This resource includes 17 first day of school coloring pages which can be colored in and used as a classroom decoration to celebrate first day of school or even use them as back to school bulletin boards.You can use this cards Coloring pages to reinforce fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordinat...

Hit the ♥︎ to Favorite this BACK TO SCHOOL ACTIVITY IMPORTANT DETAILS: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an INSTANT DOWNLOAD. You WILL NOT receive anything in the postal mail. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. DESCRIPTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All About Me First Day Activity - Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to get to know your students during the first weeks of school? Two weeks’ worth of activities that are themed around candy. Everyday your students will arrive to a piece of candy on their desk with a candy-pun message that welcomes them to the new school year. Paired with the candy-pun is a daily writing prompt that will start your students writing for the day. INCLUDED IN THIS PRODUCT: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Activities - “All About Me” Gumball Machine Doodle - 7 different candy pun writing prompts w/ journal pages - “Dear future Me” letter - Get to Know Your Classmates Printout VARIETY OF WAYS TO USE PRODUCT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surprise students each day with a piece of candy that matches the Candy-pun writing prompt: - Writing Prompt 1 – Peppermint Candy (commit-mint) - Writing Prompt 2 – Sweet & Sour Candy (“sweet & sour” days) - Writing Prompt 3 – Chewing Gum (Students “chews” classroom rules) - Writing Prompt 4 – Sucker (Way to “Stick” together in the classroom) - Writing Prompt 5 – LifeSaver (Ways to help or be a “lifesaver” in classroom) - Writing Prompt 6 – Smartie Candy (“Smartie” decisions for the school year) - Writing Prompt 7 - Starburst (Ways you “burst” with happiness in school) Create a colorful hallway display or bulletin board display - Students will take their journal pages from the writing prompts and create a gumball machine flip book Morning Work for the first few weeks of school while procedures are taught - Great fillers to use during teaching procedures that are not just fluff. - The students will be writing a lot, and the teacher will learn a lot about each student from the writing prompts. - Can mix and match worksheets as desired - Students can work at their own pace No matter how the teacher uses this product, it will be a memorable Back to School Activity. It will make a great keepsake for the students. Save it for the end of the year and let the students reread what they wrote at the beginning. HOW TO DOWNLOAD: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO ACCESS your digital files from your account: - You will receive an email from Etsy with the link to download ANOTHER DOWNLOAD OPTION: 1. Sign in to Etsy.com and go to Your account. 2. Go to Purchases and reviews. 3. Next to the order, select Download Files. This goes to the Downloads page for all the files attached to your order. - Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader (Download for free: www.get.adobe.com/reader). - Print on your home printer or at a copy store) FOR MORE HELP: https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115013328108?segment=shopping IMPORTANT DETAILS: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - This is an instant download. You WILL NOT receive anything in the mail. - These files are NOT editable PDF’s. We cannot offer customization on the text. - Please use a computer to download the file, not your phone. - This file is for personal use only and cannot be reproduced or resold commercially. - Buy once - print over and over - as many times as you want! - Please visit my shop for other printable games! www.hubbardscupboards.etsy.com RETURNS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Digital downloads are not eligible for refunds. All sales are final. - Please read the listing carefully so you know the product specifications or ask us any questions prior to purchase. - If you have any issues at all with the file, please let me know, I'm always happy to help. Thank you for visiting our shop! Hubbard's Cupboard Copyright ©Hubbard's Cupboard Visit my shop for other great items: www.hubbardscupboards.etsy.com

