Even after experiencing 29 or so first days of school (as the teacher), I never felt that I had made it to the place where I was not stressed and scrambling around at the last minute. Between greeting students, organizing supplies, and establishing routines, the first week can get a little crazy.
That’s why easy back to school activities are a lifesaver—they’re engaging, easy to use, and help you focus on building connections with your students.
I highly suggest using no-frills, easy prep activities that will help you and your students get to know one another this school year. Here are 10 of my favorite fun and simple activities to save your sanity during those first few days.
1. All About Me Posters: the Ultimate in Easy Back to School Activities
If you are familiar with my blog, then you know that I love All About Me Posters for back to school, and it’s no surprise that it is at the top of my easy back to school activities list. “All About Me” posters are a classic way to help students share their personalities while you get to know them. They are easy-prep for busy teachers, and students enjoy completing and sharing them. They are a great first day activity.
Choose from a variety of themed designs:
🐝 Bee-Themed Posters for a cheerful vibe.
🦸♀️ Superhero Posters to inspire students to share their “superpowers.”
🎨 Classic Posters for a timeless option that works in any classroom.
Display them in the hallway or on a bulletin board to create a colorful “Meet Our Class” showcase.
👉 [Shop All About Me Posters Here]
2. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Craftivities
If you are looking for easy back to school activities that are also new and unique, these grade level activities are it!
Students fill in large “3rd,” “4th,” or “5th” letters with doodles, facts, and reflections about themselves. They’re perfect for a creative icebreaker and make a stunning hallway display for the first few weeks of school.
👉 [See the Grade-Level Craftivities Here]
3. Back-to-School Task Cards
Get your students talking and connecting with these Back-to-School Task Cards. This set of 32 engaging questions encourages students to share fun facts and discover common interests with their classmates.
✅ Great for:
- Partner interviews
- Small group discussions
- Morning meeting icebreakers
👉 [Grab the Back-to-School Task Cards Here]
4. First Day Jitters Graphic Organizers (Freebie!)
To me, you can’t get any simpler than a wonderful read aloud or a graphic organizer (two of my favorite teaching tools!). Pair your read-aloud of First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg with these free graphic organizers. Students can write about their feelings, make text-to-self connections, and reflect on their first-day emotions.
This activity is a thoughtful and calming way to ease nerves on day one.
👉 [Download Your Free First Day Jitters Graphic Organizers Here]
5. Back-to-School Word Searches
Ok. Sometimes during the first few days, you just need a chance to breathe! You need simple and easy back to school activities to keep students engaged while you manage first-day logistics, talk to a new student, or grab a couple of minutes just to gather your thoughts! (I get it!)
These fun school themed word searches are perfect for all of that, and they give students something fun to work on independently. Plus, their brains are overloaded from everything being thrown at them on the first day of school. Students can use a little break too!
👉 [Check Out Back-to-School Word Searches Here]
6. First Day Reflection Activity (Superhero Theme)
Are you looking for a fun and unique set of back to school activities? This superhero themed packet might be it. Inside you will find 10 fun print and go activities including this superhero-themed first day reflection activity. Students will write and draw about their classroom, their feelings, and themselves. It’s included in my Superhero Back-to-School packet and makes a great end-of-day activity.
👉 [See the Superhero Back-to-School Packet Here]
7. Back-to-School Writing Prompts
Get your students writing by simply writing an engaging prompt on the board. No printing necessary.
- “This year I want to learn…”
- “My favorite thing about school is…”
- “Three things I want my teacher to know about me are…”
Use these for morning work, journals, or a quick assessment of writing skills.
8. Back-to-School Puzzle Pack
Our students always came into the classroom between 7:30 and 8:00 each morning. My trouble was always, what to do with them until the bell rang. My solution: Have instructions written on the board for putting away supplies and have a packet ready to go on each child’s desk.
This fun packet is perfect for that first morning! Fun dot-to-dots, mazes, logic puzzles, and more—this print-and-go packet contains them all. These independent activities keep students engaged while you greet students, take attendance, and organize supplies.
👉 [Grab the Back-to-School Puzzle Pack Here]
9. Goal Setting Activity
Encourage goals setting with this simple activitiy. Students will need a piece of paper, pencil, and crayons.
- Students draw a tall mountain with 3–5 steps (like a staircase or trail) leading to the peak.
- At the top, they write their main goal (e.g., “Make honor roll,” “Improve my writing,” etc.).
- On each step or checkpoint, they write a smaller task or habit (e.g., “Read 20 minutes each night,” “Ask for help when I don’t understand”).
- They decorate their trail with doodles, stars, or a tiny figure of themselves climbing.
- Display as a “Mountain of Goals” wall or desk display.
👉 [See my Superhero packet for even more goal setting activities]
10. Interest Inventories and Reading Surveys
These easy back to school activities will help you understand your students’ interests, hobbies, and reading preferences early on can make a big impact on your planning and relationship-building. Interest inventories and reading surveys help you:
- Connect with students on a personal level
- Recommend books they’ll actually want to read
- Group students for projects or reading activities based on shared interests
- Spot trends in classroom engagement
You can do a quick verbal version on the first day or during morning meeting! Just ask students a few fun “this or that” questions or prompt them to jot down answers on an index card or scrap paper to questions like:
- “What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday?”
- “What’s the last book you actually enjoyed reading?”
- “If you could write a book, what would it be about?”
This simple activity is a great way to get to know your students.
These easy back to school activities are the perfect solution for busy teachers. With fun, engaging print-and-go resources, you’ll save time and create a welcoming classroom environment from the very first day.
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For even more ideas, check out these 5 Simple Get to Know You Activities.
