First Day of School 2026 Activities Teaching Resources for 5th Grade

Hopes and Wishes Jar - Goal Planning Template

Have your students craft a hopes and wishes jar to set goals for the school year.

All About Me Sundae - First Day Activity

Goal Setting – Iceberg Template

Download a free goal setting template that helps students identify singular aspects that they need focus on to achieve a goal.

Printable SMART Goals Template

Start the school year by having your students use a printable template to set their own S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Student Interest Survey Pack

Use a Student Interest Survey to get to know your new students at the beginning of the school year.

I'm Outta This World - About Me Kids' Craft

Create an easy paper craft that is out of this world with a printable Alien-themed All About Me template.

All About Me Jersey Design Template

Kick off the year and get to know your new team of students with an exciting All About Me Jersey Design Template.

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.

Student Behavior Contract Template

Create a classroom community and ensure adherence to rules and procedures with a printable Student Behavior Contract Template.

Free Blank Face Templates

Use these blank face templates to create fun back-to-school art celebrating the individuality and diversity of your new students!

Back to School STEM Challenges – Grades 4-6

Integrate STEM activities into your back-to-school plans by guiding students to create a name badge, cantilever, and school mascot.

Student Behavior Discussion Cards for the Classroom

Print free student behavior discussion cards to encourage your class to think about what a positive learning environment looks like, sounds like, and feels like.

Lettuce Get To Know You Craft Activity

‘Lettuce’ Get to Know You with a fun back-to-school Hamburger All About Me activity.

Back to School - Personalized Name Coloring Bookmarks

Inspire your new students to read, read, read with their very own personalized name bookmark to color!

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.

I Am Poem Template

Get to know your students and create back-to-school poems with a printable ‘I Am… Poem template.

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.

Goal Grid - Goal Setting Template

Set goals for the new school year with a printable goal-setting template for kids.

Back to School Word Search Worksheets

Warm up your students’ vocabulary skills with this set of Back to School word searches.

Team Building Games – Upper Grades

Encourage communication and cooperation with this set of 10 team-building games.

Student Self-Assessment Template

Get to know your students on the first day and learn their thoughts on school with a printable student self assessment.

Never Have I Ever Questions for Kids ... Getting to Know You Game

See fun "Never Have I Ever" questions for kids to break the ice in your classroom and help students get to know one another.

Back to School - Plan a Field Trip Project

Integrate STEM activities into your beginning-of-year math and economics lessons by inviting your students to plan a field trip, calculate costs, and follow a budget.

Back to School Today! Poem for Kids

Ease back-to-school jitters and launch your students into a love of poetry with a short poem for kids written just for the first day of school!