• Travel
  • Reading
  • Math
  • Science
  • Writing
  • Recipes

The Educators' Spin On It

Learning Games and Activities

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • BOOK CLUB
  • Shop
  • Contact

By The Educators Spin On It

Back To School Photo Prop Ideas

Let your child’s back-to-school photo stand out from the crowd. Spice up the generic stand and smile on your first day of school photos. Add a little pzazz and make back-to-school photos a bit more exciting with some back to school photo props.

Back to School Photo Prop Ideas that you may not have thought of yet!

It’s easy to create a prop for back to school photo. In fact, most of the back to school photo prop listed here can be created with paper, your own supplies and a few accessories you have laying around the house. The dollar store or Amazon is also a great place for Back To School Photo Prop Ideas.

Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate links used in this article.

Back To School Photo Prop Ideas

  1. Apples and Books

Yes, these are such simple school props – but always add a pop of color and give your kids something to hold. Let them choose a few favorite books in one hand and an apple in another.  Throw a chalkboard in the back (see #7 to add depth to the picture) Make sure to have your child 7-10 feet in front of the chalkboard to get the fuzzy / out-of-focus background. Some cameras (including cell phones) cannot get this look. It depends on the lens you are using.

  1. Perfect Little Scholar

Download a picture of an A grade from your clip art files together with photos showing the different subjects such as Math, History, English, and Science. Stick the A grade on a cardboard “stick” and do the same for the subjects but on a different stick. When you get to school, have your kid hold the two sticks and take pictures around the school.

  1. Ruler and Pencil Prop

This one is really simple. You set the prop using the back to school supplies you purchased. Get the ruler and pencil out and have your kid sit on a chair in the class. Have your child try different poses while holding the pencil and ruler. Throw in some sunglasses to spice up the pictures. You can even take the picture in different parts of the school.

OR – Make a giant pencil out of  yellow and pink tag board. Write the year in the middle of the giant pencil and have your child hold it.

  1. Class Year Print Out

If you have a printer at home, you can print out the year and stick it on a piece of cardboard. When you get to school, have your child hold the cardboard with the class year and take pictures at home or around the school. Have your kid try out different poses to make the pictures really unique. OR Grab them on Amazon.

Click here for How to Make Your Own First Day of School Sign.

  1. T-Shirt Labels

We’ve seen them for baby onesies – why not make a set for grade school!  It will surely make remembering what year of school your child is in easy 10 years from now –  Just look at the shirt label.

  1. First Lunch at School

Use your lunch box as a prop for the first back to school pictures. I know people say it goes by so fast, but soon, your child won’t want the character or bright-colored lunchboxes. This back to school photo prop works best if your child is involved in selecting their lunchbox. You can try out different poses to make the pictures fun.

  1. Blackboard Writing

Use a giant blackboard and chalkboard markers. Write down the important dates, interests, and people in your child’s life.

Chalkboard markers on a chalkboard make a great photo prop to show what your child likes at the begining and end of school

Photo credit Lin

These are just a few ideas, you may have others you want to try out. Please feel free to be creative with your props!

More Back to School Resources from The Educators’ Spin On It

  • Back to School STEM Activities
  • First Day of School Books
  • Back to School Reading Interview Questions for School-Age Children
  • Creating Effective Morning Routines for Your Elementary School Child
  • Make the Most of Back to School Shopping.
  • Back to School Week – What Questions Should You Ask Your Child.
  • Start a New Back to School Tradition – Friday Night Family BBQ
  • Back to School Fun with PicMonkey on Pinterest
  • Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School
  • Back to School Activities for School Ages
  • Back to School Activities and Resources
  • Back to School Breakfasts: Healthy Eats for On The Go Families
  • Back to School Crafts and Gift Ideas
  • Top Ten Back to School Tips for Home and School
  • The First Day of School Resources & Printables
  • First Day of School Magic Dust
  • Meet the Teacher Tips for Parents

You may also enjoy these back to school resources…

Featured books for the first day of school books.
Back to School Resources for Parents
back to school themed stem activities for kids

Save

Save

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

  • Twitter20
  • Facebook6

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Back to School, grade school

« Make the most of Back to School Shopping
Why Parents Should Make a Diaper Basket For Your Baby »

Comments

  1. pragmaticmom says

    July 29, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    What a fun idea for back to school photos. I am never that organized. I’m lucky to snap a photo of them before they head out the door to school; we are always rushing in the morning!

    • Amanda Boyarshinov says

      August 8, 2016 at 10:20 am

      Me too! I usually take a “cute” picture sometime that week.

For ages…

Grade School
Preschool
Toddler
Baby

Search for an Activity

POPULAR POSTS

Virtual Field Trips for Kids
Summer Activity Bundle 2025
Classroom placement request
Ice+Cream+End+of+Year+Craft.png
Caterpillar to Butterfly Balloon Science Experiment
virtual book club summer camp
May Activity Calendar 2025

GRAB OUR BOOK!

100 fun and Easy Learning Games for Kids Book Cover Standing

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You Might Also Like

Summer Activity Bundle 2025

Summer Activity Calendar Bundle

Ice+Cream+Themed+End+of+Year+Keepsake.png

Class Project for End of School Year

How to Write a Classroom Placement Letter for your Grade Schooler

How to write a letter for classroom placement or teacher request with a sample letter

Unicorn pinata sharing 10 fun things to put in a children's pinata that are not candy

10 Things To Put In A Children’s Piñata – That Are NOT Candy!

what a year of kindergarten writing looks like

What kindergarten writing looks like – a year of student samples

Let’s Connect!

Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025