First Day of School Crafts for Kids (2024)

First Day of School Countdown Crafts

The countdown to school starting is officially on!

Check out these fun back-to-school countdown craft ideas.

Get your kiddos excited for school with this fun bus-themed back-to-school countdown craft (above) via A Little Pinch of Perfector try this traditional back-to-school countdown via Coffee and Carpool for a more simplistic feel.

Such a fun way to get your kiddos excited for the first day of school, you guys!

First Day of (Home)school

Being a homeschool mom myself, homeschool parents are the demographic I typically strive to help here on Life + Homeschool!

However, when it comes to crafty fun & seasonal activities I tend to share ideas applicable to all parents — this roundup of fun back-to-school craft ideas is no exception.

This list is a great mixture of brick-and-mortar school crafts (ie the bus-themed ones) and some that are more geared towards at-home learning (such as pencil holders and toppers that may not be usable for outside-the-home learning.

Check out my list of first-day fun for everyone!

First Day of School Crafts for Everyone

These first four back-to-school craft ideas for kids are perfect for at-home learners and in-the-classroom use!

Check them out.

Start the first day off right with these fun first-day-of-school crowns (above) via Homeschool of 1.

Then, try one of these other fun ideas!

• All about me printable ($) via Messy Little Monster
• FREE all-about-me printable set that includes 6 templates via A Little Pinch of Perfect
• Back-to-school backpack craft via In the Playroom (must use a GROW account to download)

These are seriously adorable for first-day fun, you guys!

First Day School Supply Crafts

If you’re a homeschooler, you’re going to love these next few first-day-of-school crafts!

From creating these personalized binders at home using a Cricut machine via Sustain My Craft Habit to pencil toppers & first-day party supplies!

Check them all out below.

• Pencil Toppers

Personalized pencil toppers are so much fun, you guys!

While most classrooms likely won’t allow cutesy toppers, these adorable craft ideas are perfect for at-home learning!

Create these adorable apple pencil toppers (top left) via Two Kids and a Coupon that are perfect for fall or blast into the first day of school with these fun space rocket pencil toppers (top right) via The Inspiration Edit.

Check out my final 2 favorites for pencil topper fun!

• Heart-shaped pencil toppers via Collective Crayon
• Poppy flower pencil toppers via The Inspiration Edit

These are seriously so much fun, you guys!

• Pencil Holders

If you thought making your own pencil toppers was a fun first-day-of-school craft, you will absolutely love these DIY pencil holders!

Check them out below.

Create something fresh and unique with this upcycled pencil case (left) via Sustain My Craft Habit or take things up a notch by making this planner pen pocket (top right) via Easy Things to Sew.

Need something adorable for your homeschool room? Try organizing your school supplies with one of these adorable ideas!

• Painted mason jars (bottom right) via Dollar Crafter
• Pencil-painted flower pot via Dollar Crafter
• Butterfly pencil holder via The Purple Yarn

Want something a little less crafty but equally functional? Try our DIY school supplies caddy for a fun traveling art station!

All of these ideas are perfect for homeschoolers!

• Pencil-Themed Crafts

Nothing says first-day success quite like a sharpened pencil — or an adorable pencil craft.

These pencil crafts are seriously the perfect first-day-of-school craft!

Check them out below.

Kick off your first day of learning fun with this awesome craft stick pencil (top left) via Darcy and Brian or create something a little more simplistic with these craft stick pencils (bottom left) via Crafts by Amanda.

Then, create an adorable first-day-of-school keepsake with thisDIY craft stick pencil frame (top right) via Thrifty Northwest Mom.

Last, but certainly not least, make this fun pencil paper bag puppet (bottom right) via Simple Everyday Mom.

So many cute ideas, you guys!

• Crayon Crafts

While pencil crafts are fun, sometimes you need something just a little bit brighter!

Check out these adorable crayon crafts that are perfect for little leaners.

Use this free crayon template (above) via The Best Ideas for Kidsto create the cutest crayon ever! These are so stinkin’ adorable, you guys!!

Or, try this simple first-day-of-school crayon paper craft via Wonder in His World.

Both of these are perfect for at home or in the classroom, you guys!

First Day of School Crafts for Bus Riders

If you have a kiddo that attends traditional school or a homeschooler that rides the bus for a specialty class, these crafts will be perfect to celebrate that first ride!

Check out all my top picks for school bus crafting.

This adorable photo bus craft (left) via Simple Everyday Momis total fridge material, you guys! Capture a picture before your little one’s first ride and get to crafting.

If school bus crafting is your first of first-day fun, check out this back-to-school school bus card (top right) via Unique Gifter and this funpaper plate bus (bottom right) via The Purple Yarn.

Such creative ideas, you guys!

Speaking of creative, thismoving school bus (above) craft via Darcy and Brianmight just be my favorite craft of all, you guys! Just look at how fun this one is!

Still need options? I’ve got you!

Check out the rest of these awesome school bus craft ideas!

• Paper plate school bus craft via Honey + Lime
• School bus printable craft via Mama Likes This
• Name practice school bus craft via Mama of Minis
• Craft stick school bus via Two Kids and a Coupon
• Paper school bus book via Barley & Birch
• School bus craft (with free template) via In the Bag Kids Crafts

So many ideas to choose from, you guys!

First Day of School Apple Crafts

Well, if pencils and school buses don’t get you excited for that first day, maybe apples will do the trick!

While, yes, technically apples are thought to be a fall thing, I think they scream first-day fun.

Encourage a little apple-themed crafting on the first-day-of-school with this unique mixed-media apple craft (left) via The Art Kit Blog.

Such a fun one, you guys!

Or, if simple is more your style consider this paper plate apple (right) craft via Simple Everyday Momor this paper plate apple craft via Beth Ann Averillinstead.

Finally, create this apple-themed calming jar via Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool + for a calmer classroom setting all year long!

Love apple crafts? Check out our full line-up of fall crafts for kids to get your hands on even more apple crafts perfect for the first day of school!

So many cute ideas, you guys!

First Day of School Printables

While these aren’t exactly crafts, they are first-day perfect!

Check out these fun back-to-school coloring pages for kids.

If paper crafting and creating isn’t your idea of fun, consider trying one of these awesome printables instead!

• Fun I Spy sheets(left) via The Best Ideas for Kids
• Cute color-by-number sheets (right) via The Best Ideas for Kids
• Printable color-by-number pages via Thrive at Home Central
• Simple coloring pages (in Spanish) via Bilingual Beginnings
• Fun color-by-number sheets (in Spanish) via Bilingual Beginnings
• 3D coloring pages includes 1 freebie ($) via Red Ted Art

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