Back to school time is here!

And what better way to get your kids ready for the new school year than with a fun and creative craft?

This photo bus craft is perfect for little ones to make and is great for getting them excited about going back to school.

Plus, it’s a great way to keep those back-to-school jitters at bay.

Simply print out the template, cut out the pieces, and glue them together. It’s that easy!

Also, be sure to check out the other photo crafts for kids that we’re sure they will love to make!

Paper School Bus Craft

bus craft for kids image collage with the words photo school bus craft

Supplies

Colored cardstock or construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Red marker
Photo of your child
Bus template (click the “click here to get this freebie” image at the end to open the form)

Click here to see our favorite kids’ craft supplies.

Directions

Start by downloading the bus template and printing it out. Once you have the template printed, gather the materials needed for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this craft to life!

First, encourage your child to start by gluing the grill to the middle of the front piece.

Guide your child to take the lights and glue them on either side of the grill.

Click here to see why I recommend these craft supplies

Next, use a red marker to draw a rectangle below both lights.

hand drawing reflectors onto photo bus craft

Now, place the reflector piece just below the grill and glue it in place.

hand gluing reflector to photo bus craft

Attach the black stripe at the bottom of the bus right below the reflector.

hand gluing black rectangle to photo bus craft

Take the main bus piece and glue the school bus sign near the top and middle of it. Use a red marker to draw a small circle on both side of the sign.

hand gluing school bus sign to photo bus craft

Crayon Paper Bag Puppet

Cut out your child’s head from the photo and glue it to the left window.

hand gluing child's photo to photo bus craft

Help your child to take both windows and glue them in the middle of the bus, slightly below the school bus sign.

Position the front of the bus piece and glue it to the main bus piece, slightly overlapping the bottom of the windows.

hand gluing front of bus to photo bus craft

Guide your child to glue the bus mirrors to the back of both sides of the bus, around the window level.

Finally, glue the tires to the back and bottom of each side of the bus.

Be sure to check out our other summer crafts while you’re here! Your kids will love creating more fun projects like this one!

hand holding photo bus craft with a 2nd one in the background

Back To School Ideas

There’s something special about the start of a new school year. It’s a time to start fresh and have your kids set their sights on all the amazing things you’ll learn in the months to come.

But for some little kids, the prospect of returning to the classroom can be a little daunting. That’s why it’s important to get them excited about back to school with some fun crafts, activities, and ideas. Read on below for our favorite ideas!

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Kids’ Books About School

Did you know that reading out loud to your kids can actually be great for their development? It’s true! When you read out loud, your kids learn to focus and pay attention as you read the story on each page.

They can also learn to develop their imaginations. By picturing the characters and events in the story, they learn to think creatively.

Crayon Paper Bag Puppet

So next time you’re looking for a way to help your kids learn and grow, why not try reading out loud to them? It could be just what they need! Check out some of these back to school books:

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates – This silly book is about a dinosaur named Penelope who is starting school and just can’t resist eating her classmates! Kids will love the fun drawings and crazy antics of Penelope, while also learning that being mistreated is never fun.

Chairs On Strike – The chairs have had enough of all the crazy things the kids do to them so they go on strike! This story helps kids learn to take care of their property and has lots of fun and silly humor.

Daniel Goes To School – If you have a little one who’s starting preschool or kindergarten and is reluctant to be away from you, this book is perfect for them! Daniel Tiger learns “grown-ups come back” at the end of every school day. We love this cute book!

Back To School Crafts

Paper Plate Apple Craft – This apple craft for kids is the perfect activity for budding artists! Kids of all ages can paint, cut, and glue to create their own unique apples. Best of all, it’s a great way to have fun and get creative.

Popsicle Stick Crayon Craft – This crayon craft is so cute and perfect for back to school! It’s simple for kids to make, and they’ll love seeing their crayons come to life. All you need are popsicle sticks, paint, and some glue dots to create these colorful crayons.

Pencil Paper Bag Puppet Craft – Craft time is always a blast, but it’s even more fun when the project can be used for pretend play afterward! This pencil puppet is the perfect example. Not only is it easy and quick to make, but this printable craft can also be used in all sorts of pretend play scenarios.

Crayon Name Craft – This is an easy prep craft and a fun way to work on letter recognition and spelling with kids! Kids will love creating a personalized crayon to hang up in their room or use as a decoration for school. Use this school name craft as a fun activity to get kids excited for the upcoming school year!

Try out this cute tissue paper apple craft!

Back To School Activities

These back-to-school I Spy printables are a great way for kids to practice memory and visual discrimination skills. There are six different pages, each with a unique picture.

Kids can search for items like school supplies, backpacks, and rulers. They can also practice counting by finding each of the items. These printables are a fun and easy way for kids to get ready for the new school year!

This first day of school printable book is a craft and writing activity in one. It’s also easy enough for young children to complete with minimal help, making it a great back to school project for the whole family!

After they’ve assembled the book, kids can write about their favorite things or what they’re most looking forward to in the new school year!

4 image collage of printable back to school activities

There’s nothing like the excitement going back to school. These first day of school signs are perfect for capturing all those memories in a photo! Just print out the correct grade-level sign, have your child hold it up, and snap away! It’s such a fun way to get everyone excited about the new school season.

It’s no secret that scissors can be tricky for little ones to master. But with a little practice, even the most reluctant cutters can learn to use them with confidence.

These school-themed cutting practice sheets are a great way to help kids gain the fine motor skills they need. Each sheet features a series of simple lines kids can practice cutting out.

Free Printable Apple Pattern Worksheets

Get your little ones excited about learning with these fun and printable back to school preschool worksheets. These worksheets are perfect for kids who are just starting to learn their letters and numbers. They can practice visual discrimination, letter recognition, and more with this fun school activity!

Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

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