Let’s Get Ready for Back to School Time!
Isn’t it exciting to get your classroom prepared for the first month back to school? I always loved that first few days…well, except for the mess! I’m like many of you as I stuff things in my cabinets in May and then in August I start pulling it all back out to organize! Chaos #right!
What I found many years ago is that packing things away in categories (like a BTS bin) helped me decorate and get ready for school to begin. I loved those little bins of posters and activities that were ready to go!
Well, I have good news for you! I have assembled some “bins” for you to grab that have some essential back-to-school activities that are ready to print and go! You are going to love these bundles! (psst…they are not really bins…)

There are so many things packed into my Back to School bundles- let me tell you about a few of them.
Reading and Math
These Print and Read sets are lifesavers! Seriously, you choose the reading level you need and print. Students are ready to read in minutes.
This set has back-to-school topics like one-room schoolhouses and the story of how a pencil is made. Very engaging, indeed!
My Print and Solve math sheets are just as lifesaving as the reading sets. Print the activities you need and get students working in centers or during small group time!
This set has worksheets for many skills, games, and a doodling sheet!
Flipper Books and Escape Rooms
A little flipper booklet for STEM or Science? Yes, please! How cute are these booklets!
Students learn all about the acronym for STEM or the Scientific Method. The booklets are small-in fact, they will fit in a composition notebook! Great way to start the year.
How fabulous is this! Students complete three tasks to open locked boxes and escape. This resource includes a STEM Challenge!
The tasks include matching words to categories, math problems, and using a secret code! #sofun
How about some STEM Challenges?
Build a working drawbridge! The first time we tried this challenge we used new (unsharpened) pencils as one of our building materials. Students design and create a working drawbridge model and then share how their bridges work.
Tip: Be sure you have little cars ready to cross hose bridges! Kids love that:)
Can you see why these two challenges are perfect for the beginning of the year? These both use pencils as a building material. In this challenge, students are building a pencil box to hold some brand-new pencils.
The rules include having a handle and a latch to keep the box closed.
What a fun challenge this one is! Students must build a tower with a part that twirls. I make this one more challenging by requiring that the twirling part is functional. The model in the photo is a mini-golf hole with a turning windmill!
TIP: This is another challenge you can tackle by using brand new pencils as a building material!
This one is likely my favorite challenge ever! It’s the Rules Challenge.
Students must build a model that shows one of your classroom rules in action. When each team shares their model, they “teach” the rule to the other students.
This is perfect for Back to School time!
I hope you have found some resources and ideas to get your school year started nicely! Check my Back to School category for even more resources.
And, finally, if you are looking to grab a “kit” to get you started- I have 3 Back to School Bundles. Grab this easy way to start your year and save money!
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