Still need a few ideas? Read on for some tips from our teacher team on what to do on the first day of school, plus some inspiring first day of school quotes to share with your students!
First Day of School 2025 Activities & Worksheets for Primary Classrooms
Dive into a curated collection of teacher-created first-day-of-school activities, printables and icebreakers to help your students settle in and feel comfortable whether they're starting their very first day in primary school or just their first day of the 2025 school year! This collection of printables and digital activities for teachers to use on the first day of the school year was created by the expert Australian teacher team at Teach Starter with an eye on providing teachers everything they need to make kids feel safe and respected from day one. Let your students know they've found a warm and welcoming classroom environment where they can thrive this school year! From activities that will help you set expectations early to printable forms you can use to collect important student information and so much more, this collection has your entire day (and first week) covered!
Editor’s Picks
The best of the best hand-picked by our team of teachers.
- Free Plan
Never Have I Ever... Getting-to-know-you Game
- Plus Plan
Collaborative Icebreaker - Back to School Scatter Game
- Plus Plan
Back-to-School Countdown Mobile - Goal Setting Template
- Plus Plan
Mindfulness Activities for Kids - Backpack Craft and Book
- Plus Plan
Back to School Activity Mats - All Year Levels
- Plus Plan
Project Based Back-to-School Activity - Plan an Excursion
Engage your classroom and save valuable time with Teach Starter
Get access to thousands of high-quality teaching resources that will engage your classroom and save your valuable time. Teach Starter is here to help you on your teaching journey.
First Day of School 2025 Activities & Worksheets for Primary Classrooms
- Free Plan
Never Have I Ever... Getting-to-know-you Game
Have some back to school fun with a child-friendly version of the popular getting-to-know-you game, ‘Never Have I Ever’.
- Plus Plan
Personalised Name Colouring Bookmarks
Inspire your new students to read, read, read with their very own personalised name bookmark to colour!
- Plus Plan
One Has to Go! Game of Elimination Icebreaker
Play ‘One Has to Go!” and engage your students in a friendly classroom debate with this Google Slides icebreaker game.
- Plus Plan
All About Me Sundae - First Day Activity
Scoop up some first-day fun with a printable ice cream-themed Get to Know Me Craft for kids.
- Plus Plan
Meet the Teacher - Get to Know You Game
Help your students get to know the teacher with a fun Get to Know You Game!
- Plus Plan
Letter to the Teacher Template
Get to know your students with an all about me writing template.
- Plus Plan
Would You Rather...? Question Cards
Would You Rather use this set of 31 question cards or eat a can of worms?
- Plus Plan
All About Me Concertina - Back to School Craft
Craft a fun All About Me Pencil Craft with a printable concertina book template.
- Free Plan
I Wish My Teacher Knew Activity Sheet
Add an ‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ activity to your first-day plans to learn more about your new students.
- Plus Plan
'Sit Down If...' Getting-to-know-you Elimination Game
Play this interactive game with your new class to break the ice in the first week of a new school year.
- Plus Plan
Get to Know Me Collaborative Tessellation Art Activity
Invite your students to get to know each other by creating a collaborative About Me Tessellation Art Project.
- Plus Plan
All About Myself Template - Welcome to Year 1-6
Use this printable All About Myself template to engage your students on the first day of school.
- Free Plan
Add It In Listening Activity Bundle
Practise following directions to colour and draw pictures with a free printable listening activity worksheet pack.
- Plus Plan
I Am Poem Template
Get to know your students and create reflective poems with a printable ‘I Am… Poem template.
- Plus Plan
Rules Around Us - Sorting Activity
Identify rules at home, in school and around the community with a sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
Back to School Activity Mats - All Year Levels
Use these back-to-school activity mats as your first day of school warm-up activity during morning arrival.
- Plus Plan
Icebreaker Bingo - First Day of School Game
Kick off a new school year with a Getting to Know You Icebreaker Bingo!
- Free Plan
All About Me Bag Activity Template
Get to know your students a bit better by having them create ‘All About Me’ Bags!
- Plus Plan
Can You Save Fred? Activity
Can You Save Fred? Encourage teamwork and resilience with a fun, hands-on problem-solving and team-building STEM activity.
- Plus Plan
Collaborative Icebreaker - Back to School Scatter Game
Start the school year with a collaborative game to initiate student introductions.
- Plus Plan
Mindfulness Activities for Kids - Backpack Craft and Book
Promote mindfulness and social and emotional learning with this Mindfulness Backpack activity.
- Free Plan
Back to School Retro Theme Colouring Sheets
Kick off a groovy new school year with fun retro colouring pages!
- Plus Plan
Icebreaker Games - Get to Know You Game Cards
Help your students get to know each other with this set of 20 icebreaker games.
- Plus Plan
Fishing To Know You
A getting-to-know-you activity for the beginning of the year.
Get inspired
Unlock the potential in your classroom today with the latest teaching ideas, advice, and creative inspiration on the chalkboard.
Explore our blog