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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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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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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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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Team Building Games for Upper Grades
Encourage communication and cooperation with a set of 10 team building games.
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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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I Am Poem Template
Get to know your students and create reflective poems with a printable ‘I Am… Poem template.
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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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A Letter to My Teacher Activity
Get to know your students a bit better using a ‘Letter to Teacher’ template.
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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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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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All About Myself Template - Welcome to Year 1-6
Use this printable All About Myself template to engage your students on the first day of school.
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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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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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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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Back to School Retro Theme Colouring Sheets
Kick off a groovy new school year with fun retro colouring pages!
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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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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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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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Classroom Procedures Scoot Game
Review classroom and school procedures as a back-to-school activity with a game of Scoot!
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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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Above and Below the Line Behaviours – Sorting Activity
Remind students of behaviours that are 'above the line,' 'below the line,' and 'bottom-line' with this sorting activity.
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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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Letter to the Teacher Template
Get to know your students with an all about me writing template.
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