By: Printables Garden Team
Kick off the new school year with our collection of First Day of School coloring pages and Back to school coloring pages—all free to download and print! These free printable Back to school coloring pages are perfect for helping kids get excited about returning to the classroom. Whether you’re a teacher looking for a welcoming activity or a parent wanting to ease the transition from summer, these free printable first day of school coloring pages offer a creative way to celebrate new routines and friendships.
Each first day of school coloring page is designed for all ages, from simple sheets for preschoolers to more detailed designs for older kids. With cheerful school buses, smiling pencils, and classic school supplies, these coloring pages make a great quiet-time activity or a fun way to start the day. Download your favorite first day of school coloring pages free and help your students or children start the year with a smile!
This post may contain ads and affiliate links. When you buy through our links, you help us keep Printables Garden free for everyone around the world. We appreciate your support!
As a teacher, I always feel a special kind of excitement as the first day of school approaches. There’s something about a fresh start, new faces, and the energy of a classroom ready for learning. To help set the tone and make the transition from summer to school a little more fun, I love printing out a stack of back to school coloring pages and crafts to decorate the classroom. These simple activities not only brighten up our space, but also help kids settle in, get creative, and feel welcome on their very first day.
Once you’ve explored our collection of first day of school coloring pages and back to school coloring pages pdf, you can print as many as you like for morning work, early finishers, bulletin board decorations, or personalized classroom crafts. These back to school coloring pages free are a simple, enjoyable way to get kids excited about returning to school and to add a creative touch to your classroom or home.
Make a First Day BannerPrint several first day of school coloring pages and let your child color them, then string them together to create a welcome banner for their study space or classroom.
Create a Custom Notebook CoverUse a colored sheet from our back to school coloring pages pdf as a decorative cover for notebooks or folders. Laminate it for durability and let kids personalize it with their names.
DIY Pencil HoldersWrap a clean can with a colored sheet from the back to school coloring pages preschool set to make a bright, back-to-school pencil holder.
Class Welcome WallHave each student color a page from the back to school coloring pages kindergarten collection and hang them up in the classroom to build a sense of community from day one.
Mini Coloring BookStaple a few first day of school coloring pages PDF together to create a mini coloring book as a first-week gift for students.
Name Tag TemplatesCut small portions of the coloring sheets to make creative and colorful desk name tags.
Backpack TagsLaminate and punch a hole through a small colored section to make a fun DIY backpack tag.
Morning Activity StationSet up a table with printed back to school coloring pages free for a calming morning start on the first day.
Class Goals PosterLet kids decorate a shared sheet and write one goal on it for the school year.
Memory Book PagesInclude a first day of school coloring page in a keepsake memory book to document their first week.
Coloring ContestHost a friendly coloring contest in class and display all the entries proudly.
Story StartersAsk children to color a page and then write a short story about the scene or objects they colored.
Educational Matching GamePrint two sets of coloring sheets, color them differently, and use them to create a fun matching game.
Folder DividersUse coloring sheets as customized dividers inside binders or folders.
Time Capsule Add-OnInclude a finished coloring page in a time capsule to open at the end of the year.
BookmarksCut and laminate parts of colored pages to make back to school bookmarks.
Home Bulletin BoardColor and display them on a home bulletin board for school-related reminders or inspiration.
Creative Journal PromptsLet kids pick a coloring page and write a journal entry about what they think is happening in the picture.
Color & Learn StationCombine coloring time with educational prompts related to letters, numbers, or classroom rules.
Family Craft TimeEnjoy some quality time by coloring together and talking about the excitement of a new school year.
♦ Colored Pencils:
Crayola colored pencils are my top pick for kids’ art projects. The 36-pack offers a great variety of bright, vivid colors, and the pencils are sturdy with a comfortable grip. My kids use them daily for coloring pages—they’re easy to use, transfer color beautifully, and hold up well for both little and big hands.
♦ Washable Markers:
As a teacher, I’ve used many markers, and these are the best for classroom use. They last a long time, have vibrant colors, and work on different surfaces. They’re easy to clean off tables and clothes, though they may need a little extra scrubbing on skin. Overall, they provide great coverage and are perfect for kids’ projects.
To use any of these sheets, just click on an image or link to open the PDF. You can then download or print your favorite pages. All printables are designed for US letter size, but they’ll scale nicely to A4 paper as well. Happy coloring!
Terms of Use: You may print as many copies as needed for your children, students, after-school group, campers, church group, etc. To share, please send a link to this page. Please do not sell them, email them, share copies online, or distribute them in any way for any other purpose. Thanks!