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I know - it's a scary thought reality!!!! I'm sorry to even say the words......Back to School. But let's be honest. It's not that far away now, and closer for some than for others. So let's start thinking about how we can prepare. I don't know about you, but I have been stalking Target, Hobby Lobby and a few other places all summer long looking for the best deals and the cutest little bins, buckets, and supplies. Why, oh why, do we teachers spend so much dang money on our classrooms (and have so much fun doing it!?!). I know, I know!!! (I say as I wave my hand in the air like my new students will likely be doing soon enough.) We buy cutesy new things for our classrooms and spend our money on supplies because we love to see the looks on the faces of our little ones when they walk through the door and see their new HOME! It's one of the many reasons why we love teaching so much. As much as we all dread the end of another summer and the freedom we get with it, we also secretly love the excitement of the first day of school. Come on - admit it - you feel the same way too. If there ever comes a time when I don't feel that way, then that should be when I retire. I say retire because I am positive it will not be happening for a LONG time, if ever. I feel like I'm going to be one of those lovely, older, experienced teachers who doesn't want to retire and has to be kicked out. I'll have to dragged out kicking and screaming - dragging my chevron and polka dotted decorations behind me! So back to how we can prepare for going back to school. I don't actually go back until after Labor Day (I'm sorry if that makes you hate me right now, but you get out earlier I'm sure =) I will definitely be posting pictures of my classroom when I actually get around to organizing and decorating it. I also have to find room for all of this stuff... (remember I mentioned I had been shopping just a teeny bit). Even though my room is nowhere near ready I have been thinking A LOT about what I plan on doing those first few weeks of school. This will only be my 2nd year teaching 1st grade. It is my 12th year teaching, but I taught 3rd and 4th grades for 10 years. Last year I was in survival mode with the implementation of Common Core, all the changes with teacher evaluation, and being my first year in a new grade level. It was fun, but I have so many ideas for what I want to do differently this year. But before I talk about all of the things I plan to change (that will have to be another post), I have to get through the first week of school. Yikes!! So here are a few ideas I've been throwing around for that first week. I will start with some things from my Welcome Back Pack. I've always loved reading First Day Jitters by Julie Dannenburg on the first day of school and I also found First Grade Jitters by Robert Quackenbush - how perfect is that? I will start with this First Day Feelings survey and class graph after reading one or both of those books. The picture of the graph is just an example to show what it might look like. We will also make Jitter Juice from Babbling Abby's Fun with Firsties to ease the nerves and have a little snack break =) We will compare our summer with school like this example from First Grade Honeybunch. We will reminisce about our summers *tear* with a little summer writing (which is really my teacher way of getting a quick writing sample to see where they are at). We will HAVE to finish on a high note and not get totally depressed that our summers are over, so we will then come back together and talk about all the amazing things we will be doing this year in first grade - like learning to READ!!!!!! That's a big one! I will give some beautiful, could hear a pin drop, speech about how reading opens the doors to anything you will ever do in life like driving, traveling the world, and of course social media like texting, Facebook, etc. (I'm not totally serious, but I know they will think this is the best part =( Next, we're going to need to break up the sitting, because I don't know if you know this or not, but kids (and adults too) who are just coming back to school after a summer vacation are not so good at sitting for long periods of time and their attention spans are mere minutes at best. So it is extremely necessary to plan for multiple breaks in the day. My Find a Friend activities will give us that opportunity to get up and walk around. These are perfect for any student because there is no reading involved - just pictures. I would introduce this by going through the pictures and pointing out what they are and what they might think of when they see them (a little inferencing on the first day of school - take that Common Core!) Then they walk around and get other kids to sign their names next to a picture they like. When we come back together to share I have students share what they picked and why. For example, I might pick the dog and say that I have a black lab named Molly and tell a little about her. There are 4 different versions of this so I can do 1 each day to get up and moving. The next thing that I think we probably all do is some getting to know you activities or All About Me. I created an All About Me banner that will be perfect to hang up in the hallway or on a bulletin board. So excited to do these this year! There are a couple variations to choose from. I will probably choose this one I also have this super cute Math About Me craftivity that I like to do with the kids. We discuss how math and numbers are everywhere and how we can even describe ourselves using numbers. The craftivity above is a freebie in my TpT Store, but I also just wrote a poem to go with it. You can download the poem HERE if you'd like it. To finish off my pack, I also have included a Back to School interactive mini-book and some printables/coloring pages to fill time or use as morning work. In addition to all this FUN, I also need to take care of some business. That business will be ROUTINES, ROUTINES, ROUTINES!!!! I will be modeling like a crazy woman and pointing out when students are following rules. I will be positive and upbeat, but when needed we will stop what we are doing and go back to the carpet to review a routine or a rule. Here are a bunch of books I plan on reading those first few days as we discuss rules and routines and make anchor charts. I don't have any formal plans for these yet, but I am working on a few things to go along with some of these books, and others will be just discussions and connections. We will work through our class rules that first week (more to come in a later post on that) and more routines. So I hope you got some good ideas from my First Week of First Grade plans. I'd love to hear what you are doing in your own classrooms (or are planning on doing), so leave me a little note =) Click HERE to go to part 2 of this post - I Survived the First Week - Now What? Some more freebies and a chance to win!!!

Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store. --------------------------------------------- Grab Your Free Vocabulary Word Search for the book, If You Take a Mouse to School! Before we jump into these exciting activities, make sure to download the free vocabulary word search that pairs perfectly with If You Take a Mouse to School! It’s an excellent way to help your students reinforce key words from the story while having fun. Download it here and watch your students engage with the text in a whole new way! --------------------------------------------- Now, let’s explore some creative activities that will make If You Take a Mouse to School a memorable experience in your classroom. These ideas are no-prep, easy to implement, and designed to keep your students engaged and excited! 1. Decorate a Shoe Box as a Lunch Box Let your students get creative by decorating their own shoe boxes as lunch boxes, just like the mouse in the story. They can fill them with drawings or cutouts of their favorite school snacks. 2. Yo-Yo Fun Bring some yo-yos into the classroom and let the students try their hand at this classic toy, just like the mouse does in the book. It’s a great way to build hand-eye coordination and have some fun! 3. Chalkboard Writing Set up a mini chalkboard station where students can practice writing just like the mouse. You can have them write letters, numbers, or even draw pictures related to the story. 4. Simple Science Experiment Replicate the mouse’s science experiment in class! Choose a simple and safe experiment, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar to create a fun fizzy reaction. The students will love it, and it ties directly into the story. 5. Build a Block House Provide students with building blocks and challenge them to build a house just like the mouse does in the book. They can work individually or in groups to create their masterpieces. 6. Write Your Own Story Have your students write their own version of the story. What would happen if they took their favorite animal to school? Encourage them to be creative and illustrate their stories, too! 7. Read Aloud to a Friend Pair up your students and have them read If You Take a Mouse to School to each other. This is a great way to build reading fluency and confidence. 8. Play a Game of Soccer Take the lesson outside for some physical activity. Just like the mouse, your students can kick around a soccer ball and enjoy a bit of recess. It’s a fun way to tie in the story with some movement. 9. Shoot Some Hoops Set up a mini basketball hoop in your classroom or gym and let the students try shooting baskets, just like the mouse. It’s another fun way to bring the book to life! 10. Snack Time! Host a snack time in class where students can enjoy a small treat. Discuss what snacks the mouse might have brought to school and why they chose their own snacks. 11. DIY Mouse Puppet Create simple mouse puppets using paper bags or socks. Once the puppets are done, students can use them to act out scenes from the book or create new adventures for the mouse. 12. Paper Plate Mouse Craft Turn a plain paper plate into a cute mouse face! Students can use markers, construction paper, and googly eyes to bring their mouse to life. It’s a fun and easy craft that ties back to the story. 13. Dress Up as the Mouse Why not dress up as the mouse for a day? You can wear gray clothes and even make a simple mouse ear headband. Encourage your students to dress up too, and make it a fun classroom event. 14. Review School Rules Use the story as a springboard to review school rules. Have students complete sentences like, “If you take a child to school, they should ___________.” It’s a great way to reinforce positive behavior. 15. Classroom Print Walk As you read the book, have students look for and point out words and numbers in the illustrations. Afterward, go on a print walk around the classroom to find real-life examples of print in their environment. Before you scroll on down to watch some great videos, don't forget to grab your free activity HERE. --------------------------------------------- You may also like these videos: An animated read aloud of If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff. Reader's Theater Mouse Puppet Paper Plate Mouse (Alter the Easter Bunny LOL) DIY Mouse Costume Perhaps you could show up to school as a mouse? Wear gray pants and a gray jacket :) Mouse Trap Online Game Mouse Trap From our Amazon Affiliate store: If You Take a Mouse to School If You Take A Mouse To School Puppet & Props U-Build Mouse Trap Game You may also like this blog post: Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

