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45 Engaging End of Year Assignments for Your Classroom

September 9, 2023 //  by  Eileen Zajac

Building confidence and self-esteem starts with recognizing student success. Having fun end-of-year assignments is a way to celebrate their success throughout the entire school year. Whether they struggled through the year or got straight A’s, completing a grade is a big accomplishment. We’ve created a list of 18 activities projects and more that your students will love and be engaged with! Celebrate your students at the end of this school year, and celebrate YOU!

1. End of the Year Writing

A favorite activity for the end of the year is this summer-themed writing activity. Students love creating their little avatar and writing in the sunglasses always adds a little extra pazazz!

Learn More: 2nd Grade Savvy

2. Plastic Wrapped Desks

This fun activity in the final days of school will remind students HOW MUCH FUN school really is. Have students help you make this super fun fort. Let them spend some class time in here.

Learn More: Flickr

3. End-of-Year Activities in Balloons

No matter which way you look at it, popping balloons is ALWAYS exciting. This activity is perfect for the last few weeks of school. Students will love the simple visual of this countdown.

Learn More: Miss Alexx in Wonderland

4. T-Shirt Painting

Creating t-shirts to hold students’ favorite memories can be so important. Sometimes it’s easier to just do a handprint and everyone’s name, making sure no individual student feels left out!

Learn More: Dr. Cortes Writes

5. Paper Plate Activity

An activity students of any age can participate in. Whether it’s words or pictures, showing students love for their teacher and classmates is always a great way to end the year!

Learn More: Hojo’s Teaching Adventures

6. End of Year Best Reads

End-of-year books are so great for students. Some kiddos might lose their reading love over the summer so it’s important to keep it going for as long as you can with books like Miss Maple’s Seeds & Cloudette .

Learn More: Kinder and Cactus

7. Teacher Likes & Dislikes Whole-class

This can be easily made on google slides/drawings and your students will love it! If you’re still practicing distance learning, put it up on google classroom and let your kiddos prove who knows you best.

8. End of Year Countdown

Fun summer activities like this will not only serve as a countdown to the end of the year but also as a plan for the day. Each balloon will have something special for one or more of your students. Fun enrichment activities like this will keep students engaged and excited to keep coming!

Learn More: Kelcie’s Classroom

9. End-of-Year Whole-Class Poster

A puzzle poster is so much fun for your older students. This could be used as a writing assignment or one of your independent projects, just make sure to give a good assignment explanation so students understand the assignment details and expected outcome.

Learn More: Top Teaching Kids

10. Snapshots of My Year

Memory snapshots will be so much fun for your students to make! Use it as a writing assignment by having them write about their memories on the back of each picture!

Learn More: Loz Loves Prep

11. Wish I May, Wish I Might

Use a book like I Wish You More to help students picture and understand the assignment for these creative, hands-on projects!

Learn More: Coffee-Fueled Classroom

12. End of Year STEM Challenge

Using detailed project instructions students will absolutely love this activity! Archive class teams for this activity and see who can create the strongest or most elaborate treehouse using the materials given!

Learn More: Tumble Shine Gymnastics

13. Icosahedron Memory Share

An extension assignment for the end of the year like this is bound to have middle school students excited for the project. Have students watch a tutorial video on how to make this craft then decorate with their favorite memories.

Learn More: Teaching with Kindness

14. Summer Bucket List

Cute creative ideas like this summer bucket list are great for classes who just love coloring! This can also be made on google drawing if students are working distantly!

Learn More: KC Kindergarten

15. End of Year Scavenger Hunt

A game design that students will love! Have students complete this game with cardboard if you don’t have clipboards! They will love searching the classroom and answering the questions.

Learn More: From Math to Music

16. End of Year Bingo

Find game templates here for this awesome end-of-the-year Bingo game! Students will compete in active teams to complete all of the bingo pockets! This is an engaging game that will help your students talk about their summer plans!

Learn More: The Rigorous Owl

17. Compliment Scoot

Hands down an English class favorite, this compliment scoot allows students to give each other compliments! It’s so cute and fun students will love to create this for their assignment memory book.

