The first week of school brings a swirl of energy: fresh supplies, new names, and the excitement of starting a new classroom community. But between setting up routines, easing anxieties, and getting to know your students, it can be hard to find meaningful activities that are both easy to implement and impactful.

Whether you’re looking for print-and-go lessons, no-cost conversation starters, or a thoughtful way to begin your SEL and literacy work, this post has you covered.

Below, you’ll find six back-to-school ideas to build connection, foster belonging, and start the year with intention—including a flexible printable bundle created just for grades 3–5.

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1. Start Your Day with Simple Check-Ins

A daily check-in is a quick but powerful way to build trust, encourage self-awareness, and let students know they matter. These low-pressure questions take just a few minutes and can help set a positive tone for the day.

Try questions like:

• “What’s one thing you’re proud of this week?”
• “What color best matches your mood today?”
• “What’s something small that made you smile recently?”

You can have students respond verbally, with hand signals, or by jotting answers on sticky notes. However you do it, the goal is simple: make space for student voice and connection—right from the start.

2. Use Picture Books to Spark Connection

Read-alouds aren’t just for the younger grades, they’re a powerful tool for building classroom community at any age. In grades 3–5, picture books can open the door to meaningful conversations about identity, emotions, and the values that will shape your learning environment.

Stories give students a safe way to explore big ideas, see themselves reflected, and better understand their peers. And thanks to the growing number of diverse, multicultural picture books available, it’s easier than ever to choose stories that honor all voices and experiences.

After reading, invite student-led reflection with prompts like:

• “What part of the story reminded you of your own life?”
• “How did this character show courage or care?”
• “What does this story teach us about being a community?”

✨ Free Read-Alouds on YouTube to Try:

• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson — identity, courage, and feeling like an outsider
• Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen — belonging and classroom culture
• You Matter by Christian Robinson — empathy, perspective, and self-worth

These read-aloud moments don’t just fill time—they help shape the kind of space students want to be part of: one where every story matters.

3. Hold a Weekly Community Circle

Setting aside time for a weekly community circle can be one of the most grounding and impactful routines you build into your classroom. These circles create a structured, respectful space where students can share about themselves, listen to each other, and reflect on how the class is growing—together.

Community circles promote trust, empathy, and belonging. They help students feel safe speaking their truth, while also practicing active listening and building social-emotional awareness. Over time, this regular rhythm becomes a place where your class culture is shaped by the voices in the room—not just the rules on the wall.

You might start with simple, open-ended prompts like:

• “Something that helps me feel safe is…”
• “One thing I want my teacher to know about me is…”
• “This week, I felt proud when…”
• “A time I showed kindness was…”

The key is consistency over perfection. Even 10–15 minutes once a week can make a big difference in how your students show up—for themselves and for each other.

4. Try a Movement-Friendly Icebreaker

During the first week, students need more than desk time—they need chances to move, connect, and feel part of something new. A movement-based icebreaker like Find Someone Who is the perfect way to get them talking and learning about each other, without the pressure of big group sharing.

These activities are fun and active, but also meaningful—especially when the prompts are designed with intention. Try questions like:

• Find someone who speaks more than one language.
• Find someone who’s proud of something they learned last year.
• Find someone who celebrates a unique family tradition.

If you want something ready to go, my Find Someone Who: Back-to-School Bingo game includes:
✔️ 4 themed question sets to keep things fresh
✔️ An editable version so you can customize it for your students
✔️ Thoughtful prompts that balance fun with identity-building

This icebreaker isn’t just about filling time—it’s about helping students feel seen, valued, and connected from day one.

5. Build Belonging with Multilingual Decor

Representation starts with what students see—and classroom visuals can send a powerful message of welcome before a single word is spoken. One simple, meaningful way to create that feeling from day one is through multilingual decor that reflects the diverse languages your students bring with them.

A HELLO or WELCOME bulletin board in multiple languages doesn’t just brighten your space—it helps students feel seen, valued, and proud of who they are. It signals that every culture and every voice has a place in your classroom community.

These visuals can:

• Spark conversations about language, culture, and identity
• Encourage students to teach each other greetings from home
• Normalize linguistic diversity in a joyful, approachable way

✨ Want something ready to go?

You can grab my Hello in 42 Languages or Welcome in 42 Languages decor sets—each designed to be flexible, colorful, and easy to display. Use them on your door, your hallway, or your classroom wall to celebrate connection in every language.

6. Use a Done-for-You Printable Bundle

If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-impact set of activities that blend SEL, literacy, and identity work—all while helping students settle in—this Back to School Activity Bundle is for you. Created for grades 3–5, it includes:

• 5 literacy-based activities (crossword, reading passage, vocabulary sort, and more)
• 4 SEL tools like “All About Me” pages, student task cards, and class games
• Flexible formats for whole group, partners, or independent work

These aren’t just “cute” activities. They’re purposeful tools to help your students feel welcomed, connected, and ready to learn.

✨ Grab the full Back to School Activity Bundle here to start your year with structure and care.

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Whether you’re using a read-aloud, printing a community game, or weaving in intentional SEL moments, your efforts to create connection will set the tone for the entire school year.

You don’t have to do it all—but starting with one meaningful practice can make a big difference. Choose what feels right for your class, and know that the most powerful teaching begins with relationships.

Here’s to a school year full of curiosity, joy, and belonging.

✨ Want to Keep the Connection Going?

Start your mornings with meaning using my free 10 Days of Multicultural Bell Ringers—printable prompts that spark student voice, global awareness, and thoughtful discussion in just 5 minutes a day.

They’re perfect for morning meetings, warmups, or quiet starts—and designed to affirm identity and build classroom community from day one.

Click here to grab your free bell ringers and start your first two weeks with heart, voice, and global perspective.