Free Printable Back to School Bingo Cards for Kids

Looking for a fun and easy back to school activity for kids? These free printable back to school bingo cards are a low-prep game for the first day of school, classroom parties, homeschool, or a simple fall activity at home.

a collage of free printable back to school bingo cards

This free printable set includes 10 unique bingo cards, plus calling cards and printable tokens. It’s filled with school-supply illustrations and a colorful background. It is a fun way to help children get excited about the new school year while practicing listening, matching, and taking turns.

Whether you are a teacher, parent, caregiver, or homeschooler, this bingo game is great for lots of different uses. Since the cards use pictures instead of words, it works especially well for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary kids.

What’s Included

This free printable game includes:

10 unique cards with a free space
1 page of calling cards
1 page of printable tokens
Full-color letter-sized PDF (click the button at the bottom of the post to get the file)

The school supply bingo cards feature pictures such as a notebook, eraser, stack of books, paintbrush, pencil cup, globe, crayon, clock, push pin, paper clips, pencil sharpener, stapler, gloves, glue, scissors, marker, backpack, calculator, pencil, ruler, lunch box, crayons, apple, and paint palette.

free printable back to school bingo card

Supplies Needed

You only need a few simple supplies to play this back to school game.

Printer
White paper or cardstock
Scissors or paper trimmer
Small bowl, cup, basket, or bag for the calling cards
Bingo markers or the included printable tokens

For a quick one-time activity, regular printer paper works just fine. If you want sturdier and more vibrant cards, cardstock is a great option.

You can also laminate the cards if you want to reuse them throughout the school year. This is especially helpful for teachers.

After playing, store the bingo cards, calling cards, and tokens in a folder, envelope, or zipper bag so you can pull them out again for future classroom games, rainy day activities, or back to school parties.

How to Set Up the Game

First, print the bingo cards, calling cards, and token sheet.
Next, cut apart the calling cards along the dashed lines. Place the calling cards in a bowl, cup, basket, or small paper bag so they are easy to draw one at a time.
Then, cut out the printable tokens if you plan to use them as bingo markers. Each player will need a small pile of tokens to cover the pictures on their card.
Give each child one bingo card and a handful of tokens or markers. Once everyone is ready, you can start calling out the school pictures one by one.

tokens to cut with colorful back to school text

How to Play Back to School Bingo

Have each player place a token on the free space in the center of the card.
Draw one calling card at a time and show or say the picture. For example, you might call out “backpack,” “apple,” “box of crayons,” “pencil,” or “lunch box.”
Players look at their bingo cards and cover the matching picture if they have it. Keep drawing calling cards until someone gets five in a row.
The first player to cover five spaces in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally calls out “Bingo!” and wins the game.
For larger groups, pair kids together and let them play as teams. This is an easy way to use the 10 bingo cards with more than 10 children.

Who This Game is For

Because this bingo game uses pictures rather than words, it is a great choice for younger children who may not yet be reading independently.

Preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary students can practice visual matching, listening skills, focus, and turn-taking while they play. The vibrant school supply pictures make the game easy for kids to follow and fun to play.

For younger kids, show the calling card as you say the item out loud. This helps them match the picture on the calling card to the picture on their bingo board.

You can also play at a slower pace and give children a few extra seconds to scan their cards. This keeps the game relaxed, encouraging, and fun for everyone.

Time Needed

This printable game usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes to play, depending on the kids’ ages and how many rounds you play.

For a quick activity, play one round of five in a row. For a longer classroom game, play multiple rounds or try a few different bingo variations, such as four corners or blackout bingo.

Prep time is usually around 5 to 10 minutes. Just print the cards, cut apart the calling cards, cut out the tokens if you plan to use them, and you are ready to play.

Fun Ways to Use This Printable

This game works well for so many different types of school activities. Here are a few easy ideas:

First Day of School Activity

Use these cards as a fun icebreaker during the first day of school. It gives kids something simple and familiar to do while everyone settles into the classroom.

Classroom Party Game

Add this printable to a party, open house, or classroom celebration. It is easy to set up and does not require many supplies.

Homeschool

Use this game during your back to school week at home. It is a fun way to introduce school supplies, routines, and classroom vocabulary.

Daycare or Preschool

Since the cards use pictures, they are perfect for daycare, preschool, and pre-K groups. Kids can match the images even if they are still learning letters and words.

Tips for Printing

For best results, print the PDF on standard letter-sized paper. Cardstock is recommended if you want the bingo cards to be more durable.

Before printing, check your printer settings and choose “fit to page” or “scale to fit” so the design prints properly without cutting off any edges.

If you plan to use the game more than once, laminate the back to school bingo cards and calling cards. You can use the included printable tokens, or swap them out for small reusable markers.

Bingo Marker Ideas

The printable tokens are included, so you already have an easy marker option. You can also use small items you already have at home or in the classroom.

Here are some fun bingo marker ideas: