Back to school! Ideas and activities to get the new year started

No sooner has the laptop been closed and the ID card slung on the side, does it feel as though you’re getting ready to walk through the doors of your classroom once more to start another year.

So, notebooks and post-it notes at the ready because we have a great list of book recommendations perfect for September assemblies and new classes.

Not only have we put together a fantastic list of stories, but we have also created two ready-made lesson plans and a PowerPoint for you to use! These are based on the book Smart Cookie and are great way to start the year with your new class.

Smart Cookie is a very sweet story about a cookie who struggles in lessons. He makes lots of mistakes, despite his efforts, and just doesn’t feel as though he is successful. Until, one day his teacher sets the class a special homework task and he finally finds what he is good at. The story explores the idea of different types of intelligence and encourages readers to celebrate their own strengths.

You could also use this book to talk about positive learning behaviours, especially good listening and supporting our friends.

Smart Cookie by Jory John

We have included all these themes in our free ready made lesson plans and PowerPoint, which you can download by scrolling to the bottom. 

Book Recommendations for Back to School

Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall 

If you want to inspire perseverance and positive learning behaviours in your class, this is a wonderful book to use. It follows the story of a young boy trying to invent something in his garden. It keeps going wrong and the boy feels more and more frustrated. It also highlights the loving relationships between his sister and dad; a great way to talk about how we can help each other.

This book gets bonus points too, as it includes lots of fantastic STEM vocab. It would be a wonderful starter book for a science topic.

All The Ways to be Smart by Davina Bell 

Similar in theme to ‘Smart Cookie, but with the most beautiful illustrations! This story is a fantastic way to celebrate all children’s strengths and talents. Accompany it with an ‘All About Me’ topic, and you’re on to a winner!

When A Dragon Goes to School by Caryl Hart

Aimed at younger children, this would be a lovely book to use in Reception. We like how the story shows helpful and unhelpful behaviours, with particular focus on manners, sharing, listening etc. It is a fun and simple book with a clear message, that could be explored more deeply if needed. Just note that the book focuses on the dragon being perfect all the time, which we think need some caveating – everyone makes mistakes!

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty

We love all the books in this series! In fact, any of them would work well as a ‘back to school’ book. We particularly enjoy ‘Aaron Slater, Illustrator’ because it explore children with learning differences. It handles the subject gently, with compassion and understanding. It also showcases a very supportive relationship between Aaron and his teacher.

In fact, Aaron Slater Illustrator is a book we feature in The Story Project primary curriculum. If you are signed up to our programme, you can access 5 unique and engaging wellbeing lesson plans linked to this book!