Back to School Lesson Plans and Activities
ACTIVITIES FOR:
This indicates resources located on The Teacher's Corner.
Bulletin Board Ideas Grades Various
Find great ideas. Also visit the August page!
Back to School Journal & Activity Pages
FREE printable Back to School journal & activity pages! (PDF format)
Printable Back to School Crossword Puzzle
Create your own Crossword or use our premade word/clue list.
Back to School Word Search
Create your own or use our word list.
Printable Back to School Match-up Worksheets
Create your printable worksheet from your own matchups or use our premade lists.
Printable Back to School Word Scramble
Create your own or use our word list.
Back to School Printable Worksheets
Check out our large selection of "make your own" and "premade" worksheets!
Supply Labels
Advise parents to put labels with the child's name and address on all personal belongings they bring from home. There are places online to buy personalized sticker labels.
Submitted by: Jason
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
ACTIVITIES FOR: ANY GRADE
Be sure to check out our extensive Printable Worksheets and Activities!
Assembly Themes Grades K-8
Here are several "Welcome Back" themes that can be used in a school assembly.
Submitted by: Theresa Youssef
Be Careful With Your Words Grades Any
Help students understand the importance of thinking before they speak.
Submitted by: Anna XannaRod@email-removed
Bulletin Boards
Don't forget to check out the bulletin board pages.
First Week Homework Grades Any
A great way to get parents involved in the new year.
Submitted by: folsterj@email-removed
"Get to Know Your Class" Scavenger Hunt Grades Any
Help your parents and students become familiar with the classroom.
Submitted by: Eileen SEWREADIT@email-removed
Me In A Bag Grade Any
A fun way for students to not only learn about you, but to also learn about each other.
Submitted by: Jan Formisano , a second grade teacher in Falls Church, Virginia. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
Parental Expectations Grades Any
This is a great way for parents to share their concerns and expectations with you.
Submitted by: Patti Donnelly pattid@email-removed , a second and third grade teacher at Ephesus Elementary School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
"Pass the Toilet Paper" Ice-breaker Grades Any
This can be an amusing first day activity. It also helps your students learn more about each other.
Submitted by: HALARADA@email-removed
Personalized Plates Grades Any
This is a great activity for the beginning of school that can be displayed for an open house.
Submitted by: Sue Schmitt sschmitt@email-removed , an English teacher at Antioch Community High School in Antioch, Illinois. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
Reading & Math Text Grades Any
This are hand-on activities to allow students to review upcoming concepts and do quick assessments.
Submitted by: folsterj@email-removed
Rules Grade Any
Get your students off on the right foot.
Submitted by: Theresa Youssef
Social Studies Text Review Grades Any
An activity to help get your students familiar with their text books, as well as to complete a KWL.
Submitted by: folsterj@email-removed
Student Name & Photo Cards
Learn student names easily and have a resource for the entire year.
Submitted by: Jean Carpenter gren_carpent@email-removed
ABCTeach Grades Various
Visit this site to take advantage of their Back-to-School Thematic Unit.
Submitted by: Sandy
edHelper.com
Another great back-to-school resource!
Education World
Fourteen Great Activities for the First Days of School! Grades Any
First Day Activities Grades All
Find helpful activities for various grade levels.
Getting to Know You Grades 1-6
This activity will help children quickly get to know one another and set up an atmosphere for learning.
Ice Breaker: Blanket Name Game Grades All
This activity will help students learn the names of their classmates.
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
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ACTIVITIES FOR: PRIMARY GRADES (K-3)
Apple Half Name Tags Grade K-2
A creative way for students to start the first day of school.
Submitted by: Kathie
Days of the Week Grade K-1
A colorful and creative way to help your young students learn the days of the week.
Submitted by: Stacie Apool37253@email-removed , Niantic,CT - Voluntown Elementary School
The Gingerbread Theme
Read stories and eat the gingerbread man!
Submitted by: Shelley Thornton, Gastonia NC, sthor7741@email-removed
Growth Grades K-2
Start creating this parent keepsake on the first day of school.
Submitted by: Roxie Ross , a first grade teacher at Napier Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
"Seasons" ... Ideas for a thematic unit Grades K-2
Look at several ideas for Seasons.
Submitted by: Krista , Pam, and Barbara
Respect Grades 1-4
Set a positive tone in your classroom early.
