51����

Kick off the first week of school with a print-and-go “My Rucksack of Memories” craft that doubles as an All About Me writing activity and a keepsake. Students build classroom community as they decorate and fill backpack pockets with favorites and memories—perfect for icebreakers, SEL, and bulletin boards. Simple prep: just print on card, color, cut, fold, and glue.

What teachers get:

Blank backpack (rucksack) template, rucksack with prompts, and matching pocket templates for easy assemble-and-display.
Ready-to-use prompts students love: My favourite subject, Me and my friends, My favourite book, My favourite memory.
Why it works:

Builds relationships and classroom community from Day 1.
Engages reluctant writers with a hands-on “craftivity.”
Strengthens fine motor skills (cut, fold, glue) while reinforcing sentence-level writing and personal narrative.
Versatile for morning work, centers, early finishers, Meet-the-Teacher night, hallway displays, or a Memory Book page.
Materials + prep (super easy):
Print on white card, decorate, cut around the pockets, fold tabs, glue pockets onto the main rucksack, then let students open pockets and add memories; trim the rucksack edge to finish. Materials: A4 white card, felt-tip pens/colored pencils, scissors, glue.

Classroom tips:

Model one pocket together, then release to stations.
Differentiate by offering sentence starters or word banks; extend by adding a new pocket for “This year I want to learn…”.
Save finished backpacks for student-led conferences or an end-of-year reflection wall.
What’s included (printables):

1 Blank rucksack template, 1 Rucksack with prompts template, Pocket templates.
Ideal for: Kindergarten–3rd Grade, first week of school, getting-to-know-you, SEL, writing centers, bulletin boards.

Tags :
back to school activities, first week of school, all about me craft, getting to know you activities, memory book pages, back to school backpack craft, print and go craft, writing craftivity, sel activities, fine motor practice, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, morning work, literacy centers, bulletin board display, meet the teacher, icebreaker activity, primary classroom, elementary writing, cut and paste craft, pocket foldable, rucksack template, backpack template