Steps for Crafting a Schultuete for the Initial School Day
Making the transition from Kindergarten to real school a little sweeter, the tradition of giving a Schultuete dates back over 200 years in Germany. This cone-shaped package filled with treats and school supplies is a fun and exciting way to mark the beginning of a new academic year.
Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your own Schultuete at home:
- Gather Supplies
- A large sheet of poster board
- Scissors
- Clear packing tape and Scotch tape
- Gift tissue paper
- Ribbon for decoration
- School supplies, sweets, and small toys or trinkets for filling
- Optional embellishments to personalize the cone (stickers, glitter, markers)
- Make the Cone
- Cut the poster board into a large quarter circle or a wide sector.
- Roll it into a cone shape that will stand upright, overlapping the edges to form a pointy end.
- Secure the edges firmly with clear packing tape inside and out to hold the shape.
- Decorate the Cone
- Cover the wide open top with gift tissue paper.
- Tie the tissue paper securely with a colorful ribbon to keep everything inside.
- Add stickers, drawings, or any personalization you like.
- Fill the Schultuete
- Fill it with small gifts such as pencils, crayons, erasers, and other school supplies.
- Add some candy, chocolates, or healthy treats for a special surprise.
The Schultuete can be large or mini-sized and adapted for any grade level. If you're looking for a visual how-to, short videos and tutorials are available online that demonstrate the cone-making process and decoration tips.
This tradition, a delightful mix of education and celebration, makes the first day of school a truly memorable experience. Empty and prefilled Schultuetes can be found in German stores at the end of summer, but are less available in the United States.
Originally published several years ago, this article has been updated most recently on Aug. 11, 2025, by the website's associate editor, Kari Hanson.
- On the first day of school, children can enjoy the excitement of receiving a Schultuete, a German tradition that can be created at home with school supplies, sweets, and decorations for a fun home-and-garden project.
- To make the transition to school a bit more enjoyable, parents can consider incorporating the lifestyle of giving a Schultuete, filled with treats and school supplies, into their children's routine on the first day of school.
