10 Important Things to Do On the First Day of School in First Grade
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Welcome to the First Day of School series, part 2! The first day comes with lots of big emotions for everyone, but there’s no need to be overwhelmed by wondering what to do on this special day. Let’s dive into exactly what to do on the first day of school in first grade to set a great foundation for the year. It’s easier than you think!
And if you missed part 1 of the First Day of School series, check that out too! It’s all about what to do BEFORE the first day of school.
Why is the First Day of School So Important?
The first day of school is an essential start for a successful year! This special day allows you to build positive relationships with students, set clear expectations for classroom routines and procedures, and begin creating a sense of community where all students know they belong.
Having an outstanding year truly starts on day 1!
What to Do On the First Day of School in First Grade
On the first day of school in first grade, you don’t need to jump right into the curriculum or get every classroom procedure and expectation in place. Make the day all about settling in and setting the tone for a positive classroom community and learning environment.
Remember, you can only do so much on the first day… so plan accordingly! Grab these FREE First Day of School Lesson Plans to make sure you aren’t adding to your own stress by feeling scattered or trying to do too much.
These 10 things are exactly what you need to do on the first day of school in first grade to keep the day moving at just the right pace. Your students will stay engaged, you’ll know exactly what to do, and everyone will be excited to come back on the second day!
- Welcome Students
- Take Attendance & Collect Supplies
- Introduce Yourself
- Getting to Know You Activity
- Read a Back to School Book
- Talk about Feelings
- Go on a Tour
- Review Classroom Expectations
- Create Self-Portraits
- Complete a Community Building Activity
*This post contains some affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Welcome Students at the Door
First thing, welcome your new students at the door with a big smile on your face! Call each student by name too.
Then, direct them to their starting point for the day inside the classroom:
- Their desk
- Small group tables
- The carpet
- The cubby area
This personalized greeting allows students to feel more at ease when they’re likely feeling a little overwhelmed and scared.
2. Take Attendance and Collect Supplies
Next, take attendance and collect everyone’s supplies.
Intentionally build a great classroom community while taking attendance by saying “good morning” to each child and having them greet you back by saying “good morning”.
“Good morning Anthony.”
“Good morning Mrs. Smith!”
Organize the supplies as you go in students’ desks or cubbies so you don’t have to do that later!
3. Introduce Yourself
After you’ve gotten everyone settled, introduce yourself!
This one might be easy to get lost in the shuffle of the first day, but it will make your students feel so much more at ease.
Share a little bit about yourself to help your students get to know you. Think about these things:
- Are you married? If so, what job does your spouse have?
- Do you have children? How old are they?
- What state did you grow up in?
- Do you actually live AT school?
- Do you have any pets?
- What do you like to do when you aren’t teaching?
Discuss your class motto too! What’s the most important thing in your classroom?
…Learning while having fun? Respecting others by following rules?
4. Getting to Know You Activity
Now that your students know a little about you, it’s time to learn about them!
Use simple, done-for-you first day of school worksheets to guide students through sharing unique facts about themselves.
Then, move everyone to the carpet and have them sit in a circle with a beach ball.
The first student says “My name is ____, and I like to ____.” Then, they roll the ball to another student in the circle.
That student says “His/her name is ____, and he/she likes to ____. My name is ____, and I like to ____.”
Students continue to take turns rolling the ball and making introductions until everyone has had a turn.
This activity is a great way to get kids moving while they build strong relationships with their classmates.
*Check out the upcoming post with more Getting to Know You Activities perfect for the first week of school!
5. Read a Back to School Book
While you have your students together on the carpet, transition to read aloud time.
These back to school books are all great options for the first day of school:
- I Am in a New Grade Now
- Going to Kindergarten: Book for Kids by Diane Romo
- A Letter from Your Teacher: On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen
- Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
6. Talk about Feelings
Next, move students back to their desks and talk about first day of school feelings.
Incorporate another book here to help students make easy connections. Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro is a class favorite!
Wrap up this section of the day by having students complete a bus craft and feelings activity. This simple, print-and-go activity empowers students to explore big emotions as they begin a new school year.
7. Go on a Tour
Another great way to help students feel more comfortable on the first day of school in first grade is to go on a fun tour of your classroom and the school!
Point out important things like:
- Where the community supplies are kept
- Where notes to the teacher should go
- Cafeteria
- Nurse’s office
- Special class locations
- Restrooms throughout the building
- Principal’s office
Your kids will get some wiggles out as they move through their new learning environment too!
8. Review Classroom Expectations
After the tours, introduce some foundational classroom and school expectations. Remember, you don’t need to teach your students every procedure and rule on the first day! Only introduce the ones that pertain to the first day of school and save the rest for later.
Essential expectations for the first day of school:
- Classroom rules
- Hallway expectations
- Cafeteria expectations
- Playground expectations
This Back to School Social Skills Bundle includes everything you need to explain these important procedures and expectations (plus more for a later time!).
9. Create Self-Portraits
Help students begin to wind down for the day by doing a fun art project. They will create self-portraits that highlight their unique and favorite qualities. When everyone is finished, display these portraits in your classroom.
Find everything you need for this activity in the Getting to Know You Activity Resource.
This activity gives students a great sense of belonging and pride in their classroom environment. In a few weeks, send the self-portraits home to parents. They will love receiving their child’s artwork, and you’ll be building positive home connections too!
10. Community Building Activity
End the special day with a special community building activity.
Read “We Are All the Same on the Inside” then give everyone their own mini book about accepting differences. Encourage your students to take them home and share them with their parents.
One Last Tip: Keep Things Positive!
Don’t forget, keep things positive on the first day of school in first grade!
Ensure your new students leave with positive messages that promote a respectful and inclusive classroom environment.
“Welcome to our class! I am so excited to have each one of you here!”
“I can’t wait to get to know each of you better. We are going to have a great year together.”
“In this classroom, it is okay to make mistakes. Mistakes help us learn and grow.”
Get your own free copy of Important Messages to Say to Students!
By knowing exactly what to do on the first day of school in first grade, you can ensure you and your students have the best day back. Focus on building positive relationships and creating a great classroom community from the start, and the rest of the year will be successful!
Let me know if you have any questions about anything you see here. Don’t forget to pin this post to refer to it later!
Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Plan for the First Day of School: 5 Top Tips to Consider BEFORE the First Day
3 EASY Ways to Partner with Families to Teach Personal Space to Students
Separation Anxiety in Children: 8 PROVEN Strategies for Smooth Transitions
KEEP HALLWAY BEHAVIOR ON TRACK WITH THIS
Free Secret Walker Kit
Monitoring hallway behavior has never been so easy and so motivating!
Diane Romo
Thank you for being here! I love sharing ideas with other teachers! If you are looking to enhance your teaching and build a positive classroom community, you have come to the right place!
