Finding first day of school activities that fit your teaching style and your students is an important element in setting the tone for the year. The first day and the first week of school is a time to build connections, establish routines, and create a welcoming environment. For teachers of grades 3-6, it’s crucial to find activities that are both fun and engaging, while also helping students feel comfortable and excited about the school year ahead.
1. Add Name Bingo to your first day of school activities
Name Bingo is a classic icebreaker that’s perfect for the first day of school. Create bingo cards filled with different characteristics or hobbies (e.g., “has a pet,” “plays a sport,” “loves pizza”). As students circulate and find classmates who match the descriptions, they’ll start getting to know each other in a relaxed, playful way.
2. Classroom Scavenger Hunt
A Classroom Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic way to help students familiarize themselves with their new environment. Create a list of items or areas for students to find, such as the pencil sharpener, class library, or bulletin board. This activity gets students moving and comfortable with the layout of the room, making it easier for them to navigate throughout the year.
Another take on the Classroom Scavenger Hunt is to set out objects that relate to things students will learn this year. Make them intriguing…like a fossil to introduce your study of archaeology or a picture book on saber-tooth tigers to discuss extinction. Students pair up with a clipboard and a sheet with questions about each station. This may take 2 days, and that’s just fine. Make sure to have a quiet activity for those who finish early. Find Color by Code pages here. These work perfectly.
3. All About Me Posters
Invite your students to create “All About Me” posters as a Getting to Know You activity. Provide them with templates or blank paper and have them fill in sections about their favorite things, family, and hobbies. This activity not only helps classmates learn about each other but also creates personalized decor for your classroom. Find a fresh version of the All About Me Poster here. And if you want another twist, here are All About Me brochures.
4. Two Truths and a Lie (Fib)
Two Truths and a Lie is a simple, fun game that encourages students to share interesting facts about themselves. Each student thinks of two true statements and one false one. The class then guesses which statement is the lie, sparking conversation and curiosity. The teacher might want to start so that students have an example of what to do and how to not tell a lie that’s so exaggerated it’s obvious.
5. Team-Building Towers
Divide the class into small groups and give each team a set of building materials (e.g., straws, tape, marshmallows). Challenge them to build the tallest tower they can in a set amount of time. This activity promotes teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills, setting the stage for collaborative learning throughout the year.
6. Classmate Interviews
I love Classmate Interviews because they are a great Getting to Know You activity that allows students to pair up and learn more about each other. Provide them with a list of questions to ask their partner, such as “What’s your favorite food?” or “Do you have any hobbies?” After the interviews, each student introduces their partner to the class, creating a sense of community from day one.
7. The Fridge
I love this one, and you can use it all year. Students bring in photos of their families and pets; they present them and put them on our “fridge” door (closet). They can rotate them and have a little bit of home at school, and we get to know about each other!
8. Personalized Name Tags
On the first day of school, have students create personalized name tags that reflect their interests. Provide materials like markers, stickers, and colored paper. This simple activity allows students to express themselves creatively and helps you and their classmates learn their names quickly.
9. Getting to Know You Ball Toss
The Getting to Know You Ball Toss is an interactive way to help students share fun facts about themselves. Write questions on a beach ball, such as “What’s your favorite animal?” or “What’s your dream vacation?” Students toss the ball around the room, answering the question their thumb lands on when they catch it. It’s even more fun if you have kids sit ON their desks during the toss, or create a large circle with chairs or desks for the ball toss.
10. Read Alouds
Pick powerful books to read aloud the first day of school. Some favorite teacher recommendations include the following: What If Everyone Did That?, What If Everyone Said That?, Enemy Pie, The Dot, Spider School, Thank You, Mr. Falker, How I Spent My Summer Vacation, & more. Have a conversation about the book as a means of creating background information and setting some shared goals.
11. Classroom Rules Charades
Introduce your classroom rules in a fun and engaging way by playing charades. Write each rule on a piece of paper, and let students act them out while the rest of the class guesses. This activity reinforces expectations in a playful manner and helps students internalize the rules.
12. First Day of School Photo Booth
Set up a simple photo booth with props related to the first day of school. Have students take turns posing with signs like “3rd Grade Rocks!” or “Ready for a Great Year!” These photos can be printed and used in a bulletin board display or added to a keepsake album.
Starting the school year with these fun and engaging Back to School Activities will help your students feel welcome, connected, and excited about learning. Each of these activities is designed to build a positive classroom environment while making the first day of school an enjoyable experience for everyone.
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I’m teaming up with my blogging friends to bring you even more great ideas! Check out these posts!
Lots of great ideas Marcy! We did something similar where kids worked in teams of 5 with one rubber band and five strings to stack six cups into a tower- no hands. They had so much fun!
Great first week of back-to-school activities. These ideas sound like a lot of fun!
Thank you, Michelle. They are tried and true!