The first day of school is a huge moment filled with bright smiles, brand new backpacks, and exciting adventures. Going to a new classroom brings a mix of excitement and nervous feelings for kids, parents, and teachers. Doing a fun coloring activity is a comforting way to calm those morning jitters. It turns that morning energy into a beautiful keepsake. Our collection captures these real life moments perfectly. You will see kids waving goodbye at the bus stop and meeting a friendly new teacher. We offer twenty four free coloring pages organized into six helpful themes. You will find grade specific signs, playground scenes, classroom moments, and simple outlines made for little hands. Every sheet features bold lines that work perfectly with thick crayons and washable markers. This makes getting ready for class as fun as finishing your favorite summer coloring pages.
How to Download the Coloring Pages
Each coloring sheet is a high resolution, letter size, printable PDF that you can color in two different ways. You can choose to color on real paper or digitally on your screen. To start your free coloring pages, just follow the instructions below.
Download and Print
If you love the feel of markers and colored pencils on paper, this is for you! Our back to school coloring pages look absolutely amazing when printed out.
Click the blue button: Look for the blue “Download PDF” button below your favorite photo.
Save and Print: The file will open on your computer or phone. Just click Print, and you will have a clean, white page with bold outlines to color in.
Pro tip: If you want to make a sturdy card that your family can always keep on the fridge, use cardstock! You can even look up helpful back to school guides for parents to make your new morning routine easier and more fun.
Download and Color Digitally
Do not have a printer? No problem at all! You can still become a master artist right on our website. It is just as colorful and creative as our kawaii coloring sheets.
Click the red button: Tap the red “Color Online” button below the image.
Use digital tools: Our free tool will open. It allows you to choose any color from a rainbow palette. Use your finger on your mobile phone or your mouse on your computer to color the pages or letters.
Save your art: When you are finished, you can save your digital masterpiece to your device and send it to your parents as a big surprise!
Little Special Tricks for Kids
Blue Button equals Paper: Download and print to color with real crayons.
Red Button equals Screen: Use our digital brush to color right now on your screen.
Grade-Specific Milestones
First Day of Preschool Sign Free Printable Coloring Page
A cheerful young boy holding a large sign with open text reading FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL, surrounded by floating stars and festive balloons. A perfect milestone page for young learners.
First Day of Kindergarten Simple Free Printable Coloring Sheets
A happy girl with pigtails holding a large horizontal banner reading FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN under a smiling sun. Ideal back-to-school sheet for kindergarteners.
First Day of 1st Grade Simple Back to School Coloring Sheets
An excited schoolboy pointing to a chalkboard with clear outline lettering reading FIRST DAY OF 1ST GRADE, featuring a large apple and thick pencils. Great for first graders.
First Day of 2nd Grade Printable PDF Coloring Page
A proud schoolgirl holding a large trophy with open outline typography reading FIRST DAY OF 2ND GRADE, surrounded by cheerful stars and confetti. Ideal for elementary students.
Commute & Morning Excitement
School Bus First Day of School Coloring Page Free Printable
A large classic American school bus parked with open doors as a happy student boards and waves under a bright smiling sun. An iconic morning commute scene.
Waving Goodbye to Parents First Day of School Coloring Sheets
A happy student with a new backpack walking down the pathway and turning to wave goodbye to smiling parents standing by the front door. Captures a classic morning memory.
Packing Backpack First Day of School Coloring Sheets for Kids
A focused child sitting on the bedroom floor packing a spiral notebook, a lunchbox, and a water bottle into a large open backpack. Great for morning preparation themes.
Walking to School Simple Free Printable Coloring Sheets
Two happy young friends wearing backpacks walking side by side along a sidewalk under a friendly sun. Celebrates companion friendship on the way to class.
Interactive Classroom Activities
Meeting New Teacher First Day of School Coloring Page
A warm classroom greeting between a friendly teacher holding a clipboard and an eager young student. Helps ease anxiety about meeting new instructors.
Classroom Storytime Simple Printable PDF Coloring Page
A group of young children sitting on a round classroom rug listening to their teacher read from a large picture book during morning story hour. Ideal for literacy themes.
Learning ABCs First Day of School Coloring Page Free Printable
A school teacher pointing to large open outline letters A, B, C, D on a big classroom blackboard as two young students follow along happily. Promotes foundational literacy.
Writing at Desk Simple Back to School Coloring sheets
A focused schoolboy writing with a thick pencil in his notebook at his desk, with a simple classroom globe nearby. Excellent for quiet desk activity coloring.
Creative Arts & Lunchtime Socialization
Art Class Easel Painting First Day of School Coloring Page
A young girl in a protective smock happily painting a large smiling sun on an art easel with a paintbrush and palette. Showcases creative freedom in school art programs.
School Cafeteria Lunch Sharing Simple Printable PDF Coloring Page
Two new classmates opening their lunch boxes and sharing a fresh apple together at a long cafeteria table. Highlights positive peer socialization and friendliness.
School Cubby Storage Back to School Coloring Sheets for Kids
A responsible young student hanging up his school backpack on a hook inside his personal storage cubby shelf. Teaches neatness and routine.
Washing Hands First Day of School Coloring Page Printable PDF
A young student standing on a step stool washing her hands with soap bubbles under a running classroom faucet. Reinforces daily classroom hygiene.
Recess Fun & Playground Games
Playground Slide First Day of School Coloring Page Free Printable
An excited schoolboy joyfully sliding down a tall playground slide with raised arms during recess, underneath a large smiling sun. Promotes playground fun.
School Recess Swings Simple Back to School Coloring Sheets
A happy elementary schoolgirl swinging high on a recess swing set under fluffy outline clouds, featuring a giant joyful smile. A classic playground memory.
Hopscotch Game Simple Free Printable Coloring Sheets
A young schoolgirl hopping along a numbered outdoor hopscotch court on the playground while a classmate cheers her on. Captures active playground socialization.
Jump Rope Recess Activity Printable PDF Coloring Page
A young student jumping over a long skip rope while two friends hold the ends on the recess yard. Highlights teamwork and active outdoor games.
Conclusion and Helpful Ideas for Families and Teachers
Coloring the first day of school helps children express their feelings and get excited about new routines. The 24 pages in this collection cover everything from riding the yellow school bus to sharing lunch with a new friend. Here are a few simple tips to make the most of these free printables. For toddlers and preschoolers, use extra thick crayons or chunky markers so they can easily stay inside the bold lines. For older kids in first or second grade, encourage them to add their own details, like drawing a favorite animal on the backpack or making a pattern on the school bus.
Teachers can use these pages as a calm morning activity on the first day or as a choice for the quiet corner. You can also send a page home for families to color together. Do not forget to celebrate other school milestones too; our graduation coloring pages are perfect for the end of the year. And if you are looking for more seasonal fun before school starts, check out our summer coloring pages to enjoy the last days of vacation. Finally, for expert advice on easing back to school worries, the team at Understood.org offers great strategies for parents. Download your favorite designs today and make the first day of school bright and joyful.
