Inside: Finding fun Back to School activities for your middle school students is a breeze! These easy activities will have your students loving their first days of school!
“Ah, it’s that time of the year again – back to school! I can feel the excitement in the air, but let’s face it, it can be a bit overwhelming for everyone. So, why not kick off the new academic year with a bang and some quirky back to school activities? Don’t worry, they won’t make your students roll their eyes this time! In fact, here are 10 fun and time-saving tricks to start your year off on the right foot. Trust me, you’ll be the cool teacher everyone wants to have!”
Table of Contents - Click to Jump to Activity
Back to School Activities #1:
Take Their Picture
Here’s an idea that’s sure to be a hit. On the very first day of school, snap a pic of each student in front of a memorable background that you can access later on.
Then, post their pictures (along with their names) the very next day to help everyone learn each other’s names. After about a week, take the pictures down and store them away until the last week of school.
Then during the last WEEK of school, snap another photo in the exact same spot and post both pictures side by side. It’ll be super fun for your kids to see how much they’ve grown and changed over the year! For more info on this activity, be sure to check out my blog post on this first day of school activity.
Back to School Activities #2
All About Me
Let students get acquainted by sharing their interests with an All About Me back to school activity.
In this two page activity, students fill in their favorites, such as favorite hobby, sport, subject, color, etc.
They can also draw a picture of their family. After completing this activity, students can share their favorites with the class. I like to have my students participate by raising their hand whenever they match with the answer the sharing student has on their paper.
Now, students can start to build friendships based on likenesses.
Back to School Activities #3:
Write a Letter to Your Future Selves
Middle school can be challenging for many students, including my adorable kiddos who are new to the building.
To help them cope with their jitters, I organize a back-to-school writing activity where students write a letter to their future selves highlighting their fears and hopes. I encourage them to write about anything that makes them uncomfortable and assure them that they will be amazed by their accomplishments when they read their letters at the end of the year.
Don’t forget to store these letters in a secure place and mark your calendar to avoid forgetting to revisit them at the end of the year.
Back to School Activites #4:
Two Truths and a Lie
Here’s an exciting game you and your students might enjoy.
I suggest trying out a game where each student comes up with two true statements and one lie about themselves. The other students then have to guess which statement is the lie. This would help you and your students to get to know one another better.
To make the game even more interactive, you could make it into a competition. Two students can guess which statement is the lie, and if they guess correctly, they get a point. But if the statement-giver is successful and no one guesses their lie, they get the point.
Back to School Activites #5:
Kahoot!
Are you on the hunt for a fun new online game to try? Look no further than Kahoot! My students absolutely adore playing it, and I bet yours will too. With premade Science Kahoots already available, it’s a great option to incorporate into your teaching right away.
If you’re thinking about using Kahoot on the first day of school, don’t worry, it’s super easy! By explaining your classroom procedures first, you can help your students understand everything they need to know before diving into the game. And don’t forget, making a Kahoot about yourself is a fun way to introduce yourself to your new class.
One of the best things about Kahoot is that it provides you with a clear picture of your students’ overall understanding, making it a valuable tool for educators. So why not give it a try? I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
Back to School Activities #6:
Scavenger Hunt
Are your students excited or even a little nervous for the first day of school? Make it even more fun with a scavenger hunt!
With this editable document, your students can explore 10 areas of the classroom and socialize with their new classmates.
Socializing is a great way for them to make new friends!
It’s also a great way to get everyone moving and familiarize themselves with important areas.
Plus, you can even give out prizes for the fastest finishers! Check out the link HERE to get started and make your back to school activities more exciting!
Back to School Activities #7:
First Day of School Quiz
If you are looking for a fun way to get your students’ attention on the first day of school then I have an idea for you!
It’s a quiz, but don’t worry, it’s all in good fun and won’t be graded, but you don’t exactly have to reveal that to your students just yet.
While explaining the class rules and procedures, keep asking your students if they are paying attention because they will be having a quiz soon.
You can choose to have a written quiz, a Kahoot! quiz, or orally ask questions for them to write down. It’s your choice! Once the “quiz” is done, you can reveal that it was just a joke (or not!) and you can even give them something as a reward.
This is a great way to get your students’ attention and make the first day of school a little more fun and exciting.
Back to School Activities #8:
Candy Tell All
Here’s a sneaky but exciting back to school idea!
Set up a big bowl of candy and walk around the room inviting each student to take as much as they want. But first, explain that they can’t eat it yet.
Some will take just a few pieces, some might take a handful like me!
After everyone has their candy, tell the class they have to tell one fact about themselves for each piece of candy (uh-oh!). But don’t worry, they can eat the candy after they are done.
Get ready for a mix of laughter and groans from the class. It’s a fun way to learn about each other and satisfy your sweet tooth too!
Back to School Activities #9:
STEM Challenge
If you looking for a fun and effective way to build teamwork skills among your students, consider trying out some STEM or STEAM activities together!
By working together to solve a challenge, your students will learn how to communicate and collaborate with each other effectively.
Plus, it’s a great opportunity to see which students work well together and can help identify any areas for improvement. To make things easier for your students, you might want to consider picking the groups yourself. This can take some of the pressure off and also minimize the distractions that can happen when friends work together.
One awesome activity to start off with is the cup stacking challenge – all you need is some string, rubber bands, and Solo cups! Check out this link for more info: HERE. Good luck!
Back to School Activities #10:
Would you Rather?
Finally, a great way to start the year off in a fun and thought provoking way is by playing Would you Rather.
Students are given a choice between two different situations. They have to pick one and then justify their reason. This is great for building conversation and debate skills.
This game can not only be used as a back to school activity, it can be used as a writing prompt, a time filler at the end of class, or speaking skills refresher.
Interested? I found a bunch of seriously great Would you Rather activities here. Take a look, you won’t be disappointed!
I hope your first day back to school is everything you had hoped it would be. These activities are sure to save you time and bring a smile to your students’ faces. Please let me know in the comments if you used any of these!
Back to School Products You May Enjoy!
Back to School All About Me Interactive Bulletin Board Activity
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Back to School Worksheets
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Back to School Activities Bundle
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Back to School Game – Back to School Escape Room
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Modern Farmhouse Classroom Decor Supply Bin Labels
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Step by Step Locker Directions | Editable
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