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Tired of the same old boring games at your back to school parties or with your first week of school activities? Try these 18 fun Minute to Win it Back to School Games that are great for kids and adults alike. Download, print, and enjoy some of the best games to play at school or home!

Celebrate the new school year and get the kids excited with fun back to school games. The first day of school is an exciting time for everyone, from the kids who are heading back to class to the parents who are finally getting a little peace and quiet.

And while those first few days might feel overwhelming as you try to get organized for the new year, setting up some fun games will help decrease everyone’s stress level! Group games are perfect icebreakers for getting to know peers and the classroom.

In this post, we’ve got everything you need for a fantastic back-to-school season, including fun ideas for the kids and some of the best games to play at school or for a gathering.

Back to School Games for Kids

Let’s take a closer look at a few exciting back to school games for outdoor fun with a group of classmates or friends. These are great for a school party or can be used in the classroom as they are clean fun for games ideas to play in the classroom.

Games to play at school might include…

Back to School Toss – This game of strength tests students’ accuracy as they toss these balls using string tied onto them. On the count of three, students try to see how many they can toss into their buckets. You can make this even more fun by choosing teams to compete against each other.

Pencil Drop – This game is a test of balance and patience as students try to keep their pencils from hitting the ground. All you do is line up into two teams and pass the unsharpened pencil down the line without using your hands. The first group to make it to the end of the line with a pencil in hand, wins!

First Day Jitters – This game is played like the classic game hot potato, but with a book! When the music starts, the first student passes the book. Students to pass around the book. The last one to hold it when the music stops is out. When only one student remains, that person wins!

Want something more? How about back-to-school party games that include math… perhaps like 60 seconds of activity?  Grab your stop watches!

Back to School Minute to Win It Games

Get your kids ready for back to school with our printable first day of school activities. The PDF is filled with easy-to-set-up games that need everyday items you can grab locally or get delivered by Amazon.

To use the packet, just download and print the pages at home on a color printer. The supply list is included so you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

Here’s a sneak peek at two of the games:

Keep Up Your Grades – This game of skill challenges kids to use their A-game to keep their balloons in the air. This is a challenging one, but kids love it when they get the hang of it!

Sticky Note Challenge – Cover your teammate or classmate with Post-It notes the fastest and you might just become the teacher’s pet! When the timer hits 60 seconds, who will have the most sticky notes stuck?

Face the Cookie – Players must move an OREO cookie from their forehead into their mouth within one minute. Participants cannot use their hands at any time during the game!

Using common school supplies like a paper bag, pens, glue sticks, rubber bands, and apples. Your download comes with a full list of items for the games and directions for all 18 games.

How to Use the Back to School Games

There are several ways to use these games. You can have a fun last day of summer with your kids and some neighborhood friends or even help set these activities up for your child’s classroom.

The beginning of the school year can bring a lot of anxiety. For teachers, these back to school activities make great simple icebreakers or team-building games as students share a challenge and try to solve a task. It’s a great way to make a new friend as you introduce new classmates to you and the classroom. They might find school a fun place to return to!

They also make great back to school party games if you want to invite classmates over to meet before the first day of school too! Have so much fun playing games that are a bit school themed. End summer break and excite your child about their school supplies and the first day of school. You can even choose one of the games to play each day after school paired with a fun snack!

How to Play Minute-to-Win It Games

The basic idea of a minute to win it game, is you have 60 seconds to complete a challenge. You can complete the task before the time, or you can complete the task within the time.

How to Score

With each game, the adult (or individual in charge) decides how points are awarded. For example, the first person/team member that finishes gets 3 points, the next team 2 points, and the last team one point. Alternatively, you can award one point to anyone that finishes. This scoring system needs to be established ahead o the game so that there is no confusion as the games are played.

How to Establish Teams

Before the game begins, teams must also be established. You can play as an individual, in pairs, or even in teams.

Individual: For smaller groups of kiddos, individual rounds are best. This gives each player an opportunity to earn their own points and play each 60-second challenge. If any games call for multiple players, you will pair up for that game but each player will be awarded individual points for “winning” the challenge.

