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25 First Day of School Activities for Preschool

first day activities for preschool

October 4, 2022 //  by Eileen Zajac

The first day of Preschool is quite the big day for both kiddos and adults. It's important to have enough choices for students to keep them comfortable. These first few days can be overwhelming. It's an entirely new environment for your little ones. Include plenty of activities that make them feel welcome but also give them the space to take everything in and explore.

Along with that, it's important to provide parents with some crafts that they can keep as keepsakes. As we said, the first day is pretty hard on adults too.

Without further adieu, here is a list of 25 First Day of School activities that will make your first day successful!

1. First Day Lacing

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A post shared by Multinational School Bahrain (@mnschoolbahrain)

Finding different activities that can easily be done at students' seats is perfect for the first few weeks of school. Try this shoe-lacing activity on the first day of preschool! It will engage students and could also build a community for students to help one another.

Learn more: Instagram

2. Meet My Worry Monster

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A post shared by melissa webster (@knoxfaithbooks)

Building a classroom environment that fosters students' feelings is vital on the first day of school. This is the perfect story for preschool classrooms everywhere. Create a feeling of relaxation and understanding with this circle time activity.

Learn more: Instagram

3. First Day Tracing

The first day of school is an exciting time, so having different worksheets planned for students is a great idea. It will show parents what skills you'll be working with throughout the year. While also helping students get into their new learning routine.

Learn more: Facebook

4. Gluing Scraps

The first few days of school should definitely focus on different engaging activities. Gluing scraps is one of those activities that are perfect for students getting into the classroom setting. Using a sheet of paper and some cut-up colored paper, let your students get to work and use their imaginations in all the best ways.

Learn more: Facebook

5. Mr. Potato 5 Senses

Creating a Mr. Potatoe head is a great idea for preschool teachers on the first day of school. Students will have so much fun learning about their five senses and creating a great picture to send home.

Learn more: Facebook

6. First Day Handprint Crafts

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Eager parents are all over the place when it comes to their babies first days of preschool. Therefore, creating a keepsake for parents should be somewhere in your lesson plans on the first day.

Learn more: Facebook

7. Magnet Fishing

Having enough activities going on throughout the classroom during arrival time is essential. It will give all of your preschoolers a place to go throughout the classroom and set up before circle time. Magnet fishing is a very attractive game for students of all ages!

Learn more: Facebook

8. First Day Name Activity

@themhoffers Easy name activity for start of preschool year! Help those kids learn their names! #preschoolactivities #easykidsactivities #fyp #toddleractivities ♬ original sound - Cyndi - Themhoffers

A first day of school name activity is important for building rapport with students. Students will feel much more comfortable and confident when they feel included! Using bright colors and stampers is a great way to engage your students and start working with their names.

Learn more: Tiktok

9. Back to School Coloring Banner

@friendsartlab Available in our Etsy shop! #fyp #backtoschoolactivity #backtoschoolideas #backtoschoolhaul #backtoschoolactivities #coloringpagesforeveryone #coloringpagesforkids #firstdayofpreschool #firstdayofprek ♬ original sound - friendsartlab

Okay, so I introduced a color mat into my classroom a few years ago, and the students loved it! This one is may be a bit intense for preschoolers, but there are so many other options out there. Even turn it into a desk coloring activity and cover the entire desk with a sheet of paper and as students arrive at school.

Learn more: Tiktok

10. Mindfulness Jars

@littlehandslearning #mindfulness #mindfulnesschildren #mindfulnessforkids #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearsideas #firstdayofschool #dadlife #startingschool #gentleparenting #schoolreadiness #schoolready #readyforschool #parentingadvice #parentingtip #parentingtips101 #primaryschool #preschooler #preschoolideas #startingschool2022 #schoolmum #mummybloggeruk ♬ Colors - Stella Jang

These are so much fun for students of all ages! Use your student's favorite colors and create a few different jars and place them throughout the classroom. These will help with any first day of school preschool jitters that may arrive.

Learn more: Tiktok

11. Color Mixing

@learningthroughplay8 Colour mixing invitation in the Tuff tray #ideasforkids #preschool #eyfsteacher #eyfsactivities #fyp ♬ We Found Love - Ultimate Dance Hits

A brand-new school year calls for some brand-new learning! This activity for students is perfect for working together and creating different colors! It's always calming to work with paint and bright colors.

Include this activity in different stations. It will give more choices that students will appreciate through the first day.

Learn more: Tiktok

12. Fingerprint Paintings

@friendsartlab 🍎+ 🎨 = ♥️ #applecraft #appleactivity #backtoschoolactivity #firstweekofschoolactivites #appletheme #preschoolart #prekart #fyp ♬ original sound - friendsartlab

This craft is so much fun for preschool students. They'll love getting their fingers paint covered on the first day and bringing home these adorable school crafts. Crafts like this are great on the first day because they'll give kids the space to get messy and have some fun.

