30 Best DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts in 2021

It’s that time of year again! For teachers, there’s not much that’s more exciting than the beginning of a new school year (except maybe the end of the year! LOL). To help show your child’s teacher how much you appreciate them, we’ve rounded up 30 of the most fun DIY back to school teacher gifts that any teacher would love to receive! 

These handmade gifts are a perfect way to put a smile on any teacher’s face during a time that can be stressful, plus a lot of these ideas will help them stock up on much-needed school supplies. Some of these back to school teacher gift ideas can even be made by your own kiddos for a fun end-of-summer craft. 

By the way, these ideas aren’t just for the beginning of the year – they’re perfect for teacher’s day, too! Teacher appreciation week happens every year in May (along with teacher appreciation day), so make sure you save these back to school DIY teacher gifts for when the end of the school year rolls around.

Ready to get creative? Let’s go! Here’s 30 great DIY teacher gifts…

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Related: Thank You Card for Coloring (Free Printable)

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Easy DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

Practical DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

Fun DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

Easy DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

1. “Mark My Words” Marker Set

Not only is this marker set super easy to make, but it’s also practical! Teachers can never seem to have enough markers, and you could even swap the Sharpies for washable or dry-erase markers. 

2. “My Future is Looking Sharp” Free Printable

This one is just as easy as the last idea and just as practical, too! To put this together, all you need to do is download & print the gift tag, then use ribbon to tie it to a pack of sharpies.

3. Mason Jar Gift (Free Printable)

Mason jars always seem to come in handy! This DIY teacher gift is super easy to put together and it offers a chance for you & your kiddo to get creative. Inside the jar, you could include a handwritten sweet note from your child or even just a gift card to make it even easier to create.

5. “Hope Your Year Goes Write” Free Printable

Wish your child’s special teacher an amazing upcoming school year with these notebook back to school crafts. Aren’t they such cute gift ideas?! Not only is it an easy gift to put together, but the bright colors & clever pun make them great teacher gift ideas! 

6. “C is for Caffeine” Printable

What teacher couldn’t use a little caffeine?! This simple Starbucks gift idea is easy to put together + it’s sure to help your kids’ teachers have a great start to their school year.

7. “Hands Down You’re the Best Teacher” Free Printable

Quarantine may be over, but the pandemic is still in full-swing (anyone else still getting used to the new ways of the world, or is it just me?). Help your teacher keep their hands clean & healthy with this easy soap back to school gifts. Hand hygiene is always a great idea!

8. “According To My Calculations” Free Printable

This back to school gift idea is especially cute for math or science teachers. All you need is a jumbo calculator (they usually cost less than a few dollars) and a printer at home. It’s the easiest little gift that’s also adorable!

9. Teacher Appreciation Bookmark (Free Printable)

If you’re looking for a gift that costs nearly nothing and takes less than a minute to create, look no further! To put this bookmark together, all you need to do is print it on card stock, punch holes in the top, tie a ribbon, and either write your child’s name or have them sign at the bottom. A simple craft like this can go a long way when showing your kids teachers how much you appreciate them.

10. Lantern Gift with Free Printable

*Teachers really are a light in so many kids’ lives. Remind your child’s teacher how important they are with this free printable “thank you for being a light” gift tag attached to an adorable lantern.

11. Bath Bombs with Free Printable Tag

For the teacher that could use a little pampering, this “you’re the bomb” bath bomb gift is both easy to put together + it’s sure to help them start their year off on the right foot!

Related: 20+ Thoughtful Thank You Gifts that Show Your Appreciation

Practical DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

12. School Teacher Survival Kit

*This fun idea is so easy to make! Just find a tub, basket, or anything your teacher might need and fill it with things that will make their school year easier. A few ideas include Clorox wipes, Kleenex, mints, lip balm, gum, Advil, hand sanitizer, pens, stationary, water, snacks, and wine (kidding on the last one! (Or am I?)).

13. “You Are A Spec-tacular Teacher!” Target Gift Card

Who doesn’t love receiving gift cards? Especially when that gift card can be used at Target! This creative free printable can be attached to any pair of glasses, including a wooden play version like the ones used here, useful blue-light blocking glasses, or even a pair of sunglasses.

14. Cute Take-Out Box with Gift Card

Between teaching the future of our nation & grading their papers, teachers can end up with a pretty tight schedule. What better way to give them a break at dinnertime while showing how much you appreciate them than with this cute take-out box filled with fortune cookies? It’s best paired with a gift card to an Asian-inspired restaurant like Benihana, Pei Wei, or Panda Express. 

15. DIY Pen Holder Craft

You and your kid will have fun making this craft together! This handmade gift is both cute + useful, and you can fill it with much-needed school supplies like pencils, pens, and markers.

16. DIY Pen Holder #2 (Simpler Version)

*For the not-so-crafty folks, this version of a DIY Pen Holder is much more simple! In fact, all you need to do is print this free gift tag & add it to a jar, cup, or other already-made pencil vase. To make it more cute and useful, you can tie a ribbon around it and fill it with pens, pencils, markers, or other classroom supplies your teacher might need.

17. Teacher Appreciation Movie Gift

How cute is this gift basket? Your child’s teacher will definitely need a break at some point in the school year, and giving them a movie theater gift card along with some fun movie candy is a great way to give them the break they’ll soon deserve.

