Hi fellow teachers, and a special hello to all new teachers out there. I hope this school year is your best ever!
Here are 3 poems you can use during the back-to-school week to help your elementary students ease into the school routine. They’re short, fun, and come with different options, so you can choose the presentation method that works best for you: video, print PDF, or PowerPoint slides.
You’ll find a link below each poem to more activity ideas if you’d like to use the poem to complement other back to school projects.
You have full permission to use the poems for teaching purposes within any educational setting, including online learning and homeschool.
Good luck with your new classes and take a look through the Teacher Resources page of my website if you’re looking for new time-filler poems or poems to complement your curriculum goals.
Poem 1: Welcome to Your School
Ideal for Kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2 classrooms, with a short mindfulness introduction to help students feel calm and settled as they adjust to the new school year.
Welcome to your class
Welcome to your chair
Welcome to your teacher
Smiling over there
Welcome to your friends
Welcome to your books
Welcome to your backpacks
Hanging up on hooks
Welcome to your lunch
Welcome to your hall
Welcome to your artwork
Sticking on the wall
Welcome to your school
We’re so glad you’re here
Welcome to the memories
You’re sure to make this year
Original poem by Kim T. Harrison. Video created in Canva.
Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem:
Download a PPT slide version of the poem:
For more teaching ideas for this poem, please visit: https://kimtharrison.ca/2025/08/16/welcome-to-your-school-poem-k-2/
Poem 2: Back to School Riddle Poem
Ideal for Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3 classrooms as a read-aloud or an independent reading text. Answer to the riddle: A Classroom!
I was lonely all summer
and my walls were all bare
with no laughter or giggles
or squeaks from a chair.
But now there are footsteps
all over my floor.
There are pictures and posters
and names on my door.
What am I?
Original poem by Kim T. Harrison. Video created in Canva.
Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem:
Download a PPT slide version of the poem:
For more teaching ideas for this poem, please visit: https://kimtharrison.ca/2026/08/21/back-to-school-riddle-poem-grades-1-3/
Poem 3: Beach Day
Ideal for Grade 2, Grade 3, or Grade 4. Use the poem to inspire your students to write, draw, or create a collage about what they did over the summer vacation.
Feel the sand on your toes and the fresh salty air
Hear the skimming of stones and the breeze in your hair
Splash through the waves – you’re a dolphin, a whale
Steer left, then steer right, now slap down your tail
Run back to the beach, the breeze brushing your hair
Build a city of sand in the fresh salty air
Steer through the streets – you’re a ship with a sail
Flow left, then flow right, now follow that trail
Play catch with a friend in the fresh salty air
Throw the ball long, the breeze tickling your hair
Steer round the flags – you’re the star in this tale
Weave left, then weave right, like a storybook snail
Feel the warm summer sun and the breeze in your hair
Hear the giggles and laughs on the fresh salty air
Pick up your spade – you’re a sleuth with a pail
Scoop left, then scoop right, now study that shale
Shake out your towel and pack up your pail
Say goodbye to the dolphin, the beach, and the whale
Brush the sand from your toes and the salt from your hair
Sway left, then sway right, in the soft, salty air
Original poem by Kim T. Harrison. Video created in Canva.
Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem:
Download a PPT slide version of the poem:
For more teaching ideas, please visit: https://kimtharrison.ca/2025/08/15/beach-day-time-filler-or-bell-ringer-poem-grades-2-4/
Happy Teaching! Kim x
Kim T. Harrison 