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Back to School Activities for Elementary Students in 2025

These back to school activities are very popular at the start of the school year. They provide fun and engaging learning experiences to help you kick off the new school year with your class. Check out all of the back to school activities below!

back to school activities

15 Back to School Activities

Below are our favorite back to school activities.

1. Back to School Activity Packet

This Back to School Activity Packet is filled with fun and engaging activities students love like a directed drawing writing activity, word search, and crossword puzzle! These activities can be used as center activities, homework, fast finisher tasks, filler activities, or indoor recess activities. Learn more about this print-and-go resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

back to school worksheets

2. Back to School Reading Comprehension Activities

These Back to School Reading Comprehension Activities offer engaging, meaningful practice to greatly improve your 1st-5th grade students’ reading and writing skills. Each of the reading graphic organizers included in this set can be used over and over and with ANY back to school book you choose. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

3. Back to School Classroom Decor

This Back to School Classroom Decor Bundle is 100% editable, printable, and digital and can be used by any kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th-grade teacher. Some examples of items included in this back-to-school decor bundle are desk nameplates, word wall cards, growth mindset posters, labels, and binder covers. It even includes Google Classroom headers and slides that can be used for special events like your open house or curriculum night. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

4. First Day of School Photo Frame

The first day of school is very special for students and their families. One way to commemorate the special day is to take first day of school pictures of your students. This First Day of School Photo Frame is a fun prop for these first day pictures. It includes directions and printables to help you create a DIY photo frame. These photos paired with the writing activities included in this resource make for a great back to school bulletin board display. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

5. All About Me Bag Activity

The beginning of the school year is for getting to know your students, helping them to get to know each other, and to begin building a classroom community. One of my favorite ways to do this is through an All About Me Bag Activity. An All About Me Bag is an activity where students decorate a bag and put one item that represents them in it. The teacher can fill a bag too. Each person shows the items in a show-and-tell fashion. Students are able to make connections with you and their peers based on what they included in their bag. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

6. First Day of School Play Dough Activities

These Back to School Play Dough Activities are a great way to start the first day of school. Having a small baggy of play dough at each child’s seat will give them something to do at a time when they don’t have a clue what to do in their new room. Unlike a paper and pencil task, which may create anxiety in some students, ALL children can use play dough without assistance. Play dough really is the best way to start the first day of school! Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

7. Classroom Procedures and Routines Resource

This Classroom Procedures and Routines resource is a must-have for back to school. Teaching procedures and routines in the elementary classroom is the most effective method of classroom management. Classroom procedures and routines are the systematic ways that you and your students repeatedly complete daily, weekly, or monthly tasks. Having these is how the classroom runs efficiently and effectively. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

8. Back to School Reading Passages and Comprehension Questions

This Back to School Non-Fiction Reading Unit is designed to engage students in non-fiction reading while helping them develop essential literacy skills. It includes leveled reading passages, vocabulary activities, discussion prompts, and writing tasks to meet the diverse needs of students. With a teaching guide, comprehension check-ins, and reusable resources, this unit provides a comprehensive and engaging approach to learning about friendship while building key reading and writing skills. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

9. Back to School Gift for Students to Give Their Families

This Back to School Gift is a wonderful way to ring in the new school year with your elementary students. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

10. Back to School Would You Rather Activities

These Back to School Would You Rather Activities include prompts where students are given two options to choose from. They are a great way to increase engagement in your classroom whether it’s during your morning meeting or literacy centers. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

11. Back to School Parts of Speech Activity

This Back to School Parts of Speech Activity is a fun and engaging task that invites students to practice identifying the parts of speech of thematic words like teacher, focus, and happy. It’s a quick print and go activity you can have printed on your desk whenever you have 15-20 minutes to fill. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

12. Back to School Icebreaker Activities

These Back to School Icebreaker Activities are a great way for students to get to know each other at the beginning of the school year. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

13. Back to School Book Activities

These Back to School Book Activities are a fun and engaging way to celebrate the start of a new school year. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

14. Back to School Teacher Binder Printables

These Back to School Teacher Binder Printables will help you start the school year feeling confident and prepared. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

15. Back to School All About Me Booklets

These Back to School All About Me Booklets are designed to make the first week of school easier for teachers and provide students with a memorable keepsake. It includes a variety of activities such as a self-portrait, “All About Me” poster, and “Things I Want to Learn” that students can complete independently, making it ideal for filler tasks or fast finishers. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!

kindergarten all about me booklet 1st grade all about me booklet all about me booklet
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all about me bag all about me booklet all about me booklet
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Back to School Activities

Check out all of our back to school activities below!

back to school worksheets back to school reading comprehension activities back to school non-fiction unit back to school gift for students
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back to school book companion bundle All About Me Bag kindergarten all about me booklet 1st grade all about me booklet
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all about me booklet all about me bag all about me booklet all about me booklet
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In closing, we hope you found this list of back to school activities helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these other related posts:

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