Grab this free printable first day of school pennant flag for adorable back to school photos! The printable pennant flags come in 3 designs, preschool-12th grade, so you can choose the one your kids like best!
Is there anything more chaotic than trying to get a decent first day of school photo? Between the backpacks that are too big, the shoes that suddenly don’t fit right, and a kid who is this close to being late for the bus, it’s a miracle any of us get a picture at all!
That’s exactly why I created these printable first day of school pennant flags. They’re a fun little prop that takes your photos from “quick pic before we run out the door” to something that actually looks cute and put-together (even if you only had 5 minutes to pull it off).
If you’re looking for other first day of school photo prop ideas, I’ve also got these printable first day of school signs that are great too!
3 Fun Pennant Flag Designs to Choose From
I wanted these printable first day of school flags to work for pretty much any kid, any grade, and any style, so I designed three different pennant flags.
And since every family has kids at different stages, these pennant flags come in every grade from preschool all the way through 12th grade, so you can grab exactly the one you need (or a few, if you’ve got kids at different ages)!
Light Green and Navy First Day Pennant Flag
This one has a fun, gender-neutral color palette that works great whether you’ve got a boy or a girl heading back to school.
Pencil Design First Day of School Flag
This design is bright, colorful, and playful, and it’s perfect for your littles who are starting preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten.
Neon Composition Notebook Design
This one has that fun, bold neon look with a classic composition notebook style, and it’s great for tweens and teens who want something a little more “cool” than cutesy.
Materials Needed
Here’s everything you’ll need to put together your pennant flags:
- Printable pennant flag templates – Click the buttons below the designs that you want from the section above!
- 65 lb white cardstock – I really recommend printing on cardstock instead of regular printer paper. It’s sturdy enough that your pennant will actually stand up nice and straight for photos, instead of flopping over.
- Scissors or paper trimmer – for cutting out your pennant shape
- A wooden dowel – I used one that was about 24″ long, which is a great size for holding up during photos without being too bulky.
- Hot glue gun (or strong tape/glue) – to attach the pennant to the dowel
- Ribbon, yarn, and trim in various colors, patterns, and textures – this is where you can really have fun and customize each flag! I used a mix of fabric ribbon, glitter ribbon, and yarn to add some fun fringe to the bottom of each pennant.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Print your pennant flag. Choose the design and grade you need, and print it on 65 lb white cardstock. This weight of paper makes a big difference in how well your flag holds its shape, so try not to skip this step!
- Cut out the pennant shape. Carefully cut along the triangle outline of your printed pennant flag.
- Attach the dowel. Lay your wooden dowel along the straight edge (the left side) of your pennant. Use hot glue to secure the cardstock around the dowel, pressing firmly so it holds. You want the dowel to run the full length of that straight edge for extra stability.
- Add your ribbon and yarn. This is the fun part! Cut several pieces of ribbon and yarn into varying lengths (mine ranged from about 12-18 inches). Gather them together and tie or glue them to the bottom corner of the dowel, right where the flag attaches. Mix textures and colors for a fun, layered look – I like combining smooth ribbon, glittery ribbon, and chunky yarn for the best effect.
- Trim and fluff. Once your ribbon is attached, trim any pieces that are uneven, and fluff everything out so it looks full and dimensional.
- Strike a pose! Hand the pennant flag to your student and snap some pictures. These are so fun to use on the front porch, by the mailbox, or even at the bus stop!
Tips for Making Your Pennant Flags
- If you’ve got multiple kids, let each one pick their favorite design so the pennant feels a little more “theirs.”
- These also make a really cute addition to a first day of school photo board or bulletin board if you don’t want to hand-hold them for pictures.
- Keep a few extra dowels and ribbon scraps on hand – these pennants are such a fun tradition, you’ll probably want to make a new one every year!
I hope these free printable pennant flags help make your first day of school photos just a little more special this year. Happy back to school, mamas!
And be sure to check out some of my other fun ideas for back to school:
- 38 Back to School Teacher Gifts for the First Day of School
- Prep for Back to School with this 21 Day Challenge!
- DIY Polaroid Photo Booth Frame for Back to School Photos
