Back-To-School Teacher Gift Basket Idea: Treats For The Teacher + Fun For The Classroom

This ‘Back-To-School Teacher Gift Basket Idea: Treats For The Teacher + Fun For The Classroom’ post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Back-to-school season is here! As parents, we spend so much time thinking about the kids, even as homeschoolers! There’s backpacks, school supplies, new shoes, lunch boxes, and everything else our kids need to head back to the classroom (or homeschool co-op in our case). But there’s someone else getting ready for a brand-new school year too; their teachers!

I have several teacher family and friends. And I know how they put an incredible amount of time, energy, and even their own money into preparing their classrooms each year. From purchasing supplies to creating welcoming spaces and stocking activities for their students; there’s a lot that happens before our kids ever walk through those classroom doors.

So this year. Instead of gifting another mug or purely decorative teacher gift, I suggest putting together something that can be enjoyed by both the teacher AND their students. I love the idea of creating a Back-To-School Teacher Gift Basket filled with a combination of treats and goodies. Items that are specifically for the teacher along with games and activities they can keep in their classroom all year long too! It’s practical, fun, and easy to customize depending on the age group your child’s teacher works with. (Pssst. These are also all great ideas for your homeschool mom friends as we all know how much time and effort we put in too.)

Games; Back-To-School Teacher Gift Basket Idea: Treats For The Teacher + Fun For The Classroom.

Why Add Games To A Teacher Gift Basket?

Board and card games are gifts that can be enjoyed over and over again. Depending on the classroom, they’re great for indoor recess, early finishers, free-choice time, classroom rewards, small groups, and unexpected downtime. Games are also screen-free! And they can help encourage kids to interact face-to-face while practicing skills like turn-taking, patience, problem-solving, and good sportsmanship.

For Preschool Teachers

For preschool classrooms, look for colorful games with simple rules and plenty of hands-on fun.

Boggle Jr. Numbers — A fun way for little learners to become more comfortable with numbers while still feeling like they’re playing.
Deluxe Pretty Pretty Princess — This classic combines a board game with imaginative dress-up fun as kids collect jewelry pieces throughout the game.
Candy Land — There’s a reason this colorful classic has been around for generations! With no reading required, it’s an easy introduction to board games for younger children.
Pop-O-Matic Trouble — Kids love pushing that Pop-O-Matic bubble, and the simple gameplay makes Trouble another fun option for younger classrooms.
Other basket goodies: Stickers, washable markers, crayons, fun pencils, stampers, Play-Doh, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, children’s books, and dry-erase markers.

For Elementary Teachers

Elementary classrooms are perfect for games that introduce a little more strategy while still being easy enough to pull out when there’s some free time.

Guess Who? — Kids ask questions to narrow down their opponent’s mystery character, encouraging conversation and deductive reasoning along the way.
Classic Sorry! — Easy to learn, fun to play with friends, and a great opportunity to practice strategy and good sportsmanship.
Pass The Pigs: Barnyard Or Bust — New to the Winning Moves lineup! It’s a fun choice that’s easy to pull out when there’s a little extra time to fill. Players toss four Pass the Pigs Pig Dice, trying to match the rolls on the gameboard. When they do, they can advance their Pig Mover. The first player to race their pig across the farm to reach the barnyard wins!
Pass The Pigs: Big Pigs — Take the Pass The Pigs fun and make it BIG! These oversized pigs could be especially entertaining for indoor recess or classroom reward days.
Deluxe Pit — Fast-paced and energetic, this trading game is a fun option for older elementary students who enjoy a little friendly competition.
Other basket goodies: Dry-erase markers, colorful pens, sticky notes, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, stickers, tissues, and prize-box goodies.

For Junior & Senior High Teachers

Don’t forget about middle and high school teachers! For older students, look for games that are quick to learn but still interesting enough to keep teens engaged.

Game Of The States — Combines fun with geography, making it a fitting addition to a classroom game collection.
Waterworks Card Game — Compact and easy to store, which is always a plus when classroom space is limited.
Scrabble Slam! Card Game — A fast-paced word game that gets students thinking about words, spelling, and vocabulary.
Monopoly The Card Game — Brings some classic Monopoly fun to the classroom in a more convenient card-game format.
Clue Suspect Card Game — A fun mystery game that encourages players to pay attention, think critically, and use deduction.
Crazy Canoe — Also new to the Winning Moves Games lineup, it’s another entertaining option to add some variety to the classroom game shelf. It’s a delicate balancing act to keep the Crazy Canoe afloat. Steady your hand carefully slot a piece onto the ever growing stack. Lookout! You don’t want anything to drop into the river!
Other basket goodies: Nice pens, dry-erase markers, permanent markers, highlighters, sticky notes, mechanical pencils, tissues, hand sanitizer, candy, and individually wrapped snacks.

Don’t Forget Something Just For The Teacher!

While classroom goodies are useful, the teacher is the one you’re thanking, so make sure there’s something in the basket they don’t have to share. Coffee or tea, chocolates, favorite snacks, hand lotion, lip balm, cute stationery, a reusable tumbler, or a Target, Amazon, restaurant, or coffee shop gift card are all easy additions.

Whether you put together a small basket with one game and a few treats or an entire classroom game collection, games are a practical back-to-school gift that both teachers and their students can enjoy long after the first day of school!