Start your STEM year with excitement and organization! This colorful, engaging STEM First Day Presentation is designed to make your first lesson a breeze. Perfect for Kindergarten through all grades, these slides introduce students to STEM, set clear expectations, and build a positive classroom community right from day one. Their first day of school/STEAM classroom expectations slides are shared with students during their initial visit.

STEM First Day Presentation, Free PDF & Bulletin Board Decor

Whether it’s your students’ very first visit to your STEM lab or makerspace, or just the first day of a brand-new school year, these slides walk you through everything you need without frustration And here’s a little bonus; You can also print the slides as colorful bulletin board posters to keep your STEM expectations visible all year long.

Fun icebreaker questions to help students feel welcome.

Clear STEM/STEAM safety rules so everyone can enjoy and stay safe.

Classroom expectations set the tone for teamwork and respect.

The social contract prompts guide how we treat each other.

Simple team management routines that keep the day running smoothly.

The first day in the STEM lab always has a special kind of energy. Some kids walk in wide-eyed, ready to build and create. Others aren’t quite sure what STEM even is yet. And if you’re like me, you want that first day to be fun, welcoming, and organized, without spending hours trying to remember every single thing you need to cover.

That’s why we put together a set of STEM/STEAM First Day slides and first-day STEM activities and this for elder kids first day activity that guide the flow of the day without feeling like reading from a script. Whether it’s students’ very first time in the lab or just the start of a new school year, these slides ensure that they hit all the essentials.

We start with a few fun icebreaker questions so students can relax, share, and laugh a little. Then we go over clear safety rules — because STEM is only fun if everyone stays safe. From there, we talk about classroom expectations and work together to create a social contract so students have a say in how we treat each other. I also include simple team management routines that keep things running smoothly, even when the excitement level is high.

What we love most is that it’s not just a “rules lecture.” The slides mix in moments for connection, students share what they remember from past STEM experiences, talk about their favorite things, and even dive into a mini design challenge before the day is over. They leave feeling like STEM is a place to explore, create, and solve problems together.

And here’s the bonus: the slides can be printed as colorful bulletin board posters, so all those expectations and safety reminders stay visible all year long. No more “I didn’t know we weren’t supposed to run!”

This year, the first day is all about welcoming, inspiring, and empowering students from the second they walk in. With a plan that’s simple, clear, and fun, we can start building not just projects, but a classroom community that works and learns together.

Download the PDF and ready-to-use presentation here