Pairs: Groups of 2 to four players are also good with small groups. This means each player will not participate in every game but rather a handful of the 18 back-to-school games. This is also a great way to pair younger kids with an older student or peer. Group members will be working on earning points for their team.

Team: If playing with a bunch of kids, large teams are best for group games. One member of the team will be selected for a challenge each round. If desired, you can do the challenge multiple times. Challenges are completed to declare yourself the winning team!

There’s no limit to the ways you can use these fun games so download the printable packet to get started!

Minute to Win it Back to School Games PDF

Start the school year with something silly and fun. These games are memorable and make a really fun school tradition. Playing them will instantly create a memory bank file in your child’s memories.

What you get with your Minute to Win it PDF File:

• 18 Back to School Minute to Win It Games List PDF Instant Download (3 pages)
• Minute to Win it Games Score Card

Back to School Games Printable PDF Files

More of the Best Games to Play at School

Why are fun classroom games great for kids? Playing games releases endorphins aka happiness and thrill. When these endorphins are released, it’s a great time for connection with peers, friends, and new classmates. That makes the beginning of the year a perfect time for establishing relationships and teamwork through fun icebreakers. In addition, parents and educators can use holiday games for each new season to reconnect with brain breaks during those mid-year lulls.

Start the school year with some excitement. Enjoy these other kids’ games including back-to-school bingo, indoor games, games for a bunch of kids, and games perfect for a small family game night! Perhaps meet at the school playground for some fun water or outdoor games before that first-day bell or on that first Friday of school before the last bell rings for the week.

These are not your classic red light, green light games. Take a look at some of the best games to play at school or at a gathering with friends (old and new!)

Back to School Supply Scavenger Hunt Clues

Ready to pass out those school supplies. This at-home School Supply Treasure Hunt will give your kids a fun adventure as they gather all their classroom supplies. Hide the child’s school supplies with each clue. At the end of the hunt, you can have their backpack, all their school needs, prizes, and maybe a surprise first-day-of-school outfit. While this back-to-school scavenger hunt setting is in the home, you can also find (or create) fun scavenger hunts for kids like a classroom checklist for getting to know the school, teacher, and homeroom.

Outdoor Backyard Games

Are you hosting a back to school activity on the school playground? These Outdoor Games would be perfect for a large grassy area. They can be used for a kindergarten playdate or a coordinated recess activity for the teacher. In addition to the classroom teacher, these games to play on the school playground are great games to play at PE as they contain supplies like hula hoops, jump ropes, and balls. So share with those physical education teachers or ask to borrow a few game supplies for these popular school playground games.

Indoor Games

We all know that rainy days come and those can be really stressful for teachers. Kids need active games however most teachers have a cabinet of kids’ board games. The truth is, kids need activity and a break from academics. If you are a parent reading this post, do your teacher a favor, and instead of grabbing board games off the teacher’s wish list, get this! Grab these ideas for indoor games, laminate the printable game instructions, and then gift them to him/her for optional games to play in the classroom on days when the weather is not participating (or is precipitating – see what I did there?) In addition to the printable games for school, including a few of the game supplies the teacher might not have in the classroom.

Minute to Win it Water Games

Are you looking for field day activities or perhaps the last week of school and the last day of school games? The whole class will enjoy something unique.  These water minute-to-win-it games are the perfect ending to a school year and will cool off your students as that sun begins to heat the school day.

Minute to Win it Traditional Games

So, hear me out. Minute to Win it games are perfect for morality, but they also are perfect for a math lesson plan. If you are looking for math games, try these traditional Minute to Win it Games. Kids can use the minute to win it scorecard to keep track of points. Of course, the math on the 60-second challenge is also a fit. Use with a stopwatch lesson or as a reward for the end of a math section or good math test scores. Who wouldn’t love this reward that you could play the same games over and over throughout the year – kind of like your class’s thing – we think the other classes might be a little jelly (that’s jealous!) Drop the math facts nad try these!

