The most important thing to do those first few weeks back to school is to teach your students the rules and expectations for your classroom. Laying a strong foundation of classroom teamwork, respect, and understanding will pave the way for a productive and enjoyable year for everyone. See the reference articles at the end of this post for ideas and free printables.
Plan to incorporate simple activities such as ice breakers and creative writing opportunities into your classroom routines. Be explicit in your directions and model each expectation you have.
While you’re introducing your classroom routines, include some of these fun activities to get to know your students.
1. Who Am I Ice Breaker
Write down animal names on sticky notes. Each note should have one name on it. Tape one note to each student’s back without them seeing it. Have students work together to try and guess the animal they are wearing using yes or no questions. Other students will be able to read the card. (For non-readers, post an image with the word written underneath. This game shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes.)
2. First Week of School Team Building (for grades 1–6)
Choose from four different interactive games (primary and intermediate grades) that help your students practice classroom expectations while getting to know one another.
3. All About Me: Center Activity (for grades PreK–K)
Review the 5 senses with your students, then have them work with a partner on this matching center activity. (Possible read-aloud: I Hear a Pickle: and Smell, See, Touch, & Taste It, Too! by Rachel Isadora)
4. Pocket Book: One of a Kind (for grades 1–3)
Delight your parents on back-to-school night with a booklet about each student! This hands-on activity is a simple and fun way for students to introduce themselves to you and ease the stress on the first day of school.
5. Logical Thinking Activity (for grades 3–4)
This activity is perfect for those 10 minutes you have to fill after an assembly or before lunch break. Give students practice with this imaginative invention activity.
6. Logical Thinking Activity (for grades 5–6)
Put students into groups and solve this fun bug trivia puzzle to exercise their critical and creative thinking.
7. Whale Writing Prompt and Whale Bulletin Board (for grades 1–3)
Match your writing paper to your bulletin board with this whale-themed writing paper and bulletin board. Have students write about what they did over the summer for your first writing sample.
8. Draw Then Write Whale Theme (for grades 1–3)
This quiet activity is the perfect way to get students writing again without stressing them out. The fun pictures make the activity entertaining while students practice their writing.
9. Beach Ball Ice Breaker 
Using a blow-up beach ball and a permanent marker, write down questions for students to answer. Practice throwing the ball around and having students answer the question that their right thumb lands on. Possible questions could include:
- What is my favorite food?
- What is the best thing I did this summer?
- What am I really good at?
- Who is my hero?
10. Creative Writing Cartoons (for grades 2–4)
Get samples of your students’ writing with these fun cartoon characters!
Take the time to establish your classroom behavior expectations even if it comes at the expense of other learning activities. You will always be able to catch up on your pacing guide, but you can never get those first few weeks of training back. Be sure to include team-building activities that encourage students to get to know one another and work together to build a positive classroom environment.
For more back-to-school ideas check out these reference articles:
Under the Sea Classroom Theme and Activities for the First Day of School
Strategies for Teaching Social and Emotional Learning: Create a Classroom of Superheroes!
Survival Tips for the First Day of School
Check out our Back-to-School Pinterest Board for more lesson ideas!
Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike.