Back To School Tips for Teachers In 3-5

Welcome to our Back to School guides for 3rd-5th grade educators! Explore these back to school tips for teachers and the accompanying teaching resources to create an enriching learning environment from the first days of school. These engaging resources will help you integrate climate education into your existing Back to School lesson plans. Empower your young learners to thrive academically and socially while becoming stewards of our planet. Whether you are a new teacher or an old pro, we hope that you will find these teacher tips useful and empowering! Click on the tips below to learn more.

Creating an inviting and enriching classroom environment is often the first step to starting the year with new students on the right foot. Incorporating tools like visual schedules, growth mindset posters, and a well-stocked classroom library can help support student learning. Pay attention to the colors, textures, and sensory elements used throughout the room to set the tone for learning. Consider integrating nature indoors with plants, natural materials, and found objects. Allocate specific areas for activities such as reading, group collaboration, and relaxation exercises. Utilize bulletin boards as a space to showcase student work and students’ names to encourage a sense of belonging. Remember, thoughtful planning of your classroom space is just as crucial as your lesson plans! Enhance your classroom with these activities, decor, and resources.

At the start of the school year, it's crucial to develop positive relationships and foster a strong classroom community. Morning meetings and end-of-day check-outs help students feel heard and valued. Collaborative small group activities promote teamwork and friendship. Focusing on social-emotional learning teaches important skills like communication, setting goals, and empathy. By prioritizing a supportive environment, teachers create a space where students feel connected and ready to learn together. Check out the following activities to help bring your students together and set a strong foundation for the rest of the year.

Sparking creativity and problem-solving skills is essential for fostering well-rounded development in students. Start this early by including open-ended activities that prompt imaginative thinking in your back-to-school lesson plans. Incorporate hands-on projects, art activities, and collaborative problem-solving tasks into your daily schedule. Provide opportunities for students to explore diverse perspectives and approach problems from different angles. Not sure where to start? Check out these grade-level-specific resources for ideas!

Take advantage of the back-to-school season and bring learning outdoors! Being in nature benefits students by providing hands-on engagement with their environment. Whether exploring nature, conducting experiments, or reading under a tree, outdoor learning fosters curiosity and connection to the world. It encourages physical activity, fresh air, and a break from the classroom, rejuvenating students' focus and aiding in classroom management. Discover nature with your students through the following resources.

Get your students excited for the new school year with this collection of Captain Climate coloring pages, worksheets, bell ringers, writing prompts, classroom signs, class schedule cards, goal planning sheets, a student survey, and an "all about me" page. Use this resource to support learning and classroom management in the first weeks of school.

Click on the profile photos to explore lesson plans written by our team of teacher-creators.

Ready to take the next step in your climate education journey? Check out these amazing lessons, activities, and teaching resources from our partners, Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation and Climate Science.

Use this guide to prepare for the first day of school and equip your students with the knowledge and tools to make a positive impact on the world around them. Here's to a successful school year filled with growth, discovery, and environmental awareness! For ELA and Math Resources, don't forget to check out our academic-focused Teacher Guides: Free ELA Lesson Plans for Grades 3-5 and Free Math Resources for Teachers 3-5.