What are the best first day of school activities?
The first day of school is always a mix of excitement, nervous energy, and a little bit of “what on earth should I do first?” I remember one particular year when I was starting at a brand new school. My classroom was tucked away at the far end of the building, and even though I was the teacher, I felt like the new kid, too.
Standing at the door that morning, I had two goals in mind:
- Make sure my students went home saying, “I had the best first day ever!” and
- Start building a sense of community from the get-go.
Instead of jumping straight into rules and routines, I decided to focus on back to school activities that helped us all get to know each other, feel welcome, and have fun. By the end of the day, we weren’t just a bunch of strangers in the same room, we were already a little classroom family (this class actually goes down as one of my most favourites ever!)
Here are three first day of school activities that I’ve found work every single time to make the first day memorable (and set the tone for a great year ahead).
What are the best first day of school activities?
1. Personalised Class Find-a-Word
Creating a find-a-word puzzle with every student’s name in it is a simple yet powerful community-building activity. The joy on their faces when they find their own name (and then their new friends’ names) is priceless.
It’s also the perfect quiet first day of school activity for those moments in the day when you need to reset after a burst of energy. Or, you could always start with this activity on the desks as the students enter their new classroom for the first time.
Teacher tip: Always include your name in the find-a-word – the students love it.
2. Classroom Detectives Icebreaker
This one is always a hit, and it’s also our secret weapon when things don’t go as planned. One year, after a first-day activity completely flopped, I pulled this out on the spot, and it turned the whole vibe around.
Here’s how it works:
- Give each student a “detective sheet” with prompts (e.g., Find someone who has a pet, Find someone who loves pizza, Find someone who has travelled to another country). We have a free download available here.
- Students secretly fill out their sheets, answering the prompts about themselves.
- All sheets are then placed in a communal hat or bucket.
- As a brain break, pull one slip from the hat and read out the answers to the questions without revealing the person. The class need to be detectives and guess WHO the slip is describing.
- The goal? Students learn fun facts about their classmates.
It’s a brilliant way to get students talking, laughing, and moving, perfect for shaking off those first-day nerves. Again, spice it up and add in a slip of your own (it always keeps students on their toes).
3. All About Me Camera Craft
Out of all the first day of school activities, this is one of pour faves! This is a creative, hands-on way for students to share a little about themselves. They make a paper “camera” with a film strip that reveals short “snapshots” of them.
It includes prompts like:
- My favourite hobby is…
- My favourite place is…
- Something I’m really good at is…
Once completed, these cameras make a fantastic first-day display for your classroom walls. It’s a lovely way for students to learn about each other and for you to start noticing connections between them. 
Q&A: Common First-Day Questions Teachers Ask
Q: What’s one common worry teachers have about the first day, and how can they handle it?
A: Most teachers worry about getting everything “just right” – the activities, the behaviour, the timing. But the truth is, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about making students feel welcome, safe, and excited to be in the classroom. Connection comes first, everything else can follow. A great way to start building connections is by asking students to share some information about themselves, like in our All about Me camera activity. 
Q: What if things don’t go as planned on the first day of school?
A: It happens! I’ve had first days where the lesson I thought would shine fell completely flat. That’s when I switched gears and ran “Classroom Detectives.” The energy shifted instantly, and we ended the day on a high. The moral? Always have one flexible, go-to activity ready in your back pocket.
Q: Do you have any suggestions for when the students first enter the classroom?
A: As students enter the classroom on the first day back to school, it is important they feel at home and welcome. One way you can do that is have their names on display at least 3 times around the room (think: birthday chart, door display, on group posters like reading or math groups, desk tags, cubbies etc). One way to incorporate this idea is to have the class find-a-word on every desk so the students have something to start on straight away – giving you time to sort out any other issues that may arise. 
Your first day sets the tone for the year, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Choose first day of school activities that help you connect with your students, let them connect with each other, and make them feel part of something special from day one.
When your students walk out of the classroom smiling and saying, “That was the best first day ever!”, you’ll know you’ve nailed it!
What to read next:
The best Math games for your class
Podcast episode: Our top Back to School activities
