Back to School Ideas for the Elementary Classroom

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There are so many neat ideas floating around the internet! However, there are just as many neat ideas floating around our own schools! Last year I walked around our campus at various times and just took pictures. I love the things I saw!

This second grade teacher took a large sheet of paper, traced a large number two, and cut it out. She then cut it into various puzzle pieces so each new student in her classroom could decorate one. When the class put the puzzle back together, they discussed how all the pieces were needed to make a whole. They also discussed how every child in the classroom needed to participate to make this year a great one. I love this!

This is such a great back to school idea for the elementary classroom! Each student could even be given their puzzle piece on the first day of school as a filler activity when the teacher has to do so many housekeeping activities! You could do this with your preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students!

Our fourth grade teacher had each of her students cut out a t-shirt. She then hung them up outside her door with the saying “Our Class Fits Us to a T!” I happened to have some extra mini clothespins lying around, so she used those as well. Don’t they just make it that much cuter?!

The last idea probably isn’t quite as elementary friendly, although I suppose upper grades could complete this. Remember we are a K-12 building all housed under one roof. Anyway, our high school art students each decorated a ceiling tile. This was one of them that was put in the ceiling of the elementary hallway. I love it! It adds color and keeps the little ones guessing. I remember hearing some Kindergarten students chatting about this one over a month after it had been put up. They never thought to look at the ceiling when they were walking down the hallway! =)