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.
- Free Plan
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
- Free Plan
Back to School Craft - First Day of School Crown Template
Get crafty and celebrate the new school year with a printable first day of school headband.
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Mindfulness Activities for Kids - Backpack Craft and Book
Promote mindfulness and social and emotional learning with this Mindfulness Backpack activity.
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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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Back to School - Getting to Know You Dice Roll
Play a back-to-school dice game for students to get to know their classmates.
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Student Interest Survey - Upper Years
Learn your students' interests on Day 1 of a new school year with this student interest survey for the upper years.
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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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2024 Goal Setting Worksheet
Inspire your students to reflect and set goals for the new year with a Goal Setting worksheet.
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Beginning of Year Time Capsule Activity
Use this printable time capsule template during the first week of school and again at the end of the year!
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School Supply Procedures - Year 1 Worksheets
Help your Year 1 students learn to use materials appropriately with printable classroom supply procedure worksheets.
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What are Desk Pets? Introduction Slide Deck
Introduce your students to your Desk Pet Classroom Reward System with an engaging slide deck.
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Find Someone Who Icebreaker
Build a classroom community and help your students get to know each other with a fun getting-to-know-you activity.
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Classroom Rules Writing Prompt Pack
Teach classroom rules and procedures and review early writing skills with Classroom Rule Writing Worksheets for early years.
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Find a Friend - Early Years Icebreaker
Play a back-to-school find-a-friend game for students to get to know their classmates.
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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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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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Just One Word - New Year Goal Setting Project
Inspire your students to reflect and set goals for the new school year with a “Just One Word” goal setting project.
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Playdough Task Cards -Back to School Team Building
Use this set of Playdough challenge cards to foster team building in your classroom.
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Fishing To Know You
A getting-to-know-you activity for the beginning of the year.
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All About Me Time Capsule
Build a self-portrait time capsule as a fun first day of school activity!
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Our Friends in the Pond - Getting to Know You Activity
A cute interactive getting to know you activity for your class.
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This Is Me Task Cards
Get to know your students on the first days of a new school year with this fun getting-to-know-you game.
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Colour-by-Code Parts of Speech- Back to School Worksheet
Use this colour by part of speech worksheet as a back to school activity with your students.
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Find Four Icebreaker Activity
A fun icebreaker activity to use at the beginning of a new school year.
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How Do I Get Home? Backpack Tags & Forms
Use printable bus and car rider tags for schools to organise the dismissal process at the end of the school day.
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