Back to School Activities: What to Do in the First Week of School with Students

Looking for the answer to: What do I do with students during the first week back to school? Well, we know the first week of school is more than organising pencils and handing out books. It’s about setting the tone for the year ahead — building connections, establishing routines, and creating a classroom culture where every student feels they belong.

At Gifted and Talented Teacher (GTT), we believe in resources that lighten the load and lift your room. The right back to school activities can help you establish belonging, predictability and purpose from day one. Below are some of our favourite first-week classroom activities that teachers return to year after year.

Explore GTT Back to School activities or view some of our highlights below! 

Zentangle Back to School Bookmark or Tote Tray Art Activity

This easy prep art activity (everything you need is included) is perfect for easing students back into school routines. Students can personalise a bookmark or tote tray insert using zentangle-style patterns, supporting fine motor skills while encouraging calm, creative expression. It’s an ideal first-day task that keeps hands busy while conversations naturally flow.

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All About Me Flextangle

Have you got an afternoon period or a few sessions up your sleeve to engage students? The All About Me Flextangle adds movement and novelty to traditional self-introduction tasks. Students create a folding, interactive display that shares key information about themselves, making it a great hands on, back to school activity for building classroom community while also doubling as a unique display piece or fidget toy for throughout the year.

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All About Me Sectioned Bunting

This bunting-style display breaks student introductions into manageable sections, helping students share information in a structured, visually appealing way. It’s particularly effective for establishing a sense of belonging while creating a cohesive classroom display early in the year.

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All About Me Upper Grades Bunting: Slides and Activity

Designed specifically for older students, this resource offers age-appropriate prompts that encourage reflection and self-expression without feeling juvenile. It’s ideal for upper primary classrooms wanting a polished back to school display that still prioritises student voice.

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All About Me Lower Grades Bunting: Slides and Activity

For younger students, this bunting uses simple prompts and visual supports to help children share about themselves confidently. It supports oral language, fine motor development, and early classroom routines during the first week of school.

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All About Me Clouds

The All About Me Clouds activity is a gentle, calming way to introduce students to one another. Each student contributes their own cloud, creating a collective display that reinforces the message that everyone belongs in the classroom.

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All About Me Honeycomb Hexagons

This collaborative display activity allows each student to complete a hexagon that tessellates with the rest of the class. It’s a powerful visual metaphor for classroom community — individual pieces coming together to form something bigger.

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Welcome Back Pack (One resource, 26 Activities)

The Welcome Back Pack is designed as an all-in-one solution for the first week of school. While it includes a wide range of activities — such as:

• All About Me Clouds, Welcome Back Booklet Covers, Character Clouds, Year Art Mosaic, All About Me Cubes, Class Word Searches, My First Day Of desk mats, Two Truths and a Lie, Roll and Tell, Find Someone Who, Classroom Rules, Routines and Rules, Classroom Organisation, Questions for My Teacher, Acknowledgement of Country, Holiday Recount, Height and Hand, Interest Inventory, Think Outside the Circle, Self-Portrait Bunting, Tote Tray Labels, I’m a Work of Art, Desk Plate Labels, Map of the School, My Character Strengths, and Letters to Future Self or Teacher — it is intentionally created as one cohesive resource.

Everything inside works together to support connection, routine, reflection and belonging across the entire first week.

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The first week of school sets the emotional and practical foundations for the year ahead. Thoughtful back to school activities help students feel safe, seen and settled — while also helping teachers establish routines without overwhelm.

Whether you choose a single activity or a comprehensive welcome pack, starting with purpose makes all the difference.

At Gifted and Talented Teacher, our goal is to support classrooms where students feel they belong from the moment they walk through the door.