First Day Jitters: Fun First-Day Activities for Your Homeschool

Arika
Aug 11
4 min read

Updated: Aug 22

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg is a charming, relatable story about the nerves and excitement that come with starting something new—like the first day of school. The main character, Sarah Jane Hartwell, is feeling less than enthusiastic about her first day. She tries to avoid getting out of bed, dreads meeting new people, and worries about fitting in. The story perfectly captures the swirl of emotions that come with beginnings—but you’ll have to read to find out the delightful twist at the end!

This book is a wonderful conversation starter for your homeschool’s first day. It opens the door to talk about feelings, changes, and courage—and it’s easy to connect it to different subject areas.

Ideas for Using This Book

Below are subject-by-subject ideas for fun, hands-on activities to pair with First Day Jitters—plus supply lists to make your planning easy.

English / Language Arts

Activity: Feelings Journal Prompt- After reading the story, have your child write or dictate about a time they felt nervous or excited to start something new. Younger kids can draw a picture and label their feelings; older kids can write a short paragraph or story.

Supplies Needed:

Blank notebook or loose-leaf paper
Pencils, crayons, or markers

Bonus Activity: Make a First Day Mini-Book- A mini-book is a fun keepsake for your homeschool year.

Directions:

Take a single sheet of plain paper (8.5” x 11”).
Fold the paper in half lengthwise (“hot dog style”), then in half again widthwise (“hamburger style”), then in half one more time so you have 8 equal rectangles when unfolded.
Unfold, then fold the paper in half widthwise.
Cut along the center fold halfway (through the middle two rectangles).
Fold lengthwise again and gently push the ends toward each other so the cut section opens up into a diamond.
Keep pushing until it forms a small booklet of 8 pages.
Title it “My First Day of School” and fill each page with drawings, stickers, or short sentences about your day.

Supplies for Mini-Book:

Plain white paper
Scissors
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Stickers (optional but fun) (Purchase on Amazon Here)

Back-to-School Stickers

Purchase on Amazon Here

Math

Activity 1: Jitter Graphing- Survey family members (or friends via text/phone) about how they feel on the first day—Excited, Nervous, Happy, Sleepy, etc. Tally the responses and make a bar graph or pictograph.

Supplies Needed:

Chart paper or blank graph paper
Pencils and markers
Stickers or stamps for pictograph symbols (optional)

Stickers

Purchase on Amazon Here

Stamps

Purchase on Amazon Here

Activity 2: Monthly Calendar Creation- Create a calendar for the current month. Have your child label the month, days of the week, and dates. Use the calendar to practice:

Saying the months of the year in order
Learning days of the week
Marking important homeschool dates or activities

Supplies Needed:

Blank calendar template or ruler and plain paper
Markers or crayons
Stickers for special days (optional)

Extension for Math: Calm Down Strategies Poster- Make a small poster divided into 4 quadrants. In each quadrant, your child draws one “calm down” method they choose (e.g., deep breathing, reading a book, stretching, listening to music). Keep it posted in your school area as a visual reminder.

Supplies Needed:

8.5” x 11” paper or small poster board
Ruler (optional, for straight lines)
Crayons or markers

Feelings and Coping Skills Poster

Purchase on Amazon Here

Science

Activity: Jitters in the Body- Talk about how our bodies react when we’re nervous—racing heart, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach. Then do a simple heart rate experiment: measure resting heart rate, then jump in place for 1 minute, and measure again. Compare results and discuss why it changes.

Supplies Needed:

Stopwatch or timer
Pencil and paper to record results

Extension: Add calming techniques like deep breathing or stretching and see how heart rate changes afterward.

History / Social Studies

Activity: History of Schools- Look at pictures of schools from 100 years ago and compare them to your homeschool. Talk about how desks, clothing, teaching styles, and technology have changed.

Supplies Needed:

Printouts or online access to old school photos
Paper and pencil for making a “Then and Now” chart

Extension: Interview an older relative about their first day of school and record the story.

Art

Activity: First Day Feelings Collage- Use old magazines, construction paper, and art supplies to make a collage that shows how your child feels about the first day of school—using colors, images, and words.

Supplies Needed:

Magazines or printed pictures
Scissors
Glue sticks
Construction paper or poster board
Markers or crayons

Optional Twist: Make two—“Before School” and “After School” feelings.

Extra Helpful Ideas for Your First Day

Photo Tradition: Take a “First Day of School” picture holding a small chalkboard or sign.
Jitters Breakfast: Serve a fun, themed breakfast—like pancakes shaped into smiley faces.
Book Basket: Add First Day Jitters along with other first-day themed books to a cozy reading basket.
Feelings Chart: Post a simple chart where kids can move a clip or magnet to show how they’re feeling.

How are you feeling faces poster

Purchase on Amazon Here

The first day of homeschool sets the tone for the whole year, and First Day Jitters is a perfect way to break the ice, spark conversation, and ease any nerves—yours or your kids’. By pairing the story with hands-on activities across different subjects, you’re not only making the day memorable but also gently easing everyone into a learning mindset. Whether you’re making a mini-book, creating a calming poster, or exploring how schools have changed over time, you’re building traditions and connections that your family will treasure year after year. Here’s to a joyful start and a school year filled with curiosity, courage, and plenty of smiles.