teacher, and it establishes right away that you’re a person, not just a classroom authority figure. Grades K–5.
6. Play a Name Game
Pick one name game and do it. Any of them. A classic: each student says their name and something they like that starts with the same letter (Marcus likes movies, Sarah likes soccer). Every time students hear each other’s names in a structured context, the names stick a little better. Here are 37 name games if you want options for different grade levels. Grades K–5.
Community Building Activities for Elementary Students
Community doesn’t happen automatically — it’s built deliberately, especially in those first days. These activities give students a shared experience to point back to all year.
7. Community Building Puzzle
Leave a puzzle piece and box of crayons on each desk before students arrive. When they walk in, they write their name and color every inch of the piece. Later in the day, the class assembles the puzzle together — and it becomes a bulletin board display titled something like “A Perfect Fit for a Perfect Year.” It’s a calm morning activity that gives you time to greet families at the door, and the finished puzzle stays up all year as a reminder that everyone belongs. Get the Community Building Puzzle here. Grades K–5.
8. Getting to Know You Small Group Craftivity
Break students into small groups and give each group paper shapes to cut out and decorate. Students complete sentence starters like “I feel appreciated when…” and share within their group. It’s a quiet, creative way for students to learn something real about the people they’re sitting with. Find the full activity here. Grades 1–5.
Getting to Know You Small Group Craftivity for Back-to-School
Help your students learn to work together as a team within their table groups. This folding person craftivity asks students to reflect on what they can do to effectively work with other students.
9. Classroom Cheer
Spend a few minutes at the end of the first day brainstorming a class cheer together. Students love contributing to something that belongs to the whole group, and you’ll use it all year to celebrate wins. Keep it simple, silly, and theirs. Grades K–5.
10. Start a Community Circle
A community circle is one of the most useful routines you can establish from day one. Students sit together, share ideas and feelings, and learn to listen to each other. Use it on the first day to introduce yourselves, talk about hopes for the year, or just decompress at the end of the day. The routine pays off all year long. Grades K–5.
Need ideas of questions you can ask your students? This post directs you to the right question for the right purpose.
11. Social Contract
Post four large papers around the room, each with a different question: How do I want to be treated by the teacher? By other students? How do I treat the teacher? How do we solve conflicts? Students write answers on sticky notes and place them on the posters. Then small groups sort the responses and identify the most common themes. The result becomes the class’s Social Contract — a set of expectations students helped create. Because they made it, they own it. Grades 3–5.
12. Class Mission Statement
Work with students to write a class mission statement or pledge they recite each morning. It connects naturally to student goal setting — once students define who they are as a class, they can set goals that align with it. Even younger students can contribute to a simple class promise. Grades 1–5.
13. What I Really Want to Learn
Put up a large piece of chart paper and have each student write one thing they genuinely want to learn this year. Read through the responses and look for opportunities to weave student interests into your curriculum throughout the year. Students notice when you follow through on this. Grades 1–5.
First Day of School Read-Alouds
A good read-aloud on the first day does double duty — it settles the class and opens up conversations about feelings, names, belonging, and community. These three are worth having on your shelf every year.
14. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
First Day Jitters is a perfect first-day read because the twist at the end catches students off guard and gets them talking. After reading, have students write you a letter with advice about why you shouldn’t be nervous. It gets them thinking about their own feelings while building empathy. Bonus: serve Jitter Juice alongside it for a memorable first morning. Grades K–3.
15. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
This one is a kindergarten and first grade staple for good reason — it speaks directly to the separation anxiety many young students feel. After reading, have students trace their hands, add a heart to the palm, and fold the fingers down. Send it home at the end of the day. It becomes a keepsake families genuinely appreciate. Grades K–1.
16. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
After reading, ask students to go home and find out how they got their name. Have them write about it as their first writing assignment of the year. Students learn something about themselves, share it with the class, and you get a piece of writing that tells you a lot about each student right away. Grades 2–5.
Creative Activities and Crafts for the First Day
Creative activities give students something to do with their hands, which is especially useful during the more anxious parts of the first day. These also produce keepsakes that mean something by the end of the year.
17. Back-to-School Bus Craftivity
This is a great end-of-day wind-down activity. Students complete a flap book where they tell about themselves, reflect on the first day, review the rules, and think about what makes a good classmate. It keeps students productively busy while giving you time to wrap up the day. Parents love taking it home. Get the Bus Craftivity Flap Book here. Grades K–3.
Bus Craftivity Flap Book for Back-to-School
Make back-to-school fun with this engaging flap book craftivity! Perfect for the first weeks of school, this resource helps students share about themselves, learn classroom expectations, and build community through writing and creativity.
