First Week of School Activities
A practical page of first-week activity ideas and printable prep for teachers and tutors. The first week is less about covering content and more about routines and relationships, plus a few reliable no-prep activities for the moments that don't go as planned.
Printable checklist
Print this page and check off activities as you plan the week, or use it as a quick-reference list.
Welcome activities
- Greet students individually at the door on day one, even briefly.
- Use a simple name tag or desk label activity so names stick faster.
- Give students a short, low-stakes task to do as soon as they walk in, so the room feels purposeful from minute one.
Get-to-know-you routines
- Use a simple all-about-me page or interest survey for younger students.
- Try a class scavenger hunt for finding classmates with something in common.
- Build in a few minutes daily for students to share something small, rather than one long activity on day one.
Reading and writing warmups
- Start with short, low-pressure writing prompts rather than a full assignment.
- Use a sentence scramble or word search for a calm, independent warmup.
- Read aloud daily, even for a few minutes — it's an easy routine to start immediately.
Math fact practice
- Use a quick math facts warmup to gauge where students are without it feeling like a test.
- Keep the first week's math practice short and low-stakes.
- Introduce any math routines (like a daily fact check-in) you plan to keep all year.
Classroom routines
- Teach and practice how to line up, turn in work, and ask for help — slowly, with room to repeat it.
- Introduce a simple attention signal and practice it a few times.
- Walk through the daily schedule out loud so students know what to expect.
Quiet backup activities
- Keep a folder of no-prep printables ready for early finishers or unplanned downtime.
- Have a calm class game ready for moments that need a reset.
- Prepare one extra activity per day in case a lesson finishes early — the first week almost always runs faster or slower than planned.
What to print for the first week
A few no-prep generators worth running before students arrive:
Recommended Classeem tools
Get the room ready before you plan the first week's activities.
All Worksheet GeneratorsPrintable practice across math, reading, and writing.
Learning GamesBrowser games for a calm early-finisher or indoor-recess option.
Classroom ToolsSeating charts, groups, timers, and everyday classroom utilities.
Frequently asked questions
What should teachers do during the first week of school?
Focus on routines and relationships before content: teach how the classroom works (lining up, turning in work, asking for help), and build in daily time for students to introduce themselves and get comfortable.
What are easy first-week activities?
Low-prep, low-stakes options work best: an all-about-me page, a sentence scramble or word search warmup, a quick math facts check-in, and a class scavenger hunt for meeting classmates.
What should I print before the first week?
A few no-prep printables go a long way — a sentence scramble or word search for warmups, a simple math facts sheet, and a seating chart, so you're not printing mid-week.
Can I use these activities with elementary students?
Yes — the activities and pacing here are written with elementary classrooms in mind, though most can be adjusted up or down for other grade levels.