Back to School Activities for 2nd & 3rd Grade

The first week of school is exciting, but let’s be real—it can also be exhausting. You’re learning a ton of new names, teaching routines, organizing supplies, calming nerves (yours and theirs!), and trying to squeeze in meaningful learning… and that’s all before lunch.

That’s why I created a set of back-to-school reading and math activities that are low-prep, aligned with the standards, and fun—perfect for 2nd and 3rd graders! Whether you’re trying to review math and reading skills or just want your students engaged while you manage first-week chaos, these activities are my go-to.

What’s most important during the first week of school

During the first week, it’s less about diving into the curriculum and more about laying the foundation for a successful year. This is the time to:

• Establish clear classroom routines and expectations so students know exactly what to expect each day when they come in.

• Start building strong connections with your students to create a classroom where everyone feels valued and respected.

• Get a feel for where each student is with simple, low-pressure activities.
• Set up a classroom that’s calm, organized, and makes students feel at home.

With all of that in mind, that’s why I love using this Back to School Pack during that first week of school.

Easy Ways to Use These Activities in Your Classroom

Here are a few ideas for how to fit them into your week:

1. Morning Work for the First Week of School: Use the grammar or math pages (like punctuation practice or place value) to ease into the day.

2. Partner Practice or Centers: Let students partner up for the nonfiction reading passage about friendship, then answer the comprehension questions together.

3. Early Finisher Activities: The color-by-number math pages are great for early finishers while still reinforcing skills like 2-digit addition and subtraction.

4. Writing Warm-Ups: Use the summer narrative or “How to Be a Good Friend” writing prompt to launch your writing block or fill in those odd transition moments that are bound to happen during the first week of school.

What’s Included in the Full Back to school Pack

If you like the free sample that I’ll link below, the full resource includes over 20 print-and-go activities designed to cover your entire first week. Here’s a quick peek:

✨ Reading Comprehension Activities for back to school

• Fiction and nonfiction passages

• Questions aligned with main idea, story elements, and more

✨ First week of school Math Activities

(Each comes in two levels: easier + more challenging)

• Place value

• 3-digit addition & subtraction

• Word problems

• Comparing numbers

• Skip counting

• Money

• Telling time

• Color-by-number review

✨ ELA Practice

• Parts of speech (verbs, nouns)

• Punctuation

• ABC order

✨ Writing Activities

• Narrative + informational prompts

• Graphic organizers for planning

✨ Fun, Low-Pressure Extras

• Word scramble

• Back-to-school word search

• Get-to-know-you activities

• “Find Someone Who…”

Everything includes answer keys and is designed for grades 2–3, though many pages are great for high 1st grade or 4th grade review too.

Want to Try a Free Sample for back to school?

🎉 I’ve put together a FREE sample of this resource so you can try it out before diving in.

Inside the freebie, you’ll find:

• A Back to School fiction passage with story element comprehension questions

• Back to School themed nonfiction passage also with comprehension questions

• Math review on place value and telling time

• An ELA activity focused on identifying verbs

wAit! Do you Need plans for the First Week of School? I’ve got you covered!

Back to School prep can feel like an awful lot and that’s without thinking about the first week of school lesson plans you have to create. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you’re not careful. If you’re a first year teacher, it can be especially difficult because you really don’t have much to go off of. That’s why I decided to share a set of first week of school lesson plans that I hope will help you as you begin planning for back to school.

I once had a principal who said we had three main jobs during the first week of school. Those jobs were to make sure the students were loved, make sure they ate, and make sure they got home okay. You can bet that principal made a first year teacher like me feel a little better about that first week. Even with his comforting words, there were still lesson plans that had to be made and I remember it taking me forever.

That’s why I wanted to share these first week of school lesson plans with you! Feel free to use all or some of them to create a set of lesson plans for the first week of school that works for you!

You can download the complete set of these First Week of School Lesson Plans by clicking here or the image below to get your set of plans sent straight to you inbox!