Digital Back to School Activities {Beginning of the Year Google Slides™}

For years, my Back to School Survival Kit has been loved by thousands of teachers. As we navigate this challenging time, I wanted to make sure you had resources for building a strong classroom community virtually. If you're looking for full lesson plans and printable activities, make sure to purchase the Back to School Survival Kit {digital and printable version}.

*****After purchasing, you will download a Zip file. The zip file includes Editable Parent Pages in Powerpoint, a printable PDF, directions for accessing the Google Activities™ Powerpoint versions to upload to Microsoft, and the links to the activities in Seesaw. *****

These activities are formatted for primary students, but I have included third, fourth, and fifth-grade labels for some of the grade-specific activities.

For many of the activities, I have included picture "cards" that they can insert into the activities. You can easily delete these before sharing with your class or add your own.

I've also added text boxes so that students don't have to insert themselves. If you'd like them to add their own images, you will likely need to provide a bit of instruction. You can also add pictures to the sides of your slides that students can "pull" into their activities.

{Seesaw versions will be updated by August 15th.)

Management and Organization Forms
I've included over forms you might need during the first few weeks of school. Each page comes in Google Slides™ and Google Forms™.
· Student Information Sheet (2 Pages)
· Remote Learning Questionnaire (2 Pages)
· Parent Information
· Parent Survey
· Volunteer Sign Up
· Transportation Form {this is also included on the student info sheet}
· School Supplies Letter
· School Supplies Checklist
· Parent Sign In Form
· Attendance Form
· Parent Contact Form


All About Me Book

You can send this entire book out to students for them to work on or send a page at a time. These pages give you a bit of insight into your new students in a non-threatening way. You will also learn about their writing and word skills.
· Cover Page
· The Best Things About Me (with picture support)
· Things I Love About School (with picture support)
· Things I Don't Love About School (with picture support)
· I Really Love to Learn (with picture support)
· I Really Love to Read
· My Favorite Things
· My Favorite Animals (with picture support)
· My Favorite Foods (with picture support)
· My Favorite Places (with picture support)
· My Favorite Activities (with picture support)
· All About My Family
· My Favorite Where I Live (with picture support)
· When I Grow Up (with picture support)

All About Kinder/First Graders/Second Graders
This whole group activity allows you to set the tone for the rest of the year! Students will help you fill out a graphic organizer and describe what students can do, have, are, will do, and need. Students love to share their ideas, and it allows you to introduce growth mindset, kindness, responsibility, and more. I encourage you to complete this activity by screen sharing or over Zoom and then allow students to complete their own.
· Writing Page
· Circle Graphic Organizer
· Do/Don't Picture Sort
· Do/Don't Scenario Sort


My Heart Map Printable and Digital Activity
Before we can start writing time, it's important that our students brainstorm things that are important to them! Not only is this a formative assessment for students spelling and stamina, it allows you to get to know some of their favorite things! They can type or add clipart or photographs.

Goal Setting
In order to have a successful year together, it's important to teach students about goal setting from the very beginning! Work together to brainstorm some goals, and then students will complete a writing page about goals that they have. I've focused on attainable and measurable goals.
· My Goals For the Year (with picture support)
· I Want to Get Better At (with picture support)
· I Can Meet My Goals

Our Feelings
It's more important than ever that we help our students process their emotions. This activity gives you an opportunity to share about your feelings and give them language to discuss theirs.
· My Feelings About This Year (with and without picture support)
· My Feelings About This Year Writing Page

A Good Teacher/A Good Student
I absolutely love having a discussion with my students about what they need from their teacher! I love their responses, and it gives me some background on their previous school experience. THEN, I get to share what I want from THEM!
· A Good Teacher
· A Good Teacher Scenario Sort
· What Makes a Good Student
· A Good Student Scenario Sort


A Good Friend
Teaching our students to be good friends is so much deeper than "good friends are nice" and "good friends share." We have the opportunity to discuss friendships that are built on empathy and respect. This activity allows your class to discuss standing up for others, including others and comforting others when they are dow
· I'm a Good Friend
· A Good Friend Graphic Organizer
· A Good Friend Picture Sort


We Know A Lot! Printable Activities
I believe it's very important that our students know we are all teachers, and we are all learners! In this activity, students will share something they know a lot about!You'll gain insight into their confidence level and interests as well!
· I Really Know A Lot (2 versions)
· I Really Know A Lot Fact Page


Class Rules
After discussing your class rules (for virtual or in-person learning), your students can complete these activities and share their learning.
· Our Class Rules (5 versions)
· The Most Important Rule (2 versions)
· Follow the Rules Picture Sort
· Face Mask Rules
· True/False Sort


Lunch Choices
If your classroom is like mine, lunch time can be a challenge at the beginning of the year! Instead of constantly putting out fires, take time to discuss expectations at lunch time and encourage great behavior! Your students will help you sort Silly and Smart lunch choices, and then write about them.
· Choices Picture Sort
· Lunch Time Rules
· Lunch Time Rules I Will/I Won't

Classroom Problems and Solutions
This activity allows you to set your students up to be problem solvers, AND discuss common classroom problems and how to fix them. Work with your students to come up with solutions BEFORE they happen so that they are prepared to work independently! I encourage you to return to this all year long and add to it.
· 12 Problem Cards (with student writing space)
· 6 Distance Learning Cards (with student writing space)
· 6 Blank Problem Cards (with student writing space
· Problem/Solution

Extra Activities
Because every classroom is different, I've included extra activities that you can choose to use whenever! These activities are simple enough that students can complete them independently!
Digital
· Buddy Bingo
· All About My Day
· All About My Week
· Dear Teacher (3 versions)
· My New Friend
· My Summer Break
· School Words Search (and create your own)

Virtual Learning Digital Activities
I've included several pages for students to complete as you discuss expectations around virtual/distance learning.
· Class Meeting (2 versions)
· Class Meetings Picture Sort
· Class Meeting Rules I Will/I Won't
· True/False Sort
· My Favorite Thing (students will write about their favorite thing at home and share it with the class during an online meeting)
· Home Scavenger Hunt to share with the class
· Dear Family Letter
· My Learning Tools Writing Page

Be sure to download the preview for a more detailed look inside this resource. If you're looking for a resource you can use for digital and in-person learning, please check out the Printable and Digital version.