What to Do on the First Day of First Grade (Easy Step-by-Step Plan)

The first day of first grade can feel overwhelming.

You’ve got brand new students, nervous energy, supplies everywhere, and about a million things you could do.

But here’s the truth most teachers don’t realize:

The first day isn’t about academics. It’s actually about setting up systems that make your classroom run smoothly all year.

If you focus on the right things from the very beginning, everything else becomes easier.

So instead of guessing what to do, I’m going to walk you through a simple, realistic plan for what to do on your first day of first grade, so you can feel calm, confident, and prepared.

Your Main Goal for the First Day of First Grade

Focus on routines, relationships, and reassurance

First and foremost, when thinking about what to do on the first day of first grade, your focus should not be academics. Instead, it should be:

• teaching routines
• building classroom community
• helping students feel safe

After all, students are walking into a brand new environment, and they need to know what to expect.

As a result, when students feel safe and understand routines, everything else becomes easier. In other words, strong foundations on day one lead to smoother learning all year long.

A Simple First Day of First Grade Schedule

Here’s an easy flow you can follow!

1. Arrival & Morning Routine

Do not rush this.

Model EVERYTHING:

• How to walk in
• Where to put backpacks
• What to do after unpacking

Then… practice it.

Over and over again.

2. Morning Meeting / Community Circle

Keep it simple:

• Name introductions
• Greeting activity
• Quick share

This builds connection right away.

3. Read-Aloud + Discussion

Read-alouds are your best friend on Day 1.

They:
✔ Calm nerves
✔ Model expectations
✔ Create meaningful discussion

Some favorites:

• First Day Jitters
• You’re Finally Here
• The Day You Begin
• Teamwork Isn’t My Thing 
• Little Monkey Calms Down

4. Teach Expectations (Through Modeling)

Instead of just telling students the rules…

👉 Show them.

Model:

• How to sit on the carpet
• How to raise hands
• How to listen

Then let students practice.

*Pro tip! Take pictures of students completing expectations in action and use them on created anchor charts. It’s a huge motivator for students to practice doing the expectation CORRECTLY!*

5. Classroom Tour

Walk students through your room:

• Supplies
• Centers
• Bathroom procedures
• Lining up

This builds independence right away.

6. Simple Independent Activity

On the first day of first grade, it’s important to keep things calm and low-prep.

After all, simple activities allow both you and your students to ease into the day without feeling overwhelmed. In fact, keeping it simple in the beginning helps create a more relaxed, positive classroom environment.

To start, try activities like:

• self-portrait
• name craft
• coloring

As a result, these low-pressure tasks give you valuable breathing room while also helping you learn more about your students.

7. Practice Transitions (The Game Changer)

This is what makes your classroom run smoothly later.

Practice:

• Lining up
• Cleaning up
• Moving between activities

Slow now = smooth all year. Learn more about classroom transitions tips HERE!

Want a Done-for-You First Week Plan?

If you’re already thinking, “How do I plan all of this without spending hours figuring it out?” , I get it.

In fact, when it comes to what to do on the first day of first grade, this is one of the biggest questions teachers have.

That’s exactly why I created a FREE First Week of School Lesson Plan Sample so you can clearly see how to structure your days without the overwhelm.

Inside, you’ll find:

• a simple daily schedule
• easy, engaging activities
• clear routines to follow

As a result, you’ll have a strong plan in place from the very beginning. In other words, your classroom can feel calm, organized, and predictable from Day 1.

So instead of stressing over the details, you can start the year with confidence.

Snag my back to school lesson plans FREE below and have all this planning and hard work done for you!

What Not To Do On The First Day of First Grade

However, just as important as knowing what to do on the first day of first grade, is knowing what to avoid.

Many teachers start the year feeling overwhelmed not because they’re unprepared, but because they’re trying to do too much too quickly.

So, keep these in mind:

❌ Don’t over-plan
❌ Don’t rush routines
❌ Don’t expect perfection

For example, over-planning often leads to frustration when you can’t get through everything. Similarly, rushing routines may seem efficient in the moment; however, it usually creates confusion and behavior issues later on. And, of course, expecting perfection on day one sets unrealistic pressure for both you and your students.

The truth is, the first day is about setting the tone, not checking off every box.

So, if you don’t get to everything, that’s okay. In fact, slowing down now will save you time, energy, and stress in the long run.

How To Make Your First Week of First Grade So Much Easier

Here’s what most teachers realize quickly…

The first day is just the beginning.

And if you don’t have a plan for the rest of the week, things can start to feel chaotic fast.

That’s where having everything mapped out makes a huge difference.

So my First Week of School Kit takes it even further.

Inside, you’ll get:

✔ Detailed daily lesson plans
✔ Engaging, low-prep activities
✔ Paired read-aloud lessons
✔ Slides + routines already built out
✔ Printables, games, and community builders

So instead of scrambling…

👉 You can walk in confident
👉 Your students know what to do
👉 And your classroom starts running smoothly right away

👉 Check out the full First Week of School Kit Here:

First Day of First Grade FAQs

When searching ‘what to do on the first day of first grade’, these are some of the most common questions teachers ask:

What should I teach on the first day of first grade?
First and foremost, focus on routines, expectations, and building classroom community rather than academic content.

How do you make the first day of school easier?
To begin with, have a simple plan in place. Then, model routines clearly and allow plenty of time for practice.

Do you start academics on the first day of first grade?
In most cases, no. Instead, students need dedicated time to practice expectations and build community.

Ultimately, the first day of first grade doesn’t have to feel chaotic.

When you focus on:
✔ routines
✔ relationships
✔ structure

You’re not just getting through the first day.

You’re setting up your entire year for success.

I hope you enjoyed learning all about what to teach the first day of school. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the First Week Plans FREEBIE! You will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me  @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.

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