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!
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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Have a Bright Year! Lightbulb Craft
Brighten up your classroom with a fun Lightbulb-themed goal-setting craft activity.
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Who’s in Your Circle? Icebreaker Activity
Help your students find like-minded friends on the first day of school with a ‘Who’s in Your Circle?’ icebreaker activity.
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Meet the Teacher - Get to Know You Game
Help your students get to know the teacher with a fun Get to Know You Game!
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My Goal Grid - Goal Setting Template
Set goals for the new school year with a printable goal-setting template for kids.
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Let's Be Sharp! Goal Setting Craft
Set a positive tone and start the school year with a Let’s Be Sharp! Goal Setting craft.
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'Sit Down If...' Getting-to-know-you Elimination Game
Play this interactive game with your new class to break the ice in the first week of a new school year.
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Count and Graph – In the Classroom
Practise collecting, sorting, and organising data to create a graph with this 2-page worksheet.
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Icebreaker Bingo - First Day of School Game
Kick off a new school year with a Getting to Know You Icebreaker Bingo!
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Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Game - Interactive Icebreaker
Play the Soup, Salad, or Sandwich? Game for an exciting icebreaker or brain-break activity!
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Would You Rather...? Back to School Edition
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions with this set of 16 back-to-school “Would You Rather” questions.
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Fishing To Know You
A getting-to-know-you activity for the beginning of the year.
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Rules Around Us - Sorting Activity
Identify rules at home, in school and around the community with a sorting activity.
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Back to School STEM Challenge Cards - Lower Years
Integrate STEM activities into your back-to-school plans by guiding students to create a picture frame, name tag, and pencil cup.
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Never Have I Ever Questions for Kids ... Getting-to-Know-You Game
This printable worksheet of 'Never Have I Ever' questions for kids is perfect for a first-day-of-school activity!
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Get to Know Me Collaborative Tessellation Art Activity
Invite your students to get to know each other by creating a collaborative About Me Tessellation Art Project.
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Find a Friend Who…Worksheet
Encourage students to engage with different classmates and learn about others with this whole-class activity.
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New Year's Goal Setting Selfie
Inspire your students to reflect and set goals for the new year with a Goal Setting Selfie New Year Craft.
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Back to School Colouring-In Pages
Use these back-to-school colouring pages as a first day of school activity with your students.
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Project Based Back-to-School Activity - Plan an Excursion
Integrate Project-based activities into your beginning-of-year maths and lessons by inviting your students to plan an excursion, calculate costs and follow a budget.
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I Am Poem Template
Get to know your students and create reflective poems with a printable ‘I Am… Poem template.
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Student Interest Survey Pack
Use a Student Interest Survey to get to know your new students at the beginning of the school year.
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Back to School – Listening Skills Refresh PowerPoint
Refresh student listening skills with a Back to School Listening Skill activity and and script.
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Yeti to Learn - Goal Setting Template
Get “Yeti” to learn with a fun goal-setting craft and writing prompt for back to school.
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Back-to-School Silly Story Worksheets
Engage your students in grammar with this set of of back-to-school Silly Stories worksheets.
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