18. Self-Portrait
Have students draw themselves on the first day. Keep the portraits and repeat the activity on the last day of school. The comparison between August and June is always striking — both in drawing ability and in how much older students look. Display the first-day portraits in the hallway to welcome visitors to your classroom. Grades K–5.
19. Dear Me Letter
Ask students to write a letter to their future self about what they’re hoping for this year, what they’re nervous about, or how they’re feeling right now. Seal the letters and return them on the last day of school. Students are always amazed at how much their handwriting changed — and how much they’ve grown. Grades 2–5.
20. When I Grow Up
Ask students what they want to be when they grow up — and actually listen. You’ll hear answers that surprise you, and you can use those dreams to make personal connections throughout the year. (“Didn’t you say you wanted to be a marine biologist? We’re studying ecosystems this week — pay attention to this part.”) Grades K–5.
21. Name Tags and Labels
Let students write their own names and decorate a border on name cards for their desks or cubbies. Laminate them for durability. It’s a simple activity that gives students ownership over their space from day one. Grades K–5.
22. Photo Keepsake
Take a photo of each student on the first day and again on the last day. Share the side-by-side comparison at the end of the year — it’s one of those moments students and families genuinely love. If photos aren’t logistically easy, a self-portrait drawing (see #18) works just as well. Grades K–5.
23. Kindness Quilt
Give each student a square of fabric or heavy paper to decorate with kind words and drawings. Assemble the squares into a class quilt and display it in the room all year. It becomes a visual anchor for classroom community and a reminder of what students built together on day one. Grades 1–5.
Exploring the Classroom on the First Day of School
Students who know where things are and how the space works feel safer. These activities turn the classroom itself into content.
24. Classroom and School Tour
Walk students through the classroom first — where supplies live, what areas are just for them, what areas are yours. Then take them on a tour of the school: bathrooms, gym, cafeteria, computer lab. For new students especially, this reduces anxiety about basic logistics. If your social studies standards include maps, this is also a natural hook for a mapping unit. Grades K–2 especially.
25. Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Turn the classroom tour into a scavenger hunt. Give students a list of things to find or questions to answer about the room and school. They can work independently or in pairs. It’s active, it’s social, and students learn the space without it feeling like a lecture. Grades 1–5.
26. Sticky Note Survey
Draw a large bar graph on chart paper. Ask a survey question (“What’s your favorite season?” “How do you get to school?”) and have each student place a sticky note in the correct column. Change the question throughout the day. Students love the interactivity, and you can naturally weave in math concepts like data and graphing — which makes it a genuine lesson, not just a filler. Grades K–5.
27. STEM Challenge
A well-designed STEM challenge on the first day does exactly what you want: it gets students working together, problem-solving, and talking — before they’ve had time to feel awkward about any of it. It also signals right away that your classroom is a place where curiosity is valued. Grades 2–5.
Here are 10 back-to-school STEM challenges designed specifically for the first week.
Classroom Procedures and Expectations
The best first-day activities mean nothing if students don’t know how to function in your classroom. Weave procedures throughout the day — don’t save them for one long block.
28. Teach and Practice Classroom Procedures
Don’t skip this. It’s the most important thing you do on the first day. Go slowly through every routine that matters — how to get the teacher’s attention, how to work with a partner, how to transition between activities. Model the right way, model the wrong way, then model the right way again. Have students practice. Have them practice again. The investment pays off every single day for the rest of the year. Grades K–5.
29. Discuss Student and Teacher Roles
Talk with students about what they expect from you and what you expect from them. Anchor charts that define “what a good student does” and “what a good teacher does” make expectations concrete and give students agency. This connects naturally to goal setting activities you can introduce in the first week. Grades 1–5.
Do students know what their classroom roles are, how to make friends, and how their parents can help them at home? Teach it during the first week of school.
30. One-on-One Time With Each Student
This one isn’t dramatic, but it matters. Find a few moments throughout the day to connect individually with each student — when you’re handing out supplies, during independent work time, or at the door. Say their name. Ask one genuine question. Jot a quick note on a sticky note so you remember. By the end of the first day, you’ll have a richer picture of your class than any first-day activity can give you on its own. Grades K–5.
Building Your First-Day Plan With These Activities
You don’t need all 30 of these first day of school activities for elementary students in one day. Pick 4 to 6 that fit your grade level and your students, and plan more than you think you’ll need. The first day rarely goes exactly as expected — having extra in your back pocket means you’re never scrambling. Mix community building with procedures, creative work with movement, and you’ll end the day with students who feel like they belong in your classroom.
