When it comes to planning the first day of homeschool ideas, it’s essential to create an exciting and positive start to the school year.
As a homeschool mom who’s been navigating this journey for seven years, I know how crucial it is to start the school year on an exciting and positive note.
Our first day of homeschool sets the tone for the rest of the year, and it’s always a blend of fun, learning, and creativity.
Incorporating activities like first day of school worksheets can make the experience both educational and enjoyable.
Here are 25 great ideas that will make your first day of homeschooling memorable for both you and the kids.
**There may be affiliate links in this post. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.**
Table of Contents
Obligatory Photo!
Before we start we always take a photo with our first day of homeschool sign. I know we are not a public school family, but why should we all miss out on the school pictures?
It always makes me laugh when we see homeschooled families with the kids wearing their pajamas and laughing! This is one of my favorite homeschool traditions that we have been doing for the past 7 years, and will continue to until he graduates high school!
Scavenger Hunt Adventure
This is a great way to get them excited about the new school year and familiarize them with the learning environment.
Why not hide all of their homeschool supplies too?
We do this every homeschool year, it is so much fun. If you have older children why not create an escape room with these really easy-to-make escape room puzzle ideas!
Download our free first day of school scavenger hunt printable and get the kids to find all of their old and new school supplies.
Back to School Party
Throw a mini back-to-school party! Decorate your homeschool space with balloons, banners, and a special bulletin board.
Have some fun school activities planned, like a dance-off or karaoke, to celebrate the beginning of a new academic adventure.
Craft Time: Decorate Notebooks
Let the kids personalize their new notebook and school supplies. Provide them with stickers, markers, and construction paper to create unique designs.
This activity sparks creativity and gives them a sense of ownership over their materials.
Educational Bingo
Have fun with a bingo game with educational themes. Include subjects like math, language arts, and social studies. This can be a fun way to review what they’ve learned in previous years and introduce new concepts.
Feel free to use our free printable bingo cards:
- Math bingo printable
- Summer reading bingo printable
- Back to school bingo printable
- Free alphabet bingo printable
Nature Walk and Journal
Go on a nature walk and let the kids collect leaves, flowers, and rocks.
When you get back, they can create a nature journal, drawing and writing about their finds. This combines science, art, and writing in one hands-on activity.
Download our free garden scavenger hunt printable and have fun in the backyard!
Interactive Online Homeschool Courses
Start the day with educational online games. This can be a fun and structured way to dive into learning.
- Adventure Academy (you can read our Adventure Academy review for more details)
- ABCMouse (you can read our ABCMouse review for more information)
- Night Zookeeper (check out our Night Zookeeper review for more details)
- Prodigy for math
- Free typing games for kids
My son chooses to play these on a weekend, so if I said on his first day of homeschool he could play them, he would be delighted.
Have a fun first week with an online lesson on Outschool. My son has most recently taken magic classes and Star Wars classes. He has never had a bad class, and it is something different than schoolwork! Check out our Outschool review for more information.
Cook a Healthy Breakfast Together
Kick off the first day with a healthy special breakfast that you cook together. Try making whole-grain pancakes or a nutritious smoothie. This is not only a great way to bond but also to teach them about healthy eating.
Our all-time favorite kids cookbook is the Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs.
DIY Science Experiments
Conduct simple experiments that you can do at home. Activities like making a baking soda volcano or growing crystals are both educational and exciting for kids.
Check out the best back to school gifts for homeschoolers.
Kids STEM Subscription Boxes
We currently have three monthly best subscription boxes for teen boys that we love:
- KiwiCo offers so many subscription boxes for kids aged 3-18.
- Mel Science (check out our Mel Science review)
- Comic Garage is another excellent box we subscribe to.
Create a Homeschool Planner
Help the kids create their own homeschool planner. They can design the cover and set up their weekly schedules. This helps them learn about organization and planning, crucial skills for independent learning.
Field Trip to a Local Museum or Aquarium
Plan a field trip to a nearby museum or aquarium. These outings are great for hands-on learning and can be tied back to subjects you’re covering in your homeschool curriculum.
Explore the world from your home by taking virtual field trips for homeschoolersto famous landmarks, museums, or even another country through online homeschool resources.
Have even more fun and take our free museum scavenger hunt printable or our free aquarium scavenger hunt.
Interactive Geography Lessons
Use a large map or globe and have the kids pick a country to learn about. They can research its culture, language, and history, and present their findings. This makes geography fun and interactive.
Check out our free printable geography worksheets for more fun.
Parent-Teacher Meeting
Hold a mock parenting teacher meeting with your kids. Discuss the goals for the year, subjects they’ll be studying, and any concerns they might have. This helps set clear expectations and gives them a voice in their education.
Educational Games and Puzzles
Start the day with some educational games and puzzles. Activities like word searches, math puzzles, and educational board games can make learning fun right from the start.
Have fun with word games for kids on the first day of home-education. Our favorite is probably our free printable mad libs for teens.
But we also enjoy free word games such as this back to school word scramble, and back to school word search.
Create a Vision Board
Have the kids create a homeschool vision board for the school year. They can include academic goals, hobbies they want to pursue, and personal aspirations. This is a fun way to motivate them and keep them focused on their goals.
A free printable all about me worksheet is a great way to find out what your kids are thinking. Now as homeschool moms we think we already know, well I did! It was certainly eye-opening some of his answers.
The best answer that my son gave this year, was:
When I am older I want to be………. the CFO for Disney
Maybe he should focus a little more on schoolwork, but hey, dream big baby. I was very proud!!
Interactive History Lessons
Dress up in historical costumes and have a history-themed day. You can reenact famous events or role-play as historical figures, making history come alive in a fun and engaging way.
Or why not play some of the best history board games?
Library Adventure
Plan a trip to the local library to gather textbooks. Make it exciting by giving your child a list of topics or genres to explore, and let them pick out their own books.
Make a game of it with our free book scavenger hunt printable.
Backyard Science Exploration
Set up a mini science lab in your backyard. Use magnifying glasses, jars, and nets to explore plants, insects, and other natural elements. This is a fantastic way to teach biology and ecology through hands-on experience.
Homeschool Socialization Day
Invite other homeschoolers over for a playdate. Organize games and activities that promote socialization and teamwork. This helps kids build friendships and learn social skills.
Art and Craft Projects
Dedicate the day to art and crafts. Let the kids paint, draw, and create sculptures. This encourages creativity and can be a relaxing start to the school year.
We have hundreds of free kids coloring pages you can use.
Homeschooling Curriculum Overview
Spend some time going over the homeschooling curriculum for the year. Explain what subjects will be covered and what projects and assignments they can expect.
This helps them understand the structure and objectives of their education.
Discover the best secular homeschool curriculum for all subjects.
Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
Prepare a variety of healthy lunchbox options together. Involve the kids in making whole-grain sandwiches, cutting up veggies, and packing nutritious snacks. This is both educational and a practical life skill.
Hands-On Math Activities
Use everyday objects for hands-on math activities. Count coins, measure ingredients for a recipe, or build geometric shapes with playdough. These activities make math tangible and enjoyable.
Whether it’s the best math board games, card games, or online math games, make learning math enjoyable.
Create a Homeschooling Bulletin Board
Set up a homeschooling bulletin board where you can post schedules, artwork, and important notes.
Let the kids help decorate it to make it a vibrant and useful part of your homeschool space.
Reflective Journaling
End the day with some reflective journaling. Have the kids write about their first-day experiences, what they enjoyed, and what they’re looking forward to. This promotes writing skills and gives them a chance to express their thoughts and feelings.
Check out our favorite gratitude journal prompts for kids.
These back to school ideas are designed to make learning fun and engaging for everyone involved.
Whether you’re using structured homeschool programs or incorporating unschooling principles, the goal is to create a positive and enriching educational experience.
Happy homeschooling!
Let me know what you do for your first day of homeschool ideas are in the comments.
Last Updated on 1 July 2024 by Clare Brown