Kids Party Games

It doesn’t have to be a birthday party to play games. These low-cost party games for kids can be used in the classroom too.  They offer clean fun using many common supplies found at home or in the school. Teachers can also request parents send in a few of the school supplies he/she doesn’t have. They won’t cost a lot.

Themed Bingo Games

Who doesn’t love a good game of BINGO? Take a look at these free printable bingo games for every season and every holiday of the year. These bingo games for kids are great for the homeroom parent to include in seasonal classroom parties. They can be used as a classroom center for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more.

Minute to Win it Graduation Games

Kids of all ages will enjoy these graduation minute to win it games. Use with 8th graders, 12th graders, 5th graders, or even kindergarten. To use with younger kids, pair them with their older buddies (do you meet with an older kids’ class of students) and let them have fun with these last day of school games for graduation. These are 60-second style or you can try out these Graduation Party Games too!

Playground Scavenger Hunt

There are a few ways to use this playground treasure hunt. Print multiple sets and split players into teams. Mix up the cards so each team is on a criss-cross of paths. It will never be clear who is in the lead. Alternatively, for variations, you can create this playground treasure hunt as a timed game so you are in a race to be the team that finishes first.

Lastly, while you are planning fun and excitement, start the first day of school off right. The start of the school year is a great time to create new memories. Take a look at these Memorable First Day of Schools Ideas and Traditions. Pin to Pinterest.

Free School Printables

Not ready to buy? Take a look at some of our free printables in our free printable library. This includes fun games for kids and back-to-school activities and ideas. You will love some of the teacher resources.

Subscribe and look for a link and password in your inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

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I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s).Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your experience with the Back to School Games or some of the activities you have found to be the most exciting games to play in the classroom.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

This Back to School treasure hunt at home is so much fun. You can turn school supply shopping into something unique and fun with these school-themed rhyming riddles for kids. This Back to School Scavenger Hunt includes 20 clues that send the kids on an at-home treasure hunt looking for their school supplies. The end of summer can be hard. Get excited about the return to school!

Doesn’t anyone love the smell of a brand-new box of crayons?! Back to school is such a fun season as it is but when you add in a fun activity like these Back to School Scavenger Hunt Riddles, it takes the task of gathering school supplies to a whole other level! Having a scavenger hunt for kids is always a good idea and with this one being back-to-school themed, you know it’s going to be a great time starting off the holiday season!

Kids love fun ideas created out of boring occasions – like back to school supply shopping for a new school year. Create a new back to school tradition with this memorable idea for the kids.

How do you make a scavenger hunt for kids at home?

It’s actually really simple to make an at-home scavenger hunt for kids. Using common places like the front yard, bedroom, and utensil drawer, your kids will go on an adventure through the home seeking clue after clue with rhyming riddles to guide them.

A kids’ scavenger hunt for back to school can have a small treasure with each found clue or a jackpot of treasures at the end of the hunt. If using a small gift with each new location, make sure your kids have a basket, bag, or even a backpack to help them collect their back to school supplies.

What things do I need for school?

Back to school basics include a few school supplies you can find at your local stores. Many of these items are the same year after year, no matter what your age or grade.

• Number 2 pencils

• Erasers

• Pencil case

• Notebook paper

• Crayons

• Highlighters

• Glue

• Scissors

• Pens

• Markers

• Backpack

• Lunchbox

Older kids might need things like graphing paper and graphic calculators. Add to the list of items needs for your particular grade level, school, or classroom teacher.

Scavenger Hunt for Back to School

Once you have all of your child’s school supplies, add one school supply item to each clue for up to 20 items.  Have fewer items, use fewer clues, or split up packaging like pencils, highlighters and/or markers. The best thing about the kids school supply scavenger hunt, is you adapt it to your situation. Pick the order. Pick the clue. Number them. Hide them with a school supply. Done.

Send your kids on an at home treasure hunt adventure!

What kinds of rhyming riddles are part of this scavenger hunt for Kids?