Looking for ready-made resources to use on day one? The Community Building Puzzle, Getting to Know You Small Group Craftivity, and Back-to-School Bus Craftivity are all designed for K–5 and ready to use the moment students walk in.
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I always talk about goals with my students, and then take pictures with them holding a sign that says it is the 1st day of 2nd grade, and what they want to be when they grow up. We see how it changes throughout the year!
Another thing I do is read the book “The Name Jar” and then send home an activity for them to do with their families so they can find out how they got their name. It turns into our first writing assignment of the year, and is always exciting to learn about each of my students. They also really love this and remember it, and refer back to it many times throughout the year!
On the first day of school I always have students share what they feel will make our year the most successful, what they’ll need from me as their teacher, what they’ll need to contribute as a student, and what they’ll need from their classmates. This is a very good segway into expectations, and we start building a sense of community right away.
I always take a tour of the school on the first day!! It’s so cute when the kids walk through the cafeteria with their pretend lunch trays and lunch boxes! 🙂
I share the book “First Day Jitters” and serve the class jitter juice
I always like to talk about expectations and I plan to read first day jitters and schools first day of school. Always like to show they aren’t the only ones who get nervous.
I always read The Kissing Hand and practice routines with my new kinders!
As a reading specialist my first day is spent helping parents and students get to the right classrooms, helping classroom teachers and meetings to prepare for the beginning of the year assessments. On my first day with students I go over procedures and get to know them as readers.
I always read First Day Jitters and the kids draw a picture of themselves on the first day of school. I have them try and write about how they felt on their way to school that day.
One first thing I always do is tell my students how important and special they are and let them know tgat I chose them to be in my classroom. This helps establish a “family” environment for all of them.
On the first day of school I like to do a “Getting to Know Me” and a “Getting to Know my Classroom” scoot around the room. My students really seem to enjoy these scoots and the interaction that it creates. Oh, and the “Grand” conversations afterwards is priceless.
I always read “You’re Finally Here!” and have students share something they did during the summer while I was waiting for them. I also make time for students to draw a picture of themselves on the first day.
On the first day of school, I always have the K4 parents and kids help me fill out the “who’s going where?” sheet. It lets me know who are the pick up people and if they are bus, pick up or after school care. Then we take a picture of the child and pick up person together for a card for the sub, if the child is a busser we hold up my bus sign with number and take a picture and if they are after school care we have a panther(our mascot) and a picture. All the cards get laminated and put in a binder ring to hang by the door. It helps me the first few weeks and any subs in my class with pick up. If a child is more than one thing on different days I label the back of the card with the days of the week. Then I can use a dry erase marker to mark the cards for those “parent note” days of changes.
I have always wanted to play a super fun game that the students would talk about at home and help them look forward to being in class.
One thing we always do on the first day of school is learn our rules, routines, and expectations. We have lessons in them, role play, and even play a Kahoot to make sure we have them completely ingrained in us. Makes the rest of the year sooooo much better!
I try to have a one on one discussion with each student. I get on their level, look them in the eye, and try very hard to make a real connection with what they are saying. I want them to go home the first day knowing that I will listen and really do care about them!
On the first day of school, we always have a huge school wide first day event, where the teachers plan different activities for students to participate in, such as a hike or bike ride, rock climbing and zumba. We have a great day and the principal helps cook a BBQ for everyone to enjoy!
On the first day of school my 4th graders will draw a picture of a person or animal and we will talk about “what a friend is”. I will show them my what a friend is” poster and they will then label their drawing either copying mine or putting it in their own words.
I always do a Pete the Cat school tour. It is a great way to show the students around our school and they LOVE finding notes from Pete. At the end Pete leaves us a special treat in our room.
I always tell them how excited I am to be their teacher, and have them complete an “All About Me” page to help me get to know them. It also gives a quick assessment of their writing ability.
One thing I always do on there first day is read “First Day Jitters” and talk about how we are feeling about being at school, figuring out what they would like to learn this year and just do an overall temperature check.
I always have my students take a quiz about me to introduce myself. I am a math teacher so all the answers are numbers. After each slide I give them the correct answer and give them details about the question. An example is How many states have I lived in? The answer is 8 states and then I tell about each state I lived in and when. The students enjoy the quiz and we all have some fun with it. I also have an entrance ticket where they have to write down one thing they know about me (before we take the quiz) and then an exit ticket that allows them to ask me something they still want to know about me. Finally, their homework for the first week is to fill in a Who I Am sheet so I can get to know them.
