10 First Day Jitters Activities: Fun Ways to Ease School Nerves

The first day of school often brings a combination of excitement and nervousness for students. These feelings are completely normal, but helping children manage them can create a more positive start to the school year. By using thoughtful first day jitters activities, educators can help students feel comfortable, included, and ready to learn. This guide shares fun, engaging, and effective activities designed to ease first-day worries while making the beginning of school enjoyable.

Understanding First Day Jitters

The first day of school can feel overwhelming, but students are not alone in experiencing these emotions. The popular children’s book First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg presents this familiar experience in a humorous and relatable way. The story follows Sarah, who does not want to attend her first day at a new school. At the end, readers discover that Sarah is actually the teacher!

First Day Jitters book

Reading First Day Jitters aloud is an excellent way to show students that first-day nerves are normal and encourage conversations about their emotions. Pairing the story with engaging first day jitters activities can help children feel more relaxed and enthusiastic about beginning the school year.

Creative Activities to Calm First Day Jitters

One of the best ways to reduce nervousness is through enjoyable, hands-on activities that help students feel safe, involved, and connected. Here are some effective first day jitters activities for creating a welcoming classroom atmosphere.

1. Jitter Juice

“Jitter Juice” is a playful and symbolic drink designed to help students feel calmer and more comfortable.

Jitter Juice

How to Do It:

• Combine lemon-lime soda with fruit punch, then add edible glitter or sprinkles for an extra touch of fun.​
• Pour the drink into small cups labeled “Jitter Juice.”​
• Explain that drinking the “Jitter Juice” can help chase away first-day worries.​

This lighthearted activity can help students feel more relaxed and is often paired with a read-aloud of First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg.

2. Jitter Glitter

“Jitter Glitter” offers a magical and reassuring way to help students feel more confident before their first day of school. A small bag of glitter or special glitter lotion gives children a physical reminder that they can manage and overcome their worries.

Jitter Glitter

How to Do It:

• Prepare the Glitter Bags – Place a small amount of glitter in individual bags and attach a note describing its “magical powers.”
• Explain the Purpose – Tell students they can sprinkle a little glitter beneath their pillow before bedtime to help send their worries away.
• Alternative Option – Use glittery hand sanitizer or lotion as “Jitter Glitter Gel” that students can rub onto their hands for a boost of confidence.

3. Create a “Jitter Jar”

A “Jitter Jar” gives students a safe way to recognize and release their concerns by writing them down and placing them inside a shared classroom jar.

Jitter Jar

How to Do It:

• Materials Needed: Prepare a jar or box, small slips of paper, and writing tools.​
• Instructions: Invite students to write down any concerns they have about the new school year and place their notes in the jar.​
• Discussion: From time to time, read common concerns anonymously and discuss them as a class to reassure students.

4. “All About Me” Worksheets

“All About Me” worksheets help students introduce themselves and share personal details, making it easier for classmates to connect while reducing first-day anxiety.

How to Do It:

• Materials Needed: Provide prepared worksheets with prompts about students’ families, interests, hobbies, and favorite things.​
• Instructions: Ask students to complete the worksheets independently.​
• Sharing: Give students an opportunity to share their answers with a partner or small group.

“All About Me” worksheet

Download this “All About Me” worksheet for children to complete!

5. First Day Feelings Graph

A class feelings graph allows students to express their emotions visually and opens the door to meaningful conversations about their first-day experiences.

How to Do It:

• Prepare a Chart – Draw a graph on chart paper or a whiteboard with categories such as Excited, Nervous, Happy, Curious, and Shy.
• Student Participation – Give each student a marker or sticker to place beside the emotion that best represents how they feel.
• Discuss the Results – Invite students to explain their choices and talk about ways classmates can support one another.

“First Day Feelings” graph

Download this first day feelings worksheet to help students identify and share their emotions on the first day of school!

6. Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Help students become familiar with their new surroundings by leading a short classroom tour followed by a scavenger hunt. This interactive activity introduces children to classroom materials, important areas, and daily routines, reducing uncertainty and helping them feel more confident.

How to Do It:

• Preparation: Create a checklist of classroom objects, resources, or locations for students to find.​
• Instructions: Place students in pairs or small groups and ask them to locate and check off each item.​
• Debrief: Review the answers and explain the purpose of each item or area.

“Classroom Scavenger Hunt” sheet

Download this Classroom Scavenger Hunt worksheet for an interactive way to help students explore their new environment!

7. Sticky Note Feelings Wall

A Sticky Note Feelings Wall gives students a simple way to write down their emotions and display them in a designated classroom space.

Sticky Note Feelings wall

How to Do It:

• Set Up a Board – Choose a classroom area and label it the “Feelings Corner.”
• Encourage Participation – Ask students to write how they feel on sticky notes and add them to the wall.
• Class Discussion – Read selected notes anonymously and remind students that every emotion is valid and normal.

8. Jitter Beads Bracelet

Making a Jitter Beads Bracelet is a creative, hands-on activity that can help students feel more aware of and in control of their emotions.

Jitter Beads Bracelet

How to Do It:

• Provide UV beads and pipe cleaners so students can design their own bracelets.
• Explain the Meaning – Explain that the beads change color in sunlight, representing how feelings can also change throughout the day.
• Wear as a Reminder – Encourage students to wear their bracelets as a reminder that their emotions are real but may shift over time.

9. Jitter Beans

Using jelly beans or another small, colorful candy, students can sort, count, and graph emotions while enjoying a sweet classroom activity.

Jitter beans

How to Do It:

• Pass Out the Jitter Beans – Give every student a small handful of jelly beans.
• Assign Emotions to Colors – Make a chart showing which emotion each color represents, such as red for excited, yellow for nervous, blue for happy, and green for unsure.
• Sort & Count – Have students separate the jelly beans by color and count each group.
• Create a Graph – Ask students to record their results with tally marks or by coloring a Jitter Beans Graph.
• Reflect on Emotions – Discuss the different feelings students experienced before coming to school.

10. Before & After Reflection

This reflection activity allows students to compare how they felt at the beginning of the day with how they feel after spending time in the classroom.

How to Do It:

• Provide a Worksheet – Ask students to write or draw how they felt before arriving at school and how they feel now.
• Class Discussion – Talk about how emotions can change and invite students to share their experiences.
• Compare Responses – Discuss which activities, people, or moments helped students feel more comfortable.

“My First Day” worksheet

Download this worksheet to help children reflect on and record their first-day experiences through drawings and engaging prompts!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can teachers help with first day jitters?

Teachers can reduce first day jitters by creating a welcoming classroom environment, using supportive activities, and encouraging open communication. Remaining patient, approachable, and understanding can make it easier for students to discuss their concerns so teachers can respond appropriately.

2. What book goes with Jitter Juice?

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg is an ideal book to pair with Jitter Juice. It tells the relatable story of someone feeling anxious about starting at a new school, before revealing that the nervous character is actually the teacher.

3. What is the main idea of First Day Jitters?

First Day Jitters focuses on the universal experience of feeling nervous before beginning something unfamiliar. By showing that even adults and teachers experience first-day anxiety, the story reminds readers that these emotions are normal and can be overcome.

Wrapping Up

First-day nerves are completely natural, but the right first day jitters activities can help transform anxiety into excitement. By building a warm and supportive classroom environment from the beginning, teachers create a strong foundation for a successful school year. Giving students opportunities to express their feelings, connect with classmates, and participate in enjoyable activities can ease their worries and help them begin the year with greater confidence.