Back to School Goodies: Ideas & Freebies
Starting a new school year is always exciting and having the right resources can make the first days even more special. To help make back-to-school planning a little easier, I've put together a collection of engaging activities and classroom resources to make the start of the school year a little brighter!
This blog will be updated from time to time, so hopefully you’ll find something useful for your classroom or homeschool.
All About Me Pencil Craft
The first week of school is all about building relationships and helping students feel comfortable in their new classroom. I love activities that give children the opportunity to share about themselves while getting to know their classmates, and this All About Me Pencil Craft does exactly that!
As students complete each section, you'll learn more about each student while they practice writing, drawing and fine motor skills. Once they're finished, you'll have an adorable bulletin board that's full of colorful pencil crafts.
TWO PENCIL CRAFT VERSIONS:
✏️ Short Pencil Craft
Flip Craft – Glue or staple the activity pages onto the pencil so students can flip through each page as they share about themselves.
One-Page Craft – A quick, all-in-one version with the activity page built right into the pencil.
✏️ Long Pencil Craft
Assemble the individual pencil pieces to create one complete pencil craft.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
To make this resource even more flexible, editable templates are included so you can easily customize the text to suit your classroom.
A British English version is included as well, with the spelling differences: colour instead of color and favourite instead of favorite.
Click below to check it out.
All About Me Booklet
If you're looking for another way to help students get to know one another, this booklet is a great addition to your first week of school plans. Best of all, it's completely free! This booklet can be printed two pages per sheet for a compact mini-book or as a single sheet.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
The entire booklet also comes in a version where students can focus on drawing and coloring.
A British English version is included as well, with the spelling differences: colour instead of color and favourite instead of favorite.
Want to grab this freebie? Click below!
Editable Parent Communication Templates
Between welcome letters, supply lists, newsletters and daily schedules, there's a lot to prepare at the beginning of the school year! This collection brings together the classroom communication essentials you'll use most, making it easy to stay organized while keeping families informed all year long.
Here’s what’s included:
🌟 Meet the Teacher – Introduce yourself, share classroom information, and welcome students and families.
💌 Welcome Letter – Send a warm back to school letter with important information and expectations.
🖍️ School Supply List – Create and customize your classroom supply list.
🕘 Daily Schedule – Organize your daily routine with editable schedule templates.
📰 Weekly Newsletter – Keep families informed with weekly classroom updates, reminders and upcoming events.
📅 Monthly Newsletter – Share monthly classroom news, important dates, birthdays or classroom highlights.
Click the button below to take a closer look.
Editable Meet the Teacher Templates
Need a Meet the Teacher page to get started? I've got a free one for you! These editable templates make it easy to introduce yourself to students and families while sharing a little about yourself before the first day of school.
Click the button below to read more and grab your freebie.
My Summer Vacation Suitcase Craft
One of my favorite first week of school activities is giving students a chance to share their summer adventures. This craft combines creativity with writing, making it a fun way for students to introduce themselves while practicing their writing skills.
Students color and assemble their own suitcase before completing a drawing and writing activity about their summer memories. To make writing even easier, the resource also includes a page of writing prompt ideas to help students brainstorm and get started with confidence. It's a great support for reluctant writers who need a little inspiration.
Once everyone has finished, invite students to do a fun show and tell, sharing their completed suitcases and talking about their favorite summer memories. Afterward, display their finished suitcases on a bulletin board to give a glimpse into each student's unique summer experiences.
You can find this freebie by clicking the button below!
First Week of School Interactive Slides
Make the first week of school a little easier with these interactive First Week of School slides designed for Kindergarten–1st grade!
This resource includes 180+ editable PowerPoint slides to help you build routines, encourage classroom discussions and keep students engaged during those important first days of school.
Students can participate in interactive activities while you introduce classroom expectations, practice good choices, discuss feelings and build a positive classroom community.
Inside, you'll find:
🌈 Good Morning & Welcome slides
📅 Classroom Rules, Routines & Daily Schedules
💬 Conversation Starters — Question of the Day & Would You Rather?
🧠 Brain Breaks/Movement Activities
🔄 Transition Slides
📚 Interactive Read-Aloud Discussion Slides — 4 books to discuss with interactive activities
👋 Goodbye Slides
✏️ Editable & Interactive Slides for teachers to customize
Coming Soon!
Another classroom resource is on the way. Stay tuned!
Coming Soon!
More teacher-friendly resources are coming soon. Check back soon!
I hope these resources help you start the school year feeling prepared, organized and excited for all that's ahead. More teacher-friendly resources are on the way, so be sure to visit again soon. Happy teaching and have a wonderful school year!
