Printable First Day of School Bingo, Free

Q: Do I need to print for the whole school?

No. Print one set per class. With the Copy link button you can share the exact set with other teachers.

A card for the day you know nobody

The first day of school has a list of things that happen to everyone: you get lost, you sit next to someone new, you forget your locker combination. Hand a card to each student in the morning, and they mark squares as the day goes by. Kids who are nervous get a small job to do, and an easy way to start a conversation with a classmate, such as asking whether anyone has seen the class pet.

In an elementary class the teacher reads squares aloud at lunch and lets students raise a hand. In middle school a student can keep the card in a binder and mark it discreetly. Because the list is of events rather than traits, nobody has to reveal anything personal to play.

The cards come from 52 squares and no two are alike, so neighbors in the row cannot copy. Four cards fit on one sheet of Letter or A4 paper, which is the cheapest way to print for a class of 28. Edit Words to match your school, with details like your mascot or the name of the reading corner.

Words on these bingo cards

New backpack
New teacher
Locker
Bus ride
Seating chart
Name tag
Class schedule
Supply list
Pencil case
New shoes
Sharpened pencils
Glue stick
Fresh notebooks
Lunchbox
Cafeteria
Lunch line
Recess
Playground
Hallway
Bell rings
Homeroom
Class rules
Welcome sign
Syllabus
Textbook
Library
Gym class
Art room
Music room
Principal
Hall pass
Old friend
New friend
Got lost
Forgot something
Same class as a friend
Picture day flyer
Homework
Locker combination
Class pet
Water fountain
Parent drop-off
Bus number
Wall calendar
Icebreaker game
Class job chart
Cubby
Name on a desk
Teacher introduction
Morning announcements
First assignment
All-about-me sheet

Running it on the first morning

Count your class and type that number into Number of cards, then print four per page and cut them.
Give each student a card at the door, with a pencil. Explain that squares are marked when they happen, all day.
At the end of the day, ask who has a full row. Let them tell the story behind one square.
Send the cards home, or keep them in a folder as a memory of the first day.

Questions about first day of school bingo

Is this a find-someone icebreaker?

No. This card is about things that happen on the first day. If you want a mingling game, try human bingo, where squares are traits.

What grades is it for?

Roughly second grade to eighth. Younger students need help reading, so choose the 3 x 3 grid under Words.

Can it be used in high school?

Yes. The list already has a syllabus, a hall pass and a locker combination; cut the playground, cubby and class pet squares before you print.

Do I need to print for the whole school?

No. Print one set per class. With the Copy link button you can share the exact set with other teachers.

Printable first day of school bingo