18. Pom Pom Poppers

Celebrate the last day in the most fun way students know how PARTY! Create these super exciting and fun pompom poppers for students to use when the bell rings or at the end of the day dance party! They will love it and you will love their excitement.

Learn More: Easy Kids Craft

19. This Year in Color

Have students make a picture highlighting all of their favorite things that happened in the past year. If your school allows candy, share skittles with students to give them some ideas of what colors to color their pictures.

Learn More: Digging Deeper Teaching Resources

20. Goodbye Stars

Create each student their own star, you can write their names yourself or have them write them! Once their names are on their star, have students go around and write little notes to each other. This is something simple that they can take home and keep for years to come.

Learn More: Proud to be Primary

21. Dear Future Students

Writing to the next students coming in will allow students to feel accomplished. Not only that they’ve finished the grade, but also that they’re ready to help the next ones in line. Keeping them humble and excited to share all of their great experiences.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

22. Rock, Paper Scissors Tournament

It’s not just for the little kids. Kids throughout all grades will love to play in this tournament. Let them play in teams or individually.

Pro tip: Have multiple activities going during the tournament to keep busy ones engaged

Learn More: Session Lab

23. Find Someone Who

A little foreshadowing activity so students can see what their friends will be doing over the summer. This is a fun way to engage students in continuing their learning and friendships.

24. Coloring Page

Sometimes the most simple assignments are the best assignments. This free coloring page is great for almost any grade. Whether you have it as extra work or an actual assignment, students will be engaged while decorating and reflecting on their year.

Pro tip: Have students create one of these at the beginning of the year and one at the end!

Learn More: Crayola

25. Friendship Books

Friendship books are great because they help students to reflect on their peers, while also receiving feedback on how they were as a friend. This is helpful to both help kiddos grow and to have a keepsake!

Learn More: 18 Adorable Children’s Books About Friendship

26. End of the Year Bubbles

Making bubbles together as a class is a mix of science and fun! Take your kiddos outside in the last few days and whip up some bubbles. Not only will this be fun for students, but it will also send them home with a fun activity to do this summer.

Pro tip: Have students record the recipe used to make the bubbles in order to make them at home.

Learn More: Primarily Speaking

27. Goal Setting for the Summer

Summertime is full of excitement, warmth, and well, sometimes confusion. Taking kiddos out of their usual routine can have a pretty strong effect on their overall well-being. Help prepare your kiddos with some summer goal setting!

Pro tip: Easily create your own flip book by following this video.

28. Sidewalk Scoot

Scoot is such a fun and engaging game, especially on a hot summer day at the end of the year. If you’re still trying to squeeze some standards in the last few days, bring in some sidewalk chalk and let the kids do the work.

Learn More: Apple for the Teach

29. Lemonade Tasting

If your school allows drinks and snacks, then a lemonade tasting is the perfect end to a long year. Simply make a pink and yellow lemonade and have students decide which is their favorite! Use different charts that have been taught throughout the year to keep track.

30. End of the Year Mix

Are you always searching for that perfect playlist to play during end-of-the-year activities? This music will give you and your kiddos a great vibe to get through the last few days of the school year.

Learn More: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

31. Read Aloud

If you’re behind on grading or need some time to get other activities ready, playing a read-aloud is the perfect way to keep your kiddos busy and still attentive. This book is perfect for exactly that and the narrator uses a great voice for students to follow along with!

Pro tip: You can choose to slow down the audio if the video is too fast for younger learners by clicking on the settings wheel and slowing down the speed of the video.

Learn More: Time 2 Read 2 Us

32. End of the Year Memory Video

Make your students their own little memory video! These videos are super easy to make and they make for an amazing keepsake both for the students, for you, and for parents.

Learn More: Mrs. Young’s Teaching Corner

33. Learn a New Song

Singing songs is really important in grades throughout elementary. This song was made for Kindergarten, but honestly, it can be used in any lower-elementary grade. Students will love to learn and sing this song in the last few days of school.