18. “Thanks A Latte” Printable Gift Tags

Give your kid’s teacher the gift of a perky school year while showing them gratitude with these adorable coffee gift tags, paired with a matching gift card. Choose between Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Tim Horton’s—whichever is closest to their school! This thoughtful gift is sure to thank your kids teacher for all of the hard work they’ll do this year.

19. Amazon Gift Card Idea

Perhaps the most practical gift you could give anyone these days is an Amazon gift card, amiright?! These adorable gift stickers are a creative way to give your favorite teacher just that while telling them how much you appreciate them. Amazon gift cards really are a great gift for anyone, and all you really need for this one is sticker paper.

20. “Supplies that Frequently Disappear” Gift (Free Printable)

Teachers always seem to be “losing” their supplies, and unfortunately the cost has to come out of their own pockets sometimes. Giving them a bin full of frequently used school supplies like pencils, erasers, highlighters, and gluesticks is an awesome way to ease that burden while also wishing your amazing teachers a happy new school year. (Hint: the Dollar Store is a great place to shop for these items!)

21. Teacher Emergency Kit (Free Printable)

This adorable DIY back to school teacher gift is so easy to make! All you need to do is print the label and fill a pencil box with items that will come in handy during the school year. These items can be things like Advil, Shout Wipes, a first aid kit, gum, post-its, hand sanitizer, pens, and snacks. 

Related: DIY Candy Wrapper Back to School Teacher Gifts (Free Printables!)

Fun DIY Back to School Teacher Gifts

22. DIY Ruler Planter + Free Printable Gift Tag

Teachers are a vital part of your child’s growth as a person, and this adorable ruler planter + free printable from I Should Be Mopping the Floor is a fun way to show your child’s new teacher how excited you are to have them in your life. Plus, what teacher wouldn’t love to add a little more greenery to their desk?

23. “I Have To Ad-mitt You’re a Sweet Teacher” Mitten

If your child has already met their new teacher, this gift is a super sweet (pun intended) way to wish them a happy school year. I have to ad-mitt (I’m on a roll here), an excuse to make cookies sounds pretty fabulous! Only smart cookies give their teachers this gift (ok, promise I’m done now).

24. Crayon Wreath for Teachers

This homemade gift is a fun project that your kids will have a blast helping you make. All you need is two different sized embroidery hoops, crayons (or colored pencils, markers, or whatever you prefer), ruler-themed ribbon, hot glue, & stickers. It’s a fun end-of-summer craft that your child’s new teacher will definitely appreciate! Plus it’s so rewarding to watch your child give someone their own gift that they made themselves.

25. “Nacho Average Teacher” Gift Basket (Free Printable)

*If you love fun themed gift baskets as much as I do, you’ll have a great time putting together this nacho-inspired first day of school teacher gift! Simply print the free gift tag and fill a bucket with nacho items like tortilla chips, cheese, and salsa. It’s definitely a cute way to make school time fun!

26. Giant “No. 1” Pencil Pringles Can Craft

For a fun craft the kids can help you make, this oversized pencil made from a Pringles Can is a brilliant back to school teacher gift idea. Not only is it handmade and personalized with your teacher’s name, but the best part is that you can also fill it with items for your teacher, like these fun ideas: school supplies, hand sanitizer, a gift certificate, or even candy.

27. “Tickled Pink” Gift Basket (Free Printable)

Shopping for themed gift baskets is so fun! For this one, just fill a pink bucket or bin with as many useful pink items you can find. Ideas include lip balm, gum, fuzzy socks, notebook, candy, lotion, hand sanitizer, and bath bombs. 

28. Strawberry Teacher Gift Basket (Free Printable)

The fun never ends with themed baskets. 🙂 Similarly, this basket can be put together by filling a bin with green tissue paper along with as many strawberry (or even just red) items you can find. Ideas for this teacher gift basket include lip balm, a candle, soap, a bath bomb, lotion, hand sanitizer, water bottles, and strawberry drink mix.

29. DIY Chalkboard Craft

For the crafty parents out there, this DIY Chalkboard is a little more advanced than your typical print-and-go DIY projects we’ve filled this post with. However, if you’re up for the challenge, creating this adorable teacher-themed chalkboard will be super fun + it’s actually useful for your child’s teacher!

30. Cork Board Vase Teacher Gift

Likewise, this cork board vase craft takes a little more effort than filling up a gift basket, but the result is sooo cute and totally worth it. In brief, this DIY gift is made by hot-gluing cork board to an empty oatmeal container, placing a hidden mason jar inside, and adding fresh flowers for your teacher. The gift tag can be made from black cardstock, white chalk, and a pushpin. This small gift will look so beautiful on your kids’ teacher’s desk!

31. Mint-Themed Gift Basket

Finally, the last DIY back to school teacher gift on our list is another easy but fun gift basket idea. For this one, include mint-inspired items like Junior Mints, gum, Tic Tacs, mint bath soak, Mint green nail polish, and minty lip balm.

We hope you enjoyed these back to school gift ideas!

PS: Don’t forget the card! (Lovepop has the cutest pop-up cards & flower bouquets! Perfect for pairing with your DIY back to school teacher gift!)

Also Read:

• Thank You Card for Coloring (Free Printable)
• 20+ Thoughtful Thank You Gifts that Show Your Appreciation
• DIY Candy Wrapper Back to School Teacher Gifts (Free Printables!)

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Lastly, this post was about diy back to school teacher gifts.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we make a small commission when a purchase is made after clicking through a link. This comes at no additional cost to you. We value your trust & only recommend brands/products we truly love. Thanks for your support!