Back 2 School Bus Craft

This Back 2 School Bus Craft is one of my favorite ways to kick off the school year! It comes together in minutes with the free printable template, and the best part is you can personalize each bus by tucking little photos of your kids – or their favorite characters – in the windows. It’s adorable for the first day of school or a classroom bulletin board.

Why You’ll Love This Craft

What makes this school bus craft so special?

✂️ Super easy to assemble
🎨 Great for all ages
📸 Customizable with your own photos or drawings
🖼️ Perfect for fridge displays, classroom bulletin boards, or memory boxes
🧠 Encourages fine motor skills and creativity

It’s a fun way to spark conversation about school, let kids express their personalities, and decorate your learning space at the same time.

What You’ll Need

You probably already have most of the supplies on hand:

Colored construction paper or cardstock (yellow, black, gray, red)
Scissors
Glue stick or white craft glue
Markers or crayons (optional)
Printable bus template (get it at the end of this post)
Small photo or printed face cutout (optional)

How to Make Your Back-to-School Bus

Let’s walk through the steps together:

1. Print the Template

Start by downloading and printing the free school bus template. You can print directly onto colored paper or use white paper and trace the shapes onto construction paper after cutting.

Want a cleaner look? Printing directly on cardstock works beautifully and saves time.

2. Cut Everything Out

Using scissors, carefully cut out each piece of the template:

Bus body
Wheels
Windows
Stop sign
Headlights
Bumper strip

Encourage kids to help with age-appropriate pieces—it’s a great way to practice cutting skills.

3. Start Assembling

Begin by gluing the long gray strip to the bottom of the bus body. This becomes the base of your design.

Next, layer the wheels:

Glue the yellow half circles onto the gray strip
Add black circles on top of the yellow
Finish with gray circles centered over the black wheels

This layered design gives the bus a dimensional, vibrant look that really pops.

4. Add the Windows

Attach the windows toward the top of the bus body. Be sure to leave space for your child’s photo or drawing in one of them. You can even draw in curtains, faces, or names for added flair!

5. Finishing Touches

Complete your bus with the smaller details:

Glue on the stop sign
Add headlights
Use markers to draw “SCHOOL BUS” across the top or add stripes, decorations, or even the school year

This is where personality really shines. Let kids add stickers, glitter, or doodles—they’ll love putting their own spin on it.

Make It Personal

Here’s where the craft goes from cute to unforgettable:
Insert your child’s photo into one of the windows.
It adds such a fun, personal touch—and makes a great keepsake for the scrapbook or fridge.

Don’t have a photo? Let kids draw themselves waving from the window, or use a photo of their favorite stuffed animal, superhero, or even the family pet. It’s your bus—get as silly or creative as you want!