Learn more: Tiktok

13. First Day Sight Words

@lovelylittlemelodies Hi everyone! This week’s theme was “ABCs”, so I came up with this little chant for our group! Chant is original lyrics by me (Jessica Gelineau MT-BC). Song is one I’ve picked up along the way. I hope that you enjoy! If you use one of the songs or activities please make sure to let me know how it goes! This one was a hit in my groups this week 😊 #music #musictherapy #musictherapist #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodtherapist #earlyintervention #earlychildhoodmusic #earlychildhoodsongs #daycareteacher #preschoolmusic #preschoolteacher #preschool #prekteacher #prek #prekmusic #preksongs #preschoolsongs #toddlers #toddlersoftiktok #toddlersongs #babies #babysongs #nurseryrhymes #parents #parentsoftiktok #parenting #childrensmusic #childrensmusician #circletime #circletimefun #circletimewithmissjess #chickachickaboomboom #childrensbooks #earlyliteracy ♬ original sound - Miss Jess | Childrens Songs🌈✨

Do your students know their sight words already? Some might, some might not. That's where stations come in handy. This is a great way to assess the different levels that students may be on. Work with students closely on this activity to help and guide them throughout the entire duration.

Learn more: Tiktok

15. Dinosaur Chant

@lovelylittlemelodies Dinosaur Chant for Circle Time! *Lyrics written by myself. Please feel free to pass along but give me credit in any handouts, thank you😇* #circletime #circletimewithmissjess #music #musictherapy #dinosaur #dinosaursarecool #dinosaurs #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #earlyintervention #preschool #preschoolactivities #prekteacher #prektips #toddlersoftiktok #parentsoftiktok #parenting #infants #infantsongs ♬ original sound - Miss Jess | Childrens Songs🌈✨

Turn their first day into a day at school with dinosaurs! Having a dinosaur chant ready for the first day will help to get kids engaged and excited about the school theme this year! Whether you have mini books to accompany the chant or little dinosaur figures, your students will be engaged!

Learn more: Tiktok

16. Painting Ice

@friendsartlab It’s a sensory bin and art project in one! #icepainting #icepaint #processart #processartforkids #artforkids #artactivities #prekart #prekactivies #fyp #preschoolart #toddlerart #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities ♬ original sound - friendsartlab

The first few school days can be quite warm, depending on your location. If it's still warm and you really want to get your kiddos outside, try this sensory table! Using ice and paint brushes, your student will love fun activities like this to cool down their little hands.

Learn more: Tiktok

17. Caterpillar Names

@sandboxacademy Kids love things about them #momof2 #toddlermom #nameactivity #preschoolteacher #preschoolactivity #prekmommy ♬ original sound - Emily | Preschool Activities

A first day of school sign that uses student names is always a great introduction to the classroom. These adorable caterpillar name charts are perfect for the classroom. Allow parents to provide the introduction to school by helping children find their names.

Learn more: Tiktok

18. Ice Cream Color Matching

@craftymoms Summer fun activities 🍦 #earlyyears #finemotorskills #prektips #montessorimom #TikTokTaughtMe #LearnOnTikTok ♬ AIN'T GONNA STOP - Carol Kay

It's important to have enough activities planned for students to gain a better understanding of classroom expectations. Work in different styles of activities to get children used to using different classroom materials as well as understanding the classroom management.

Learn more: Tiktok

19. First Day Stations

The moment we have all waited for is here, the first day of school for 2022-2023. At John Robert Lewis Early Childhood Center, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fitzhugh and Board Member Armstrong visited a preschool class filled with activities for our young learners. #GoodtoGreat pic.twitter.com/i2PJVmvSJP

— Orange Public Schools (@ops_district) September 7, 2022

Here are four different stations that can be easily set up for the first day. Learning activities and play activities are vital to making sure students enjoy the first few days. This will help to set the expectations of students for the rest of the year.

Learn more: Twitter

20. Water Play

First day of preschool. Purposeful Learning Activities for Young children. Also know as PLAY! pic.twitter.com/mLWH37hFU2

— Michelle Barton (@MrsBartonPreK) August 28, 2015

Fun hands on activities, like water play, are fun for children of all ages! Water tables can include different letter recognition objects and even drops of food color to make it more exciting. Water play will help students to take time to themselves or interact with others.

Learn more: Twitter

21. What Was Your Favorite Part? 

first day of preschool craft activities | BACK AT IT - BACK TO SCHOOL CRAFT - https://t.co/Ksj8TUnpmc pic.twitter.com/mk7ii4vrH6

— We Know How to Do It (@how_do_it_com) June 20, 2017

End school with individual questions. A language activity on the first day will enhance future learning experiences. Students will feel both loved and appreciated that teachers took the time out to ask and learn about how their first days went.

Learn more: Twitter

22. My First Day of School

Read-alouds are great because they engage all children! Online books like this one can be used in the physical classroom as well as the digital classroom. This is an adorable story that will help students feel a little bit more comfortable on their first day.

Learn more: Youtube

23. First Day Song

Can't go an entire day without a first day of school song! Include this in your first day circle time activities plans because students will greatly appreciate it! Parents will also love learning it from their students after school.

Learn more: Youtube

24. Fun With Play

Let your students play! The first day of school activities should include an exploration of your student's new classroom. Coming into a classroom filled with all kinds of toys and exciting things can be overwhelming. Therefore, it's important to give students enough time for free play and exploration.

Learn more: Youtube

25. Daniel Tiger Goes to School

Sometimes when students are arriving at school, it's beneficial to have a video going. This will help shy students feel more comfortable. Daniel Tiger is always a great choice because he fosters so many different aspects of learning and imagining as a preschooler.

Learn more: Youtube

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20 Adventurous Leaf Hunt Activities 
20 Hands-On Middle School Activities for Distributive Property Practice
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