--------------------------------------------- Back to School Activities Name Game: Hello children, here we are, At school from near and far. Today we are going to play a game. Please stand when I call your name. Note: This can be used when attendance is taken. How Do You Do? (Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It") Good morning, (student's first name and last). How are you? Good morning, (student's first name and last). How are you? How are you this special day? We're glad you came to play. Good morning, (student's first name and last). How are you? Teacher shakes each student's hand as verse is sung. This is What We Do At School (Tune: "Mulberry Bush") This is the way we go to school, go to school, go to school. This is the way we go to school so early in the morning. This is the way we walk in the hall... This is the way we hang up our coats... This is the way we sit at our desks... This is the way we ask for help... This is the way we walk to lunch... (add additional phrases to teach classroom rules) Drop the Blanket Name Game Students are divided into two teams. Each team sits on the floor facing the other team. A blanket is held by two volunteers (teacher and a student) between the two groups. Each team then quietly chooses one member of their team to sit just behind the blanket and ahead of their own team. At this point the chosen individuals are sitting facing each other, but concealed by the blanket. The blanket is then dropped and the two students quickly identify his opponent. A point is scored for the team who shouts out the opposing person's name first. Modification: Each team can reveal a verbal clue describing the chosen individual directly behind the blanket, prior to the dropping of the blanket. How Well Do You Know Me? Divide students into groups of two. Students must attempt to answer the following questions about their partner. Even if they don't know the answer, encourage them to guess for more fun. After both students have answered all of the questions, students will share with their partners. Students should correct their answers without erasing their original guesses. 1. What is this student's first name? 2. What is this student's middle name? 3. What is this student's last name? 4. How long has this student lived in this city? 5. How many siblings does this student have? 6. Does this student like to swim? 7. Does this student like sports? 8. What is this student's favorite sport? 9. In which month is this student's birthday? 10. Does this student have any pets? What kind of pets? 11. What is this student's favorite subject? 12. What is this student's favorite game? 13. What is this student's favorite TV show? 14. What is this student's favorite movie? 15. To where has this student gone on vacation? 16. What is this student's special talents? 17. Who is this student's favorite famous person? 18. What is this student's favorite color? 19. What is this student's least favorite subject? 20. What does this student want to be when he/she grows up? Here is a printable version of this name game. It is a little different and can be found HERE. Listening Game Students should start and stop each activity after receiving a predetermined cue. (lights on/off, small bell, hand clap, throat clearing, etc.)  Can we walk in place slowly?  Can we walk in place fast?  Can we run in place slowly?  Can we run in place fast?  Can we hop in place slowly?  Can we hop in place fast?  Can we slide to the left or side slowly?  Can we slide to the right or side fast?  Can we gallop forward slowly?  Can we gallop backwards fast?  Can we skip forward slowly?  Can we skip backwards fast?  Can we jump forward just a little bit at a time?  Can we jump backwards just a little bit at a time?  Can we stand on our right foot and balance ourselves for 10 seconds?  Can we stand on our left foot and balance ourselves for 10 seconds?  Can we hop on our right foot in a circle?  Can we hop on our left foot in a circle?  Can we jump from left to right?  Can we hop from left to right?  Can we bend over and touch our toes with our fingers?  Can we reach for the sky with our arms?  Can we lie on our stomachs and jump up as quickly as possible?  Can we lie on our backs and jump up as quickly as possible?  Can we stand in place and jump as high as we can?  Can we slide to the left and jump?  Can we slide to the right and jump?  Can we stand on our left foot and hop forward?  Can we stand on our right foot and hop forward?  Can we stand on our left foot and hop backward?  Can we stand on our right foot and hop backward? How Do You Do? Play this game outside. It resembles Drop the Handkerchief. Have the students make a large circle and remain standing. Choose one student to start. Have the game starter walk around the outside of the circle and stop behind one person and say, "Hi, I'm ____." The other student turns around and says, "Hi, I'm ____." They then shake hands saying, "How do you do, how do you do, how do you do?" Each then runs in opposite directions around the circle saying "How do you do's" when they meet. The first one back to the spot where the "How do you do's" began is the one to introduce him/herself to another. The game goes on. Memory Name Game Choose a student to start the game. This student says their name and tells about an activity that they enjoy. The student then develops a movement to represent this activity. The next student in the group or row then stands up and repeats step one for him/herself. Then this student has to repeat what the first student has said and the movement the previous student did. These steps are repeated with all the students until everyone has had a turn or the students can go no further. The last student has the hardest job of remembering all the names and movements. Modifications: With younger students, instead of going through the whole class, you can play by individual row or table. A student can be picked to give clues to other students who get stuck. 20 Fun Name Games for Children: ------------------------------------------------------------ You may also like these resources from our TpT store: All About Me Glyphs All About Me Interactive Notebook Activity All About Me Task Cards Time for School - Schedule Book All About Me Interactive Notebook Activity All About Me Owls Activities All About Me Interactive Notebook Back to School Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle ------------------------------------------- You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store: American Educational Vinyl Clever Catch Ice Breaker Primary Ball, 24" Diameter 100 Awesome Icebreakers Classroom Warm-Ups In a Jar®: Quick and Meaningful Activities for All Grades You may also like this team building blog post: --------------------------------------------- Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store. Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Happy Wednesday, y'all! I uploaded my new back to school activity yesterday and I promised I would share today. Okay, so what is The Pineapple Project? We start back to school on a Wednesday (which I love!) so for the first three days, we go over beginning of the year things like rules and procedures.

Send that message that All Are Welcome in your classroom to students and families with these All Are Welcome Free ideas, activities, and printables.

This dodecahedron template is the perfect scaffold to get to your know your students and make them feel welcome in the first weeks of school. Not only a fun activity, it also makes a gorgeous display for your classroom! Already updated for 2025 - check the preview button to get a closer look 👀

Welcome a new class of students during the first week with these gift ideas, classroom management tips, and ways to build community.