Learn More: Teacher Michael TV

34. Last Day Letters

Create little bags for students to keep all of their last-day letters in. Start this activity by listening to or reading A Letter From Your Teacher on the Last Day of School   and then hand your letter to each student. Have students write each other letters.

Learn More: Life Between Summers

35. Last Day of School Brain Breaks

My students love these brain break activities. Usually, when they’re at lunch or recess I just move the desks out the way and then have the video ready for them when they get back. They’ll be super excited to follow along with the obstacles on the video.

Learn More: Now What? With Britt & Shawn

36. This or That

Playing this or that is so much fun in every class! This is great for any extra time you may find throughout the last few days. Rather than allowing students to just chat, play this video and even play along with them.

Pro tip: Follow this up with an activity about what students are most excited about this summer break! 

Learn More: PE with Coach Shockley

37. Riddles

Who doesn’t love guessing riddles? There are so many times in those last few days where there’s just not much learning left to be had. Thankfully, your students will love building these words! Let them write them on whiteboards or notebooks.

Learn More: 50 Riddles To Keep Your Students Engaged and Entertained!

39. Hot Seat

Hot seat is a perfect game for the end of the year! Whether you play inside or outside, your students will absolutely love playing this game. You could even choose a brave student and play at the school assembly.

Learn More: Games 4 ESL

40. Freeze Dance

Freeze dance, the end of the year style is great for kids of all ages. With Spongebob cartoons, students will love laughing along, while also getting ready for an intense mode of Freeze Dance!

Learn More: Coach Corey Martin

41. Ceramic Tile Art

This is fun with upper elementary and even middle school students. This is a great project that can be done inside or outside in the last few days of school.

Pro tip: Check a local thrift shop for ceramic tiles! 

Learn More: Jeff Tech Art

42. Why do We Have Summer Breaks? 

Colossal questions are some of the best videos out there for answering simple questions asked by students! This one is dedicated to understanding summer breaks. Before watching, ask students what they think.

Learn More: Colossal Cranium

43. Good Ol’ Dance Party

Well, there’s no better time to break out the disco lights than the last few days of school. This is the perfect soundtrack for a full-on dance party with all of your students!

44. Koo Koo Kanga Roo End of Day

By the end of the last day of the year, my kiddos are absolutely full of every single bean possible. They are ready to go and excited for the fun-filled summer ahead of them. This video helps everyone to get those sillies out at the end of the day!

Learn More: Steve Steve

45. End of the Year Discussion Wheel

Finding ways to keep the conversation school-focused can be challenging when kids are so excited about all of their summer plans. Keep your community tight with this end-of-the-year discussion wheel!

Learn More: Worldwall

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE Poetry Worksheet Bundle! Perfect for National Poetry Month.

29 Unexpected Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love

Send them off for summer with a smile!

Woohoo! It’s finally here—the last day of school. While most kids are going to be super excited, others may have mixed emotions. Make your last day together extra special with some of these fun activities for the last day of school and send your students into summer with fantastic memories of the school year behind them!

1. Stage your own classroom Olympics

What better way to wrap up a great year than with your very own version of the Olympic games? Your kids will love the pomp and circumstance from the opening ceremony and challenging events to the winners on the medal podium.

Learn more: Activity Village

2. Read end-of-year read-alouds

Teacher Brenda Tejada knows that the end of the school year is a time of mixed emotions. “Students have worked hard all year and are almost at the finish line,” she says. “Some may be excited for their summer vacation, while others may feel anxious to say goodbye.” Her book list and accompanying activities are a sure bet to help ease the transition. 

Learn more: Tejada’s Tots

3. Hold a classroom trivia tournament

This activity is a great wrap-up to review a year’s worth of hard work. Review all the content you’ve covered and pull questions from each subject (this is easier if you plan ahead and gather questions throughout the year). Include questions that test how well students know one another. For instance, which student has four brothers? Students will head off for summer proud of all they’ve learned.

4. Get creative outside

Grab those buckets of sidewalk chalk and head out to the playground! Encourage students to draw memories from the past year, write shout-outs for friends and staff members, or just draw for the pure joy of creating something.

