| A back to school activity is a creative way to | | | | To make a school bus photo gallery, cut a big yellow |
| welcome students back to school or celebrate the | | | | school bus out of yellow poster board or butcher |
| start of the new school year. As much as the kids | | | | paper. Cut out windows that will become photo |
| enjoy summer vacation, they love to go back to | | | | frames. Take a picture of each child (head shot only) |
| school. Children love to see friends they haven't seen | | | | and print them up so you can use them right away |
| all summer, meet new friends and get to know their | | | | (unless you have access to a Polaroid camera). Tape |
| new teacher. | | | | the child's photo in a school bus window and hang on |
| Several creative back to school activity ideas include a | | | | the wall. If you have a large class, you may need to |
| name game, school bus photo gallery and how to | | | | make two school buses. |
| make a classroom book. You could even make an | | | | A classroom book is a fun group back to school |
| easy school bus cake for a first day of school activity. | | | | activity. One group of children can design the book |
| These ideas are fun, easy and inexpensive to do. | | | | front and back covers, another make a school map |
| They involve children in getting to know each other, | | | | and another group list the class and school rules. |
| and get back into the swing of things at school. | | | | Everyone will make a student bio page to add to the |
| Play a name game with the children so everyone | | | | book. On the student bio page they can list their name, |
| remembers each other's names. Everyone will say | | | | family, favorite pet or food and favorite subject in |
| their name and what is their favorite animal (or food, | | | | school. Display this classroom book in a location that |
| toy etc.) that starts with the same first letter of their | | | | everyone can take turns reading it. |
| name. Have the children stand in a circle and starting | | | | I hope these back to school activity ideas will help |
| with the teacher, say "my name is Mrs. Johnson and I | | | | make the first day and week of school a fun |
| like jackrabbits". For younger children, use a beach ball | | | | experience for your kids. Children love being with their |
| to toss around the circle until everyone has caught the | | | | friends and will enjoy doing activities that include getting |
| ball and said their name. | | | | to know each other. |