While I can’t give you ALL the riddles, below is just a short and sweet sampling of what you’ll find with this fun Back to School printable.

Back to School Riddle #1

You’re doing great, on this school treasure hunt,

the next one is found on the grass out front.

Back to School Riddle #2

New school supplies are really quite neat.

You will find your next clue, in a place where we sit down to eat.

Back to School Riddle #3

A clock can tell time, a pencil can write.

What utensil do you use, to take a really big bite?

… and of course many more!

The easy school scavenger hunt includes twenty rhyming riddles. Use the entire set of clues or skip the ones that don’t fit your dwelling. Collect all the classroom supplies in a cute school supply treasure hunt for the return to the classroom.

The best thing about this Kids Scavenger Hunt is you can adapt it to your space. Don’t have a grill, skip that school riddle!

Can this scavenger hunt be used at school?

No, this scavenger hunt is ideal for at home. it is not a school scavenger hunt. Instead of classroom scavenger hunts, try our playground scavenger hunt to get to know your new recess environment. It will be their favorite place anyways! You can use the playground treasure hunt in the same way. With a little creativity, hide fun school supplies around the schoolyard playground and find them as you go.

What are scavenger hunt prizes?

SO each scavenger hunt usually has prizes that fit the theme. For example on an outdoor scavenger hunt, you might find a flashlight, ball, or whistle for a prize.

This school scavenger hunt’s prizes are school supplies. If your child might find the collection of back-to-school items boring, then add a few additions.

Creative ways to step up this school treasure hunt are adding a few special scavenger hunt prizes like…

• Cute paper clips
• A favorite book
• A new lunch box
• Fun snacks for school
• Movies
• Fun markers
• Decorative clipboard

Make it your own scavenger hunt with fun ideas that fit your child.

School Supply Scavenger Hunt Printable

Ready to find those school supplies? You need your set of school riddles. Download and print the beginning of the school year scavenger hunt printable. It’s a great activity to awaken that sleepy academic summer and let those problem-solving skills get to work.

You also can choose the order of treasure hunt clues.   To set up the treasure hunt, number the clues on the back. That will help you arrange your clues in order when prepping the back to school activities for the kids. Keep the first clue to get started.

As we know, the end of summer can be hard. Download this fun way to look forward to the first day of school with a great scavenger hunt pre-game.

Get Back to School Scavenger Hunt Clues PDF

Free Back to School Printables

Not ready to buy the scavenger hunt printable? Test out other free printables including printable games.

You can never have too many free back to school printables! If you are or even if you are not ready to buy, try many of our School free printables.  Subscribe and look for a link and password in your inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading digital downloads you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s).Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final At Home Back to School Scavenger Hunt.  Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

More Fun Back-to-School Ideas

Back to school is a fun tradition for both kids and parents. While starting a new grade level and meeting a new teacher and friend can be a bit intimidating, it’s possible to make a back to school tradition fun with a few school games, back to school routines, and activities for kids.

Let’s start with the first week of school! Create routine and tradition with these super cute First Day of School Traditions. Send them off to school with warm memories. Pin to Pinterest.

Need more Back to School fun? Check out these Free Back to School Printables. Fun activities, school games, lunchbox notes, photo props, and teacher gifts that you can print at no cost! Pin to Pinterest.

Were you looking for a school scavenger hunt? Getting to know a new school or the classroom is fun, but a playground scavenger hunt is quite epic. Team up before the first-day bell or gift to the classroom teacher for the kids to use. Scared kindergartners might like it for a kindergarten playdate before they start the new year. Print the picture scavenger hunt list and let toddlers, kindergartners, or younger students navigate their way around the premises. Pin to Pinterest.

A new school might mean a new neighborhood. Get to know your surroundings with a fun neighborhood scavenger hunt. This can be used for older and younger kids as it comes with a cute checklist for the walk. Pin to Pinterest.

Want classroom scavenger hunts? Why not incorporate a science scavenger hunt to be used at school? Stem Scavenger Hunts can also be used in the classroom. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.