Back To School
Party Ideas

Back To School Party Ideas for Invitations

Set the tone for your back to school theme party right from the start with great invitations. Here are some ideas for fun invitations you can make at home:

Apple Invitations: -- Attach a decorative tag with your party information to the stem of a shiny red apple. Hand deliver your invitations or leave them by your guests' front doors.

Blackboard Invitations -- Hand draw or download a picture of a blackboard for the front of your card. Write, "U+R=Invited!" as your headline. Fill in the rest with your party information.

Report Card Invitations -- Create a pretend report card for the background of your invitation and write, "You Are an A+ Friend and You're Invited to My Back to School Party!"

You might consider asking yor party guests to bring a donation of school supplies or even an outgrown outfit since there are many children who are in need and could really benefit from some help at the start of a new school year.

**General Invitation Tips** -- If you choose to make your own invitations, don't forget to include the date, location, and time of your party. It is also helpful to put the host's name, RSVP by date, and either your phone number or email.

Back To School Decorations

Here are some other ideas for back to school decorations:

* Line your front walk with welcome messages written in sidewalk chalk.
* Fill glass vases with apples and pencils for a colorful table centerpiece.
* Use construction paper to cut large shapes of school-related items and cover these with collages made of images from back to school circulars.
* If your school has a fun mascot, include it in your decor.
* Hang a large blackboard and put out some chalk for your guests to write messages.

Back To School Party Ideas for Crafts and Activities

A Few of My Favorite Things Pencil Box Craft -- Purchase a plastic pencil box for each guest. Cut a piece of cardstock to fit snugly inside the cover. Set out an assortment of stickers, markers and other decorating items. Take a digital photo of each child, and have them decorate their cardstock with the photo, stickers, quotes, or anything else that is special to them. Cover the finished piece with clear contact paper and glue it into the inside of the pencil box lid. This becomes a great souvenir sure to bring smiles every time the box is opened.

Personal Time Capsules -- Gather a paper towel roll for each guest. Snap a digital picture of them and print it out during the party. Put out a piece of paper and some decorating items and have the children write down their best summer memory, what they are most looking forward to for the school year, facts about themselves, some of their favorite things, and some things they are good at. Roll the paper and the picture into the paper towel tube. Cover the tube with crepe paper and tie the ends with ribbon (so the time capsule looks like a piece of candy.) Save the time capsules to open next year!

School Yard Games -- Set up some traditional school games in different areas around your party. Here are some suggestions:

* Sidewalk Chalk
* Four Square (Draw the boxes with chalk on your driveway)
* Jump Rope
* Paper Airplane Contest (Whose design can go the farthest?)
* Bobbing for Apples
* Water Balloons
* Dodge Ball
* Leap and Duck -- To play this game, line up the players in a single file. Have the person at the back of the line alternately leapfrog over the person in front of him, then go through the legs of the child in front of that person, until he reaches the front and becomes the first person in line. All the people in line will have to alternately squat and stand. Then the new person at the back of the line repeats the process. When this gets going faster and faster, things can get pretty silly. You could either time each player's performance, or divide the group into two teams and play this game as a relay race.

Back To School Party Ideas for Food

Make a Sack Lunch Buffet -- Set up an assembly line of school style menu options and let your guests fill their own lunch sack. At the front of the table, put out paper lunch bags decorated with each guest's name. Place a napkin inside of each. Then, have a sandwich starting area with basic options such as PB+J, ham, turkey, or roast beef. Next, offer a choice of cut fruit or baby carrots, and a choice of snack such as pretzels or Goldfish crackers. Finally, let your guests choose between milk or juice boxes.

Have a "Sundae School" Sundae Bar -- For the grand finale, set up a table with ice cream and a variety of toppings and let everyone create their own sundae masterpiece. What could be better on a summer day?

Back To School Party Ideas for Favors

Send everyone off with some great mementos that they can take with them to school. Here are a few back to school theme favors:

* Pencil Boxes (decorate at party)
* Time Capsules -- Make at party
* Notepads or binders
* Pencils with fun decorations
* Sidewalk Chalk
* Charms for Backpacks
* Silly Bands

Hope you found some helpful back to school party ideas on this page. Have fun at your next event!

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