Fresh Starts: Back-to-School Activities from Elementary to High School

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If you’re not back in the classroom yet, don’t worry—your return is just around the corner! Ba-dum tss!

All jokes aside, I hope your summer was everything you imagined it would be, whether that was full on binging and lounging or checking things off your bucket list. As you gear up for a new school year, dive into these engaging back-to-school activities that are perfect for kicking off the first couple of weeks. From elementary to middle to high school, I’ve got you covered with ideas that will help you and your students settle into a groove. Let’s make the start of this year a blast!

Elementary Learners

Classroom Scavenger Hunts

Objective:

Familiarize your students with their new classroom. 

How To:

Stop and look around your classroom. Is there a routine you want them to follow? A place you want them to turn things into? You get the ideas. So now, create a list of items or places that you know your students are going to need to access often. Students can then work in small groups or individually to find each item you have put on your scavenger hunt. Sit back and watch as they tick off items from the list while gradually getting to know your classroom and the expectations you have for them.

Templates/Ideas: 

Check out these editable templates and ideas to help you create your own personalized classroom scavenger hunt.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt Template on Canva

School Scavenger Hunt Template on Canva

Just need ideas or tips to customize your hunt? Check out this blog from Grapevine Quest that has all the tips, ideas, and ways to prepare for this type of activity that will have your students engaged in critical thinking and teamwork.

All About Me Collages

Objective:

Help students introduce themselves and learn about their classmates.  

How To:

Grab some magazines, colored paper, markers, and glue, and let the creativity flow! Have your students make a collage that shows off their interests, family, and favorite things. Once they’re done, they can share their masterpieces with the class.

Templates/Ideas: 

Fantastic Fun and learning breaks down all the supplies you’ll need along with step-by-step instructions on how to lead this back-to-school activity. Check it out here.

Jump straight into learning with this Canva template. 

Have devices in your classroom? Go digital with your students. Explore this idea from Mrs. Amsler’s Artroom.

More Back-to-School Activities for Elementary Schoolers

Back to School Breakout
Elementary teachers, are you looking for a great resource for back to school? How about a digital breakout to kick off your year?

We Have to Save Fred!
Always a favorite, the Save Fred Challenge is great for team building. Plus, check out extension ideas to create a perfect day of learning.

Three Activities for Back-to-School Anxiety
As the start of school approaches, students may be feeling anxious. Try some SEL activities to help destress them.

Middle School Students

Classroom Bingo

Objective:

Help students get to know each other, the classroom layout, and your expectations. 

How to:

Make Bingo cards with various classroom-related prompts, like “Find someone who has been to another country” or “Find a book with a blue cover.” Students will mingle to find classmates who match the prompts and mark off their Bingo cards as they go.

Templates/Ideas:

If you don’t know about Bingo Baker, you’re missing out! You can create your own bingo cards or peruse templates until you find just what you need. Here’s a bingo card tailored for middle school learners. All you need to do is print!

Let the relationship building begin with this Getting to Know You Bingo template found in Canva. Customize it to fit your needs or use it as is. 

Mystery Object Challenges

Objective:

Foster teamwork and curiosity.

How to:

Put a mystery object in a bag. Students take turns feeling the object (without peeking) and describing it to their group. They’ll guess what it is based on the descriptions. Once everyone has guessed, reveal the object and have a discussion about it.

Templates/Ideas:

Explore the reasons why this teacher loves this Mystery Bag activity for her students. You’ll get tips and ideas for what to toss in your mystery bag. 

To use this hands-on activity that ties back to Claim Evidence Reasoning, access the full breakdown and directions of how to use this in your classroom. Check out this Mystery Challenge idea and more from Adventures in Stem.

More Back-to-School Activities for Middle Schoolers

Human Bingo

Human Bingo is a fun and effective icebreaker activity that fosters connection and learning. Learn how to implement it effectively!

Email Writing for Students
In today’s digital world, teaching your students the art of writing an email is a must. This blog has lesson ideas, videos, and resources to help.

“This, Not That” Bellringers
The latest version of the “This, Not That” bellringers includes a change in format and some new activities for back to school.

High School Students

Future Goals Jigsaw

Objective:

Encourage your high school students to begin to think about and share their future aspirations. 

How to:
Have students write down one academic or personal goal for the year on a piece of paper. Collect the papers, cut them into puzzle pieces, and distribute the pieces randomly. Students will work to piece together the goals and then discuss them with the class.

No template needed for this one!

Quote Reflection

Objective:

Create discussion and personal reflection.

How to:

Share a list of inspiring quotes about learning or personal growth with your students. Ask them to pick a quote that really speaks to them and write a short reflection on why it’s meaningful. Then, have them share their thoughts in small groups or with the whole class.

Templates/Ideas:

You can use this activity any time during the school year, but it’s especially great at the start of the year to help students discover or begin exploring their purpose. It’s also useful for helping them develop content for college entrance essays. Check out this lesson plan featuring pre-selected quotes to get students thinking.

Explore this big list of quotes that you can supply your students with. 

Go a step further and have them take that quote or idea and let them go wild with shape clouds. Creating shape word clouds is not only fun but also a fantastic culminating activity. Check out these four free digital tools to get started!

More Back-to-School Activities for High Schoolers

Solo Cup Engineering Challenge
The Solo Cup Engineering Challenge is perfect for team-building. Students and adults love this activity for fun and learning.

Help your high school students set and track their goals with this infographic-style template. It’s designed to set them up for future success by guiding them in setting and monitoring their own goals. Here is a template for goal setting from Lead Inclusion.

Engage Your Students by Creating Your Own Wordle

If you and your students are hooked on Wordle, try “Make Your Own Wordle”! Create and share custom wordles with a simple link—no registration needed, and it’s completely free. If you enjoy Wordle, you’ve probably heard of the Connections game as well. Learn how to create your own Connections game here.

These activities are perfect for kicking off the new school year with a positive and engaging vibe, and the best part is they require minimal prep! They’re designed to help you create an inviting atmosphere right from the start, so you can focus more on connecting with your students and less on getting everything ready. 

Here’s to another fantastic year ahead!