Easy First Week of School Activities for 1st & 2nd Grade
What to Do in the First Week of School (That is Fun & Easy!)
The first week of school in 1st or 2nd grade is such a magical time – but let’s be honest, it’s also exhausting. You’re meeting new students, teaching expectations, organizing supplies, and putting out a hundred fires before lunch. That’s why I like to keep things simple. When I plan for back to school, I focus on easy first week of school activities that help build classroom community, introduce routines, and keep my students engaged without overwhelming them (or me).
I’ve learned that the simpler the plan, the smoother the first week goes.
So today, I’m sharing some of my favorite go-to activities for those first few days. These ideas work beautifully in 1st and 2nd grade, and they’re also included in the First Day of School Slideshow + Activities I created to make your life easier during those first back-to-school mornings.
Let’s Jump into Easy Fasy First Week of School Activities
1. Start with a Classroom Scavenger Hunt
This is always one of my favorite easy first week of school activities because it gets students up and moving, helps them become familiar with the classroom, and gives them a chance to feel confident in their new space.
I like to keep it simple with a checklist-style hunt. Students look for things like where to turn in papers, where supplies are kept, and where to find the tissue box. You can do it as a partner activity or as a class walk-through with mini-mystery clues.
It’s such an easy way to begin establishing independence while sneaking in some fun.
2. Use Read Alouds that Validate First Day Feelings
Reading First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg is a must for the first day of school in 1st and 2nd grade. Kids relate so well to the main character’s nerves, and it opens the door for honest conversations about how everyone is feeling. Plus, there’s a surprise at the end!
After we read, I like to give my students time to write or draw how they’re feeling about the first day. This doubles as a gentle check-in and a quick writing sample to get a feel for where each student is starting the year.
You can find this writing and teaching slides in my First Day of School Slides + Activities so it’s one less thing to prep.
3. Play the Rumpelstiltskin Name Game
Learning names can feel like a full-time job during the first week — but this silly game helps so much! The Rumpelstiltskin Name Game is one of my favorite interactive ways to help students learn each other’s names and build classroom community right away.
Here’s how it works:
- One student (the Guesser) steps outside the room or moves out of earshot.
- While they’re gone, the class quietly chooses one person to be the secret Rumpelstiltskin.
- When the Guesser returns, they go around the circle asking each classmate, “What’s your name?”
- Everyone responds with their real name—except the secret Rumpelstiltskin, who replies, “Rumpelstiltskin!”
- As soon as the Guesser hears “Rumpelstiltskin,” the entire class jumps up and runs to find a new seat while shouting “Ahhh!” The person left without a seat becomes the next Guesser!
This game gets everyone laughing, moving, and learning names without pressure. It’s a fun, low-prep activity that students beg to play again—and it’s perfect for those wiggly first week moments.
(And yes—this one’s already included in my First Day of School Google Slides + Activities, complete with a slide and directions to help you explain it easily!)
4. Try “Find Somebody Who…” for Easy Peer Interaction
If you’ve ever wished for a simple way to help students get to know each other and move around the classroom, this is it.
“Find Somebody Who…” is one of the easiest activities for first week of school 2nd grade because it encourages positive social interaction right away. You can keep it short and sweet – 5 to 10 prompts like:
- Find somebody who has a dog.
- Find somebody who likes ice cream.
- Find somebody who has the same color shoes as you.
It’s low prep, high engagement, and sets the tone for a friendly classroom culture.
5. Build Marshmallow Towers for a Simple STEM Challenge
Looking for a hands-on activity that encourages teamwork but doesn’t require a lot of prep? A marshmallow and toothpick tower challenge is always a win.
I love this on day two or three when students are just starting to work in pairs or small groups. You’ll see creative problem-solving, hear great conversations, and learn a lot about how your students collaborate. It’s quick to prep and perfect for easing into your science block without diving straight into the curriculum.
Bonus: it doubles as a lesson on perseverance and flexibility.
Need more easy science ideas? Check Back to School Science (Without The Stress!) for simple ways to introduce science to your class before breaking out the curriculum!
6. Don’t Skip the Self-Portraits
Self-portraits are a classic, and for good reason. They give your students a chance to express themselves, work quietly, and show you a little bit of their personality.
I always have my students complete a portrait and writing page during the first week. Then, I tuck them away and bring them back in May or June to do the same activity again. The before-and-after is adorable and makes the sweetest end-of-year keepsake for families.
You can do this with blank paper and crayons — or use the version I have ready to go inside. The templates in this pack are great to place under a blank paper as a “stencil” for young students who get frustrated trying to draw a head and shoulders!
Want to Make Planning Even Easier?
If you’re like me, you don’t want to spend hours piecing together random first-week ideas from Pinterest or reinventing the wheel every August.
That’s exactly why I created my First Day of School Slideshow + Activities for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers. It includes:
- A fully editable Google Slides presentation
- First day plans and activities
- A classroom scavenger hunt
- Icebreakers, songs, and games
- Feelings check-ins and writing pages
- And more — organized and ready to use!
These are the same easy first week of school activities I’ve used for years to start the year off right and now they’re all in one place for you.
Stick to Easy First Week of School Activities
The first week of school doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated. A few thoughtful, low-prep activities for the first week of school in 2nd grade (or 1st!) can go a long way in helping your students feel safe, seen, and excited to come back the next day.
Stick to the basics. Keep it simple. And most importantly enjoy getting to know your new class.
You’ve got this!
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