Back to School Teaching Resources
Head back to school in 2023 with primary school activities, classroom decoration printables and so many more teacher resources created by teachers for teachers just like you!
Whether you're planning for your very first day as a teacher or just your first day of the 2023-2024 school year, we've got you covered with everything you'll need to make pupils feel welcome coming back to school and your classroom.
Explore editable Google Slides templates, printable back to school poems, colouring pages and word searches, inspiring quotes to hang on the walls of your classroom ... and that's just the start of what's in store for your teacher toolkit. Get the peace of mind that you'll be all set to head back into the classroom with everything you need for a successful school year!
To celebrate Back to School, we’re offering customers 35% off Plus Plans with code WELCOME35! Unlock a full year of unlimited teaching resources for just £38.25 until 17 September 2023. Terms and Conditions apply.
Looking for ideas for getting your pupils excited about going back to school? Read on for tips from our teacher team, including back-to-school jokes you can share with your class and some back-to-school songs with a positive vibe to set the tone for the school year!
9 Silly Back to School Jokes for Kids to Share With Your Class
There's no question that telling jokes in your classroom can help build that pupil-teacher relationship. Are you hoping to incorporate a few kid-friendly (and seriously silly) puns into your planning?
Here are a few that have a school theme and are appropriate to share with the younger primary students:
- Why did the maths worksheet look sad? It had a lot of problems.
- How do bees get to school? They take the buzzzzz.
- What did the crayon say to the pencil? You're pretty sharp.
- What did the pencil say to the sharpener? Get to the point!
- What's a teacher's favourite type of music? Class-ical!
- What's a vampire's favourite kind of test to take? A blood test!
- What is a snake’s favourite subject? – Hiss-tory.
- What did the bus driver say to the frog? Hop on.
- Why are fish so smart? They spend a lot of time in schools.
7 Back to School Songs to Play in the Classroom
Going back to school comes with mixed emotions for teachers and pupils. Excitement to see friends and learn new things can be mixed with apprehension — especially for young primary students who may have never ridden a school bus or been in a school setting before. You'll want to set a positive tone from day one to help students start the school year off feeling energised and excited.
What better way to motivate your class and pump them up than playing songs perfect for back to school? You can play them quietly as pupils filter into the classroom in the morning on their first day, use them for a dance party brain break mid-day or add them to a classroom playlist for those times when you need to turn on some jams while kids work in small groups.
Here are a few favourite kid-friendly back-to-school songs from the teachers on the Teach Starter team:
- Welcome Back to School by Dwayne Reed — It doesn't get more on target than this fun tune from an American educator. You might also want to check out Reed's Welcome to Kindergarten for a song that's more specific to your class.
- Happy by Pharrell — This song about not letting anything ruin your happy mood is perfect for establishing a positive vibe. You can also use it as an example of using repetition as a persuasive device in writing.
- Can't Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake
- We're All in This Together by the High School Musical cast
- ABC by The Jackson 5
- School Days by Chuck Berry — This is an oldie that most students will have never heard before, but it's still a goodie!
- The Educate Song — This is a cover of Bruno Mars' Grenade that's all about education, and it's sung by a group of pupils!
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Desk Pet Notes
Encourage good behaviour choices by awarding your pupils with Desk Pet Notes to purchase their new desk pets!
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Social Emotional Learning — Question of the Day Morning Starter Activities
Download 180 days of morning starter activities to foster communication and positivity while building relationships in your classroom.
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Out of this World Behaviour — Class Reward Chart
Motivate and reward positive classroom behaviour with a reward chart that is out of this world!
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Whole-Class Reward Tracker — Digital Reward Charts
Celebrate classroom successes with a set of fully digital classroom reward charts.
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Interactive Classroom Layout Designer
Save your time (and your back) by pre-planning your classroom furniture placement with a Google Slides or PowerPoint interactive design template.
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Desk Pet Habitat Templates
Encourage positive behaviour in the classroom with printable Desk Pet Habitats for your pupils to spend their Desk Pet Notes on!
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Editable Classroom Newsletter Templates
Use these classroom newsletter templates to keep communication lines open between you and new parents.
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Editable Teacher Forms for the Classroom
Use this collection of teacher printables to organise parent volunteers, receive feedback from supply teachers, keep students up to date on missed work and more!
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Superstar Stationery Box – Behaviour Incentive
Promote and acknowledge positive behaviour with a superstar incentive system for the classroom.
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A Whole 'Llama' Learning Going On! Classroom Decor Pack
Make creating a fun classroom display no prob-llama with this llama-themed decor kit.
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Positive Notes Home – Parent Communication Templates
Use this editable template to share information with parents and carers about academic improvement, positive behaviour and more!
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Classroom Calendar Display - Rainbow Boho Theme
Calendar time doesn't have to be boring with our bright rainbow boho theme calendar set.
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How to Walk Like a... Instruction Cards
Transitioning pupils throughout the school grounds doesn't have to be boring when you use this set of 4 instruction cards!
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Read the Room – Classroom Labels
Create a print-rich environment with a set of 75 classroom labels.
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We Are a RAINBOW of Possibilities! Classroom Display
Start the new year with this back-to-school boho-rainbow classroom door display.
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Slicing Up Good Choices! Class Reward Tracker
Encourage teamwork and positive behaviour in your classroom with a new pizza-themed classroom reward system.
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Reward Bracelets – Behaviour Incentives
Encourage positive behaviour and reward your pupils for their achievements with a fun set of printable reward bracelets.
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We’re a Bright Bunch! Classroom Display
Get your pupils excited about a BRIGHT new school year with this crayon display bundle that includes everything you need to get set up.
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Our Class is Sharp! Back to School Display
Celebrate your new batch of 'Sharp' pupils with a fun Back to School display.
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Hand Signals For Classroom Management
Strengthen classroom management and reduce classroom interruptions with miniature hand signal posters and bookmarks.
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Tap Light Posters – Voice Level
Create voice-level expectations in the classroom with this set of 5 posters.
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Caught Being Good! Class Reward System
Reward and track positive classroom behaviour with a printable 'Caught Being Good' ticket system.
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Desk Pet Adoption Certificate
Boost pupil behaviour using Desk pets, starting with a printable Desk Pet Adoption Certificate.
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Positive Self-Talk Reward Bracelets
Encourage a positive mindset with a fun set of printable positive self-talk bracelets.