10 No-Prep Back-to-School Ideas

So here we are. That weird, wobbly time of year when your calendar says New term incoming! but your brain still screams… just screams. If the idea of planning a full lesson right now makes you want to fake your own disappearance, worry not. Luckily, I’ve got you covered with 10 no-prep, back-to-school lesson ideas that are:

• deceptively educational
• beautifully bizarre
• and blessedly printable-free.

Save this post. Keep it for your first classes. Whether you’re facing wide-eyed first graders or teens who haven’t spoken in full sentences since June, these prompts will help you fake it ‘til you make it through week one. What’s more, these ideas will help you avoid the most hated question ever – “how was your summer break?”!

1 The Worst Timetable Ever
Students design the most chaotic, soul-destroying schedule they can imagine. Bonus points for including Maths at 6:00 AM or 3-hour PE in the rain.

2 Two Truths and a Summer Lie
The classic icebreaker, but a good replacement for what did you do on holidays?. Students share two true things they did over summer and one total fabrication.

3 Five Things I Forgot About School
Make a list. Laugh. Cry. Debate whether how to write should be number one.

4 Would You Rather: Back-to-School Edition
Would you rather have Monday off forever or no homework ever again? Let the persuasive arguments begin. It’s a great activity for a group banter.

5 Back to School – The Meme Edition
Bring in some back-to-school memes. Discuss. Judge. Translate into proper English for extra linguistic fun.

6 The Teacher’s Secret Life
Invent wild stories about the teacher’s summer adventures. (You get to pick the best and pretend it’s true. Or even live like it’s true. Also, this activity will help you bond with your students.)

7 If My Summer Were a Movie
Think about title, genre, plot, cast. Add dramatic sound effects for flair.

8 Back-to-School News Report
Create a live news segment covering the horror, I mean excitement, of returning to school. Interview survivors.

9 Alphabet of Dread
Each student gets a letter. They must name one school-related thing starting with that letter they dread. Q is for quizzes. Obviously.

10 Three Rules to Survive This Class
Students invent classroom rules no sane adult would allow. No talking unless you sing. It’s a funny activity to have before you introduce the real class contract.

You’ve Got This

These activities aren’t just about filling time (though that’s always a bonus). They’re clever little language traps disguised as fun that help students talk, bond, and reawaken their grammar brains without the pressure of real work.

If you use any of these ideas, or invent better ones, I’d love to hear about it! Tag me on Instagram or Facebook, or shout into the late August void and hope I hear you. And make sure to subscribe to my newsletter to get a lovely lesson plan!

Stay wicked, stay caffeinated, and may your whiteboard markers never run dry!