Submitted by: Jenni, 2nd Grade in CA Justa70@email-removed
Variety of "First Day Activities" Grades Early Elementary
Here is a collection of various activities.
Submitted by: Beth Axogirl229@email-removed
Back to School Theme Grades PreK-K
Great ideas for younger students.
Thematic Unit on Seasons Grades K-3
Visit this web site for a complete thematic unit.
Watermelon Theme Grades K-3
Visit these sites if you are interested in starting your year off with a watermelon theme.
- National Watermelon Association
- Watermelon Bookmarks
- Addie's Wonderful Watermelon Unit Grade K-1
- The Enormous Watermelon Grade K-1
A fun site with Art, Math, Group Work and Class Books.
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
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ACTIVITIES FOR: INTERMEDIATE GRADES (4-6)
Hollywood Grades 4-7
A fun and unique icebreaker activity.
Submitted by: Jackie Jaros - Deer Lakes Middle School, Grade 6 - Russellton, PA
Ramona Book Unit
Find various units to start off your reading program.
Respect
See the lesson on respect above.
Star Spangled Banner Grade 4-6
A fun first day activity to celebrate the birthday of Francis Scott Key.
Submitted by: Theresa Youssef
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
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ACTIVITIES FOR: TEACHER RESOURCES
Back-to-School Kit
Make this fun and easy survival kit for any educator in your life.
Class Autobiographies
Are you having a student teacher this year? If so, this is a great "welcome" idea.
Submitted by: Claudia Pitchford w9ebk@email-removed , an education student at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Education Association Student Program Public Relations Coordinator in Springfield, Illinois. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
ClassroomDirect.com
Discount School Supplies Superstore.
Forms & Checklists
Find printable first-day and student info. checklists.
FREE Software!
LatticeWork Software is giving away its latest version of Roxie's ABC Fish for free! Visit to download.
Welcoming New Teachers
A great way to welcome new educators to your building.
Submitted by: EDUCATURS@email-removed , a mentor teacher at Fallbrook Union Elementary in Fallbrook, California. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
ACTIVITIES FOR: LITERATURE
(T) = Teacher Resource
(S) = Student Book
A First-Year Teacher's Guidebook, 2nd Ed. (T)
by Bonnie Williamson
Arthur's Back to School Day : Level 2 (An I Can Read Book) (S)
by Lillian Hoban
Back to School (S)
by Betsy Haynes
Back-To-School Activities (T)
by Inc Teacher Created Materials
Back to School for Rotten Ralph (S)
by Jack Gantos
Back to School With Betsy (Odyssey Classic) (S)
by Carolyn Haywood
Best Back-To-School Jokes (S)
by Gene Perret
Best Ever Back-To-School Activities (T)
by Elaine Israel (Compiler)
Classroom Management : A Guidebook for Success (T)
by Bonnie Williamson
The Classroom Management Survival Kit : Bulletin Boards Student Activities and Teacher Ideas to Help You Motivate, Educate, and Collaborate (T)
by Susanne Glover
The Complete Welcome Back to School Book (T)
by Ellen Sussman
The First Days of School : How to Be an Effective Teacher (T)
by Harry K. Wong
Fresh & Fun: September (Grades K-2) (T)
by Bob Krech
How to Be a Friend : A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (S)
by Laurene Krasny Brown
How to Organize Your Classroom (T)
by Sheri Marby Bestor
I Don't Want to Go Back to School (S)
by Marisabina Russo
Instant Success for Classroom Teachers : New and Substitute Teachers Grades K Through 8 (T)
by Barbara Cawthorne
Learning to Teach...not just for beginners (Grades K-8) (T)
by Linda Shalaway
Making Friends (How Do I Feel About) (S)
by Sarah Levete
New Friends, True Friends, Stuck-Like-Glue-Friends (S)
by Virginia Kroll
Pa Lia's First Day (Jackson Friends Book) (S)
by Michelle Edwards
Quick Tips: 101 Surefire Ways to Start the School Year (Grades K-3) (T)
by Joan Novelli
Super Sub : A Must-Have Handbook for Substitute Teachers (T)
by Cary Seeman
Teacher's Bag of Tricks : 101 Instant Lessons for Classroom Fun (T)
by Patty Nelson
Welcome Back to Pokeweed Public School (S)
by John Bianchi
Also see our other Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
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