This download includes an activity to reinforce lessons taught in the book "All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. This activity was inspired by a quote from the book: "We will learn from each other. Special talents we'll uncover." Students interview a peer to ask them their name, likes and special talent. Then, the draw a picture of their friend and them. I recommend having the kids "introduce" their peer to their classmates once they're done interviewing! It's a great back-to-school activity for primary grades or buddies! Builds classroom community and speaking skills.

Set a friendly tone in your classroom with these 30 "Get to Know You" games perfect for back to school or when welcoming a new student.

A GREAT Welcome Back Activity! First Day of School Activity! Students will work together to Save Fred! Fred is a gummy worm stuck under a cup! Students will have only 4 paper clips to save him! Team work at its finest!

Teachers: Take note!

Colorful and attractive bulletin boards can grab the attention of the students. With these bulletin board ideas, your students are bound to be more enthusiastic about a new beginning in the new year.

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

This Back To School Word Search Puzzle is the perfect activity for the first day back in the classroom, or the start of the homeschooling school year. These are ready-to-print PDFs, sized for 8.5x11 paper so you can print as many as you need. WHAT'S INCLUDED ----------------- Back To School Word Search Puzzle DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ---------------------------- This listing is for an instant digital download. No product will be sent to you. Most customers choose to print their products out on computer paper or card stock. SIZING ----------------- One 8.5 in x 11 in design per page. HOW TO GET YOUR FILE ---------------- - Add the item to your cart, choose your payment method, and complete the purchase - Once you have completed your purchase you will be taken to a downloads page on etsy.com (Your files will also be available on your purchases page (www.etsy.com/your/purchases) - Download your file(s) - Print and enjoy (colors may differ slightly when printing depending on your computer and printer) REFUNDS ---------------- Since our products are all digital downloads, refunds are not accepted. However, if you have any issues with your purchase please contact me! COPYRIGHT ----------------- These designs are for personal use only. You can NOT make the designs available for digital download, resell or redistribute them as is or modified, in digital form. This product is subject to © COPYRIGHT and is the intellectual property of “Hang Tough Printables”. By purchasing this listing you are agreeing to our terms and understand what you are purchasing.

If your students love to ☺chat☺ as much as mine when they return from ⛱ Summer Vacation, leverage that back to school excitement for a meaningful and fun writing activity with a Find Someone Who, Venn diagram, & comparison/contrast writing! With this no-prep welcome back from Summer Break lesson...

The first weeks of school are a crucial time for all students. You should have back to school activities ready to go. These weeks hold particular significance for special education students. These initial weeks set the tone for the entire school year and provide the foundation for their success. As special education teachers, it is essential to have effective systems and strategies in place to ensure that these students feel supported, understood, and empowered from the very start.

Between teaching routines, testing, testing and more testing, it is also important to have fun and get to know your new students! Because I start the school year with students of all levels, including ELLs,

Houston moms who gathered for a protest for sending their kids back to school asap were joined by Grim Reapers that were glad to keep them company.

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

Looking for some fun activities for the first day of school? Grab these cute back to school coloring pages printable! Back to school worksheets. first day of school coloring pages. back to school coloring sheets. first day of school coloring sheets. Pre K First Day Of School Activities Free Printable. school supplies coloring page. Back To School Preschool Coloring Pages. backpack coloring page. Welcome Back Coloring Page. back to school activity sheets.

Choose from 25 unique back to school coloring pages perfect for your little ones during the back to school season. Print from home. 100% FREE!

Set a friendly tone in your classroom with these 30 "Get to Know You" games perfect for back to school or when welcoming a new student.

Looking for some fun activities for the first day of school? Grab these cute back to school coloring pages printable! Back to school worksheets. first day of school coloring pages. back to school coloring sheets. first day of school coloring sheets. Pre K First Day Of School Activities Free Printable. school supplies coloring page. Back To School Preschool Coloring Pages. backpack coloring page. Welcome Back Coloring Page. back to school activity sheets.

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

Looking for back to school coloring pages for kids? Well, you're in luck! Keep reading to grab a free copy of our Free printable back to school coloring sheets for kids perfect for this school year!

First week activities using The Kissing Hand. Make the beginning of school a breeze with these free resources that accompany the book!

This post includes affiliate links. I receive a small stipend for including links at no cost to you. I only recommend products and books I use and love. Have you […]

Engage your students during the first few weeks of school with these back to school activities for your middle school classroom.

Discover a fun and easy getting to know you activity that will introduce your students to one another while teaching classroom expectations.

These activities and tips for building community in kindergarten will help your students feel like a valued part of your classroom.

Get the kids excited about heading back to school with cute and easy School Bus Crafts and Activities to start the year out right.