Still need a few ideas? Read on for some tips from our teacher team on what to do on the first day of school, plus some inspiring first day of school quotes to share with your students!
First Day of School 2024 Activities & Worksheets for Primary Classrooms
Dive into a curated collection of teacher-created first-day-of-school activities, printables and icebreakers to help your students settle in and feel comfortable whether they're starting their very first day in primary school or just their first day of the 2024 school year! This collection of printables and digital activities for teachers to use on the first day of the school year was created by the expert Australian teacher team at Teach Starter with an eye on providing teachers everything they need to make kids feel safe and respected from day one. Let your students know they've found a warm and welcoming classroom environment where they can thrive this school year! From activities that will help you set expectations early to printable forms you can use to collect important student information and so much more, this collection has your entire day (and first week) covered!
![an illustration of school supplies in a cup with a diamond shape behind them](https://storage.googleapis.com/ts-strapi-bucket/school_supplies_illustration_9e2bce080f.png)
Editor’s Picks
The best of the best hand-picked by our team of teachers.
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Never Have I Ever... Getting-to-know-you Game
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Collaborative Icebreaker - Back to School Scatter Game
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Back-to-School Countdown Mobile - Goal Setting Template
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Mindfulness Activities for Kids - Backpack Craft and Book
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Back to School Activity Mats - All Year Levels
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Project Based Back-to-School Activity - Plan an Excursion
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First Day of School 2024 Activities & Worksheets for Primary Classrooms
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Personalised Name Colouring Bookmarks
Inspire your new students to read, read, read with their very own personalised name bookmark to colour!
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Would You Rather...? Question Cards
Would You Rather use this set of 31 question cards or eat a can of worms?
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One Has to Go! Game of Elimination Icebreaker
Play ‘One Has to Go!” and engage your students in a friendly classroom debate with this Google Slides icebreaker game.
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Never Have I Ever... Getting-to-know-you Game
Have some back to school fun with a child-friendly version of the popular getting-to-know-you game, ‘Never Have I Ever’.
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Brain Break Activity Cards
Give your students a quick brain break with this set of 19 whole-class games.
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'My Goal Tree' - Goal Setting Worksheet
Grow new back to school goals with a printable goal setting tree template.
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Add It In Listening Activity Bundle
Practise following directions to colour and draw pictures with a free printable listening activity worksheet pack.
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Team Building Games for Upper Grades
Encourage communication and cooperation with a set of 10 team building games.
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Free Blank Face Template Pack
Use these free blank face templates to create fun back-to-school art celebrating the individuality and diversity of your new students!
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Back to School Word Search Worksheets
Warm up your students’ vocabulary skills with this set of Back to School word searches.
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Goal Setting Template (Mountain)
Set new goals for the school year with a printable goal setting template.
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All About Me Concertina - Back to School Craft
Craft a fun All About Me Pencil Craft with a printable concertina book template.
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All About Me Sundae - First Day Activity
Scoop up some first-day fun with a printable ice cream-themed Get to Know Me Craft for kids.
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Reading Challenge: 10-100 Book Challenge Reading Logs
Start the 100-Book Challenge with a fun reading log!
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Back to School Today — Short Poem for Kids
Use this short poem for kids when students return to school. This child-friendly poem discusses feelings that they may experience when heading back to school after an extended break.
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My Hopes and Wishes Jar - Goal-Setting Activity
Sets goals for the new school year with a goal-setting activity.
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Collaborative Icebreaker - Back to School Scatter Game
Start the school year with a collaborative game to initiate student introductions.
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Icebreaker Games - Get to Know You Game Cards
Help your students get to know each other with this set of 20 icebreaker games.
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Back to School Activity Mats - All Year Levels
Use these back-to-school activity mats as your first day of school warm-up activity during morning arrival.
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All About Me Bag Activity Template
Get to know your students a bit better by having them create ‘All About Me’ Bags!
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Back to School STEM Challenges – Upper Years
A selection of 3 STEM activities for upper years students that are perfect for the back-to-school period.
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Can You Save Fred? Activity
Can You Save Fred? Encourage teamwork and resilience with a fun, hands-on problem-solving and team-building STEM activity.
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I Wish My Teacher Knew Activity Sheet
Add an ‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ activity to your first-day plans to learn more about your new students.
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Behaviour Charades
Explore appropriate and inappropriate behaviors at the beginning of a new school year with a fun charade activity.
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