I always take their picture and hang them on my door in little IPhones with the #firstsay!
I always do an All About Me activity with the kids.
I begin the school year by introducing myself to the students. Then, each student shares information about themselves. We spend the rest of the day practicing procedures, including how to wash their hands.
I’ve always left a letter I have written to them and at the end I ask them to write me back and answer specific questions.
On the first day of school I always have my first graders draw self portraits. They can use google eyes for their eyes. They love that! I display them in the hall with a poster in the shape of a crayon box that says, “Introducing Mrs. Pierce’s Pack!”.
On the first day of school I share my owl Oliver with my class and we talk about wise and unwise choices.
I always tell them how happy I am that I get to be their teacher!
We love taking our back to school pictures then circle up for introductions & procedures.
I always have my students make a kindergarten crown!
I always play some team building games with my students. It helps the kids to learn each other’s names, form bonds and it creates a conversation starter for the playground.
Every year I take first day of school picture of the class & then put it in a frame that sits on a shelf next to a picture of my family.
One thing I always do on the first day of school is create classroom expectations with my students.
On the first day of school, I have my students fill out a learning styles inventory to find out what their learning style is. Then, I have them create a name tent on card stock (folded horizontally). On one side they write their name in the middle, on the top left they write their learning style, on the top right a career the student would like to have, on the bottom left, three words that describe the student, and on the bottom right an interesting fact about themselves. On the back of the nameplate, the students divide it into four sections where they write goals every nine weeks. This name tent is kept in their binder and is used all year. These name tents can also be used when there is a sub instead of nametags.
Tbis is my second year teaching. The one thing I did last year was say hello to every student at the door. I started it last year on the first day and continued it every day. I plan on doing it again this year! The students loved that little bit of positivity and it always started the day off right!!
One of the books I always read on the first day is Jack’s Talent by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. I take the kids’ pictures holding a frame that says “Official First Grader” in big glitter letters. Near the end of the day, they draw a picture on a “first day” page. Some write a little, some dictate to me. I give these papers back on the last day of school. They are always amazed at how much more they can do!
One thing I always do on the first day of school is send home a note to parents asking for their input about their child. I leave it open ended saying something like ” please tell me anything you would like me to know about… most parents give me good incite to kids background etc.
I always wake up really, really early. I always greet each child as they enter the classroom and let them know that I’m excited to be their teacher.
Read a book and smile!
I always read Bucket Filler books and talk about ways we can fill each others’ buckets. As a contrast I read Yertle the Turtle and we discuss how he is a bucket dumper. I also play Bingo with student names to help us get familiar seeing names in print.
Today..he first day of school…we read First day Jitters. I love read alouds! Wendy 1stgradefireworks
One thing I always do is have my students fill out a list of their favorite things, then sharing what they wrote. They are surprised by how much they have in common and I get to learn a lot about them as well!
One thing that I always do is go over my classroom expectations so that the students know how I will hold them accountable, but also so students and parents know how they can expect to hold me accountable as well.
This is my first year teaching. One thing I want to make a yearly tradition is having the students create an “all about me” page to hangup on our hallway display.
I am a Spanish teacher.I always start the first day playing Spanish music (usually ABBA’s Dancing Queen in Spanish) as the students come in along with a power point seating chart with their names and assigned numbered seats moving around on the smart board. It periodically stops , they listen to the music and it starts up again. It starts the class with a smile from everyone. They can hear the music down the hall so it makes them excited to come in and see what is going on. I then give a smart board presentation with some Spanish memes as to what we will be doing throughout the year. We have shortened periods the first day, so the teaching period goes very fast.
One thing I started last year that I plan to do again this year is an interactive science all about me with questions on a beach ball.
Every year on the first day of school I play get to know you games and the name game.
One thing I plan to do on the first day is have the students tell of what they think the school year is going to be. Then at the end of the year have them recap how the year was and compare to what they said on the first day.
On the first day of school I always play a game right away. I just call it “The Name Game”. The first student says his/her name and says something he likes to do while acting it out. For example, a student would say, “My name is Shannon and I like to lay basketball.” The student would act out shooting a basketball hoop and the rest of the class would follow. Then, the next student says the previous students name, what that student likes to do (while acting it out) and follow the same routine for herself. This continues until the last person in the circle says everyone’s names and what they like to do. I usually follow up with a quick writing activity about themselves.
I always take a first day photo. This is used as the background on each students’ iPad, their lunch choice magnet, etc. I love taking one at the end of the year so they can compare and see how much they’ve grown.