One of the joys of teaching elementary students is that they are still excited to come back to school. Those little bundles of energy can’t wait for new adventures as big kids! This time is also exciting for teachers. However, sometimes coming up with enough first week of school ideas can feel overwhelming.
As a first year teacher you may wonder where to start for the first week of school. Moreover, as a veteran teacher, you may be ready for some new ideas. Whether you are looking for new ideas to keep the excitement going or ideas to help you jump start your teaching career. – we have TONS of ideas!
Keep reading to learn more about these ideas. We’ve also shared some ideas on why the first week of school is so important.
We also have a little gift to help you get even more excited for the new school year – our favorite back to school freebies! However, before we get to the freebies – we have 11 other favorite back to school lesson plans to share for 1st grade and 2nd grade!
What is the Importance of First Week Activities?
The first week of school sets the tone for the entire school year. Therefore, it is important to choose activities that help you start the year the way you want to continue it.
This goes beyond classroom rules. In fact, with the right first week of school activities you won’t even need classroom rules!
Rather than focusing on classroom rules, focus on activities that help establish classroom management protocols. This includes establishing routines and procedures and teaching expectations for behavior. Moreover, include first week activities that help create a positive classroom community.
These are all important pieces of creating a positive classroom environment for 1st grade and 2nd grade students. In addition, creating a positive classroom environment for you to teach!
What does the First Week of First Grade look like?
The first week of first grade (and second grade) often begins before the first day of school, with back to school night. Back to school nights are a great activity for first and second graders. They help students get acquainted with their teachers and classroom before the first day of school.
Moreover, this is a great time for teachers, students, and parents to meet.
Back to School Night Activities for First Graders
Planning a fun and engaging back to school night doesn’t have to take away from lesson planning for the actual school day. It doesn’t even have to take away from any last moments of summer sun!
With these two activities, you can plan a fun back to school night quickly and easily!
- Back to School Night Stations: Meet the Teacher and classroom tour activities
- Back to School Classroom Scavenger Hunt – Get to Know Your School and Staff Activity
Getting to Know You Activities for First and Second Grade
After your successful back to school night, you will need getting to know you activities for the first week of school. These activities are also essential for helping students get to know one another. They also help you get to know each student.
Check out our four favorite activities for getting to know your students.
- Back to School Discussion Cards for Students – Get to Know You Activities
- Back to School Name Activities – Ready to Grow, Back to School Door Decor
- Back to School, Would You Rather – First Week of School Get to Know You Activity
- Get to Know Activities – Back to School Glyph – 1st and 2nd grade
Kindness Activity for First and Second Grade
In addition to students get to know one another, take time during the first week of school to establish a classroom of caring. Remember, part of an effective learning environment is one that is welcoming.
Use this back to school writing activity to help students understand what it means to be kind. Not only is this a great way to begin the year, but you can reference what they learn throughout the year If (or when) you need to remind them to be kind.
- Back to School Writing – Kind vs. Unkind Sort and Craft – Kindness Writing
Goal Setting Activities for First and Second graders
Being successful in school is not just about understanding the curriculum, but believing you are smart enough to understand it! Therefore, one of the most important things you can teach your students during the first week of school is how to have a positive mindset.
Goal setting and growth mindset activities are great for teaching first graders and second graders about positive thinking. Beginning these positive mindset practices the first week of school sets them up for success from day one. In addition, it sets you as the teacher up for success. When your students approach learning with a positive attitude it helps you to keep them engaged – even during a lesson that may be more challenging.
- Back to School Anything is Popsicle Writing Prompt
- Cactus Makes Perfect Classroom Rules and Procedures Writing Activity
- Llama Tell You All About Me writing activity
- Back to School Growth Mindset Sorting Activity & Bulletin Board – Power of Yet
Activities to Create Procedures in the Classroom
Another important part of a successful school year is having successful procedures. Procedures teach students expectations. This helps the class run more smoothly. It also helps establish an effective classroom management plan that is not focused on rules.
Teaching procedures during the first week of school does not have to take away from learning either! Combine procedures with an academic activity to save time and make the procedure more effective.
- Back to School Classroom Procedures – Sorting Activity and Procedures writing
Free Activities for the First Week of School
In addition to the 11 back to school activities for first graders and second graders above, we love to give teachers extra freebies!
These freebies are additional activities that support the important areas of first week of school activities. They are perfect to add to any of activity in the Back to School First Week of School Bundle.
Activities for Teaching Expectations in First Grade
Everything you do in the classroom can be a procedure. From how to sharpen pencils to how you get students’ attention, the more procedures you have the better!
Procedures teach students expectations. These are the expectations that students will follow all year long. Therefore, it is important to teach procedures during the first week of school (or as soon as one is needed).
Try these two freebie activities to begin the year off right by teaching effective procedures.
- Attention Getters
- Transition Freebie
In addition to teaching expectations through procedures, it is important to teach students expectations about behavior. Our Behavior Buddy Freebie is the perfect way to establish behavior expectations! Like our kindness activity, this is also a great one that can be referenced throughout the year as needed.
Activities for Building Classroom Community
The community you create for your students is even more important than the curriculum. Students must feel safe, seen, and heard in the classroom. Therefore, we have a handful of favorite teacher activities to help you build a positive classroom community – for free!
- Shout Outs Freebie
- Let’s Flamingle Freebie
- Morning Meeting Freebie
- Brain Breaks Freebie
Activities for Reflection in First and Second Grade
While there are several important activities to include the first week of school, many of them are great for after the first week as well. A great practice to start the first week of school are learning reflections.
Giving students time to reflect engages them in their learning and gives them responsibility for their learning. These are two important things to help them be successful in the classroom. Moreover, student engagement and student ownership help with effective classroom management!
To support you in incorporating this practice into your classroom we have provided two free activities! Use these to start your first week of school off on the right foot. Then, continue to use them throughout the year!
- Snailed It Freebie
- Exit Ticket Freebie
