My School Year Colors Lesson Plan
My School Year Colors
Teacher Lesson Plan
Audience: 5th Grade
Time: 30 Minutes
Approach: Creative Writing & Art
Why This Lesson?
This lesson helps students transition back to school by encouraging self-reflection and sharing in a low-pressure, creative way. It fosters a sense of community and allows teachers to get to know their students better through their interests and goals.
Preparation
- • Review the lesson plan and all generated materials.
- • Print copies of the Back to School Coloring Page for each student.
- • Gather crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
- • Arrange desks for small group collaboration.
Materials
- • Small group students
- • Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- • Back to School Coloring Page
- • Learning Snapshot Exit Tickets
Learning Objective
Students will express their personal identity, describe their backpack, list favorite subjects, and articulate specific goals for the school year through writing and illustration.
Instructional Steps
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 MIN
• Greet students and welcome them back to school.
• Use the Back to School Icebreaker: Have students share one exciting summer memory or one thing they're looking forward to this year.
• Introduce the activity using the slide deck to set a creative tone.
Distribute Coloring Page
2 MIN
• Hand out the Back to School Coloring Page and art supplies.
• Briefly review the four sections: "About Me," "My Backpack," "Favorite Subjects," and "My Goals."
Independent Work & Coloring
15 MIN
• Students complete the writing prompts first, then begin coloring.
• Encourage students to be expressive—their "colors" represent their unique personality!
• Circulate to provide support and engage in brief 1-on-1 check-ins.
Group Sharing & Cool Down
8 MIN
• Invite students to share one section of their page with their group.
• Facilitate a brief discussion: "What are we collectively most excited about?"
• Distribute and collect the My Learning Snapshot exit ticket.
My School Year Colors Slide Deck
Welcome Back!
Let's Get Creative!
What are you excited for this school year?
Your Story,
Your Colors!
Today, we're making a snapshot of who you are and where you're going this year!
1
About Me
2
My Backpack
3
Favorite Subjects
4
My Goals
Share & Shine!
What are you looking forward to most this school year?
Back to School Coloring Page
My School Year Colors
Fill in the sections, then bring your page to life with your favorite colors!
Name:
Date:
🎨 About Me!
What makes you unique and special? Write a few sentences about yourself below.
🎒 My Backpack!
Describe or draw what your backpack looks like and one thing you always carry in it.
✏️ Favorite Subjects
List your top 2-3 favorite subjects and why you like them!
⭐ My Goals
What are you hoping to achieve or learn this school year? Write 1-2 goals.
Goal #1
Goal #2
Don't forget to color the border and any drawings you add!
Back to School Icebreaker Warm-up
Back to School Icebreaker!
Let's Warm Up
Instructions:
Think about your summer break and the upcoming school year. Choose one of these to share:
- "One exciting thing I did this summer was..."
- OR
- "One thing I am looking forward to this school year is..."
Teacher Note:
Encourage students to share briefly with a partner or their small group. If students are hesitant, model the behavior by sharing your own exciting summer memory or school year goal first!
Learning Snapshot Exit Ticket
My Learning Snapshot
1. What is one new thing you learned about a classmate today?
2. What is one feeling you have about starting this school year?
Name: ________________
My Learning Snapshot
1. What is one new thing you learned about a classmate today?
2. What is one feeling you have about starting this school year?
Name: ________________
My Learning Snapshot
1. What is one new thing you learned about a classmate today?
2. What is one feeling you have about starting this school year?
Name: ________________
My Learning Snapshot
1. What is one new thing you learned about a classmate today?
2. What is one feeling you have about starting this school year?
Name: ________________
Teacher Note: Use these snapshots to gauge initial classroom community comfort.