Do you start the school year off only to find out three weeks later that your students do not know how to take care of their school supplies? From chewed, broken pencils to sticky glue on every surface, it becomes evident that students, even second graders, need explicit instruction on how to take care of their supplies. This is why I created my school supply crafts, including a poem to remind students how to care for their supplies. Check out my back to school crafts below & click on the picture or link to purchase!
Back to School Scissors Craft
Along with learning how to use scissors, students must also learn how to use them correctly. We must explicitly teach that scissors are only for cutting paper. Trust me when I say that if you haven't already, you will come across at least one student who thinks it's a good idea to cut their hair (or worse - someone else's hair) at school. While most parents understand, you still do not want to have that conversation with parents. This poem will teach students only to use scissors to cut paper, to never use them as a toy during playtime, and to never run with them.
Back to School Pencil Craft
If you're a teacher, chances are you've gone through more pencils this year than you can count. Students lose, bite, and break their pencils, causing you to spend your hard-earned money on new ones. We even have to go so far as numbering pencils to keep students accountable! By using this pencil craft at the beginning of the year, your students will know how to take care of their pencils, which will save you time and money in the long run! This craft includes a pencil and a pencil sharpener - choose one or use them both!
Back to School Glue Craft
Raise your hand if you've banned glue bottles in your classroom. 🙋 Somehow, sticky glue ends up on every. single. surface. While this craft is a glue bottle, I love that it is versatile and can be used for a glue stick, too. When students understand the expectations and have the opportunity to practice, using glue will soon become less of a headache. Sure, there will still be some accidents (especially with glue bottles), but you'll be able to manage it better! If you do decide to use glue bottles, you can buy the special cap that only lets out one dab of glue at a time. These can be a little pricey, but they are reusable. You can also search "glue cap for kids" to find them in bulk!
Back to School School Craft
Okay, you caught me! This is technically not a school supply craft, but hear me out! Welcoming students to a new school year is so important (as is building relationships). Starting the first day or week of school with this craft is the perfect way to begin building relationships with students, while also getting them familiar with the format of the school supply crafts. Trust me, your students will feel so welcome with this craft! You can choose from a school or backpack, or let students choose which one they want to create!
The beginning of the year is such a crucial time to introduce rules and routines, and how to use school supplies properly should be included in that. You'll set yourself up for success (and less headaches) later on!
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