Back to School Made Easy: Activities, Tips and Resources for Every Grade

Back-to-School Activities by Grade

Looking for engaging back-to-school resources for your students? From hands-on crafts to interactive icebreakers, our downloadable and printable back-to-school supplies are classroom-ready and designed to help you hit the ground running.

Back-to-School Activities for Pre-K

Set your youngest learners up for success with simple, engaging tools to help build routines, communication skills and confidence:

Back-to-School Activities for Grades K-2

Encourage independence, self-expression, and social skills with these popular back-to-school worksheets and crafts:

Back-to-School Activities for Grades 3-5

Older elementary students thrive on challenge and collaboration. These back-to-school games and activities are perfect for team building and getting to know one another:

Back-to-School Activities for Grades 6-8

Middle schoolers are ready for humor, independence and deeper discussions. These resources for the first week of school help break the ice and promote classroom culture:

Daily Back-to-School Icebreakers Calendar 

Keep the momentum going beyond the first day with our August Back-to-School Icebreakers Calendar. It’s full of quick prompts and conversation starters to promote daily engagement and classroom community all month long:

Back-to-School Supplies: Classroom Decor

Transform your classroom space with essential bulletin board supplies that will inspire your students and make the perfect learning paradise. Whether you are going for a full classroom theme or need some posters to brighten up your space, Twinkl has you covered:

Tried and Tested: Back-to-School Tips for High School and College

As a former high school and college educator, I understand the importance of building rapport early. And that starts with learning students' names—quickly. You have no authority over teens until you can address them directly and gain their mutual respect.

Here’s my go-to back-to-school name game:

Each student says their name and something they like that begins with the same letter. The following student then repeats all of the students’ replies that came before them, and then says their own name and likes. I always made sure to start by going first, and then I also finish by running through them all at the very end to help me learn the names.

By the end of the game, I’d know every name, and students knew I cared enough to learn them. Extra tips: If you have students with identified needs or ones who you know are particularly shy, then try to catch them early in the process to reduce anxiety and make it a positive experience for all. Someone will no doubt forget as you go along, too, so be ready to encourage peers to jump in and support each other along the way.

Pair the name game with a team challenge to break down barriers and build trust:

• Spaghetti and marshmallow tower (tallest one still standing at the end wins)
• Balloon chair (a teammate must sit on the balloon chair at the end of the building challenge without popping it)
• Junk shoe design challenge (shoes must survive a catwalk test!)

These simple but effective back-to-school activities for high school and college build respect, encourage collaboration and help older learners connect.

Start Strong with Twinkl’s Back-to-School Teaching Resources

With Twinkl’s comprehensive range of back-to-school resources, lesson plans, printables and PowerPoints, you're fully equipped to start the school year with confidence and creativity.

Explore the full Back-to-School resource collection today and make this your most connected, engaging and joyful first week yet.

About the Author

Sarah White is an experienced educator with a decade of teaching in the further and higher education sectors in the United Kingdom. She is a school governor for a UK primary school and a global manager for Twinkl Educational Publishing (Twinkl USA). With a background in art and design education and ed tech, White is passionate about embedding technology and creativity into classrooms worldwide to enhance learning experiences.

A strong advocate for special education needs and inclusive teaching practices, she is dedicated to supporting diverse learners through accessible resources and innovative strategies. White holds an undergraduate degree in fashion, with professional experience in clothing design, and a postgraduate certificate in education for lifelong learning.