15 FREE, No-Prep First Week of School Activities for Grades 3–6

A simple and intentional way to build classroom community through meaningful literacy and social-emotional learning

✏️ Download your free first week of school plan now 

The first week of school is such a special time. It’s when you start building the classroom community you’ll rely on all year long. At ReadWorks, we understand just how important it is for your students to feel welcomed, connected, and excited to learn. So, we compiled some of our best (and always free!) articles to help you create a positive learning environment from day one. 
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This 5-day plan was created with intention; each day focuses on a different social-emotional learning (SEL) theme and builds upon the previous topic. The articles are paired with optional vocabulary practice and comprehension questions (including evidence-based multiple choice), so you can decide whether to focus more on specific reading skills or authentic classroom discussion – and we hope you can squeeze in both!

The best part is, you’ll have an opportunity to set and reinforce classroom norms (or expectations) with each activity. Use these articles to teach:

• How to read independently or with a partner
• How to participate in meaningful classroom discussions
• How to listen respectfully
• How to respond to a writing prompt
• How to engage with content that might bring up different perspectives

If you teach grades 3–6 and you’re looking for purposeful activities to kick off your school year, this free, no-prep plan is for you!

Let’s break down what each day entails:

Monday: Appreciating Diversity
Dive right in on day one by appreciating diversity. Each and every student can benefit from a powerful conversation about celebrating our differences and appreciating what makes us unique individuals. 

Lesson Plan:

• Begin with the guiding question: Why should we appreciate diversity?
• Ask your students to define “diversity” and give examples to start the conversation.
• Grades 3 and 4 will read the paired texts “First Day Introductions”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• Grades 5 and 6 will read “Neurodiverse Heroes: Gotta Catch ‘Em All! The Story behind the Creator of Pokemon” (part of our Article-A-Day set)
• After reading, ask students to think-pair-share examples of diversity in their own lives.
• Optional Extension Activities: Read “First Day Folly” and have students respond to the writing prompt outlined in our first week of school scope & sequence.​

Tuesday: Empathy
Empathy is a key part of any strong classroom community. It helps students build deeper connections and treat one another with kindness and care.

Lesson Plan:

• Begin with the guiding question: How can we feel empathy for others?
• Ask your students to define “empathy” and give examples to start the conversation.
• Grades 3 and 4 will read “Learning on the Soccer Field”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• Grades 5 and 6 will read “Rally for Access”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• After reading, have students think-pair-share about what empathy can look like at school.
• Optional Extension Activities: Read “Picking a Puppy” and have students respond to the writing prompt outlined in our first week of school scope & sequence.​

​Wednesday: Relationships
By midweek, students start to get more comfortable with each other. Use this as an opportunity to talk about building and maintaining strong, healthy relationships.

Lesson Plan:

• Begin with the guiding question: How do our relationships affect our lives?
• Launch a discussion on siblings, parents and grandparents, friendships, coaches, teachers, and any other relationship your students want to share. All students should feel seen and heard in what relationships matter to them.
• Grades 3 and 4 will read “How Charlie Got Her Chopsticks”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• Grades 5 and 6 will read “That Left-Out Feeling”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• After reading, ask students to write about (or draw a picture of) a valued relationship in their lives. Bonus points if they can turn it into a gratitude letter to share with the recipient!
• Optional Extension Activities: Read “Tag–I’m It!” and have students respond to the writing prompt outlined in our first week of school scope & sequence.

Sign up here to get instant access to this FREE First Week of School Plan! You’ll get a full week of free, no-prep reading activities based on social-emotional learning. The perfect start to your school year!

​Thursday: Perseverance
Thursday’s focus is all about encouraging a growth mindset. Start the year strong by discussing perseverance - both personal and academic. 

Lesson Plan:

• Begin with the guiding question: What does perseverance look like for YOU?
• Discuss what challenges or obstacles your students have faced in the past and how they’ve persevered. It’s likely that they’ll mention external obstacles (e.g. not making a sports team, failing a test). After reading the articles, you’ll discuss internal obstacles as well.
• Grades 3 and 4 will read “The Wheelchair Stunt Master”
  • StepRead (differentiated version) available
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• Grades 5 and 6 will read “Awesome Athletes: Jim Abbott on the Mound”
• After reading, discuss what internal obstacles your students might face this year (e.g. anxiety, stress, sadness) and make a list of ways they can persevere through those challenges. 
• Optional Extension Activities: Read “Picking a Puppy” and have students respond to the writing prompt outlined in our first week of school scope & sequence.​

Friday: Goal Setting
You’ve made it to Friday! End the week strongly by helping students look ahead. Goal setting gives them a sense of purpose and ownership over their learning.

Lesson Plan:

• Begin with the guiding question: Why is goal setting so important for success?
• Ask your students to explain the process of setting and achieving a goal.
• Grades 3 and 4 will read “Percy Julian: A Man of Vision”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• Grades 5 and 6 will read “Music Inside of Us”
  • Optional vocabulary activity provided
  • Optional multiple choice question set provided
• After reading, give each student a sticky note. Have them set a realistic, school-related goal (can be personal or academic) and place their sticky note on a large poster. Find a place in your classroom or in the hallway to display the poster for encouragement!
• Optional Extension Activities: Read “Kyle Maynard: Living the ‘No Excuses’ Lifestyle” and have students respond to the writing prompt outlined in our first week of school scope & sequence.​

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Why This Week-Long Plan Works
This first week of school SEL plan isn’t just about filling time – you’re laying a key foundation to build your classroom community. Each daily theme invites students to reflect, connect, and grow, all while practicing key literacy skills in an engaging and low-pressure way.
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And since every article comes with optional vocabulary and comprehension practice, you can tailor the experience to your classroom needs. Whether you use these as part of your ELA block, morning meetings, or homeroom discussions, you’re giving students:

• A daily opportunity to read meaningful texts
• Structured ways to share ideas and build communication skills
• A learning environment grounded in empathy, respect, and collaboration​

Get Started!
The first week of school is a golden opportunity to build connection, set expectations, and introduce routines that support both academic and emotional growth. These 15 free, no-prep articles make it easy to do all of that – without spending hours planning.

Whether you’re focused on literacy, SEL, or both, this plan offers flexibility, intention, and community-building that will carry your students through the entire school year.

→ Want to grab the full bundle of articles, vocabulary activities, comprehension questions, lesson plans, and bonus extension activities? Sign up here to get your FREE First Week of School Plan!