Learn more: Minds in Bloom

5. Take a meaningful walk

Teacher Courtney G. shares: “The kids from our high school wear their caps and gowns and walk the halls in their elementary school the day before graduation. They go from kindergarten to fifth grade as the students stand in the halls and clap. The fifth graders also do this on the last day of school before they leave elementary school. This is my sixth year teaching kindergarten at my school, so my first kinders are now fifth graders. I’m probably going to cry!”

Source: Shelby County Reporter

6. Let your students teach

Image: PPIC

Genius hour, sometimes called “Passion Pursuit,” in the classroom is an opportunity for students to explore their own unique interests in a loosely structured but supported way. On the last day of school, let each student teach the class what they have studied and learned.

Learn more: What Is Genius Hour and How Can I Try It in My Classroom?

7. Play end-of-year classmates bingo

It’s one last chance for students to learn a little something new about their classmates! Grab a free printable with get-to-know-you clues at the link, or design your own to better fit your class.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

8. List what you’ve learned from A to Z

What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project.

Learn more: Teaching With Jennifer Findley

9. Set up summer pen pals

Before you break for the summer, pair your students up as pen pals. Gather students on the rug and talk about what being a pen pal looks like. Draw names and let each pair spend some time together brainstorming ideas about what they’d like to write about.

Learn more: The Inspired Treehouse

10. Go to the beach

Or rather, bring the beach to you! This will take some planning and prep, but kids are seriously going to love it. Get all the tips you need at the link.

Learn more: Sailing Into Second

11. Pass the plate

Pick up a pack of paper plates and give out some colorful markers. Have each student write their name in the middle of the plate, then start passing! Each student writes complimentary words to describe their classmate, then passes it to the next kid. They’ll each end up with a sweet keepsake for the school year!

Source: Robin Bobo/Pinterest

12. Do a legacy project

According to the teacher team at Minds in Bloom, a legacy project is a lesson that students create, from objective and materials to procedures, to share with next year’s students. Last year, their students were charged with finding a science experiment that they wanted to share with the class. Each group created a lab sheet that could be shared and conducted the experiment for the class to observe. This awesome idea works across the curriculum, so allow your students to choose the topic they love the most.

13. Make ice cream

Ice cream parties are popular last-day-of-school activities, but here’s a sneaky way to add some STEM learning to the fun! Have kids make their own ice cream in a bag, then add some toppings and lay out on the grass to enjoy.

Learn more: Your Home Based Mom

14. Make friendship bracelets

Load up on embroidery floss and let your students loose! They’ll love creating a keepsake that reminds them of this special year every time they look at it.

15. Build roller coasters

STEM challenges make terrific meaningful and fun team activities for the last day of school. Try building a DIY roller coaster from drinking straws, or check out lots of other STEM challenges here .

Source: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

16. Give pop-up toasts

Here’s a chance to practice public speaking in a low-key way. Buy some ginger ale and plastic champagne glasses to turn class into a party. Then have kids compose and give a short toast to their friends, teacher, school year, or any topic you choose.

Learn more: Dave Stuart Jr.

17. Just let them play

Set up game stations and give students time to rotate through each station. Try games like Marshmallow Madness, Scoop It Up, and more at the link below!

Learn more: More Time 2 Teach

18. Host a lemonade tasting

There’s all kinds of tasty learning worked into this totally sweet idea! Kids taste pink and regular lemonade, then make graphs, write descriptions, learn vocab words, and more.

Learn more: Primarily Speaking

19. Do an in-house service project

Organize your students into teams and leave your school better than you found it. Weed the school garden, write thank-you letters to school staff members, pick up litter outside, help take down hallway bulletin boards. Or see if specials teachers (music, art, P.E., library) need any help getting organized for the end of the year.

20. Compete in a paper airplane contest

You know they want to be outside, so take advantage of that and hold the ultimate paper airplane competition. Kids compete in multiple categories, like distance and accuracy, to find the overall winner.

Learn more: The Thinker Builder

21. Serve up a scoop of memories

What a sweet way to celebrate the end of the school year! Make paper ice cream sundaes, with a different memory on each scoop. You can have kids draw these themselves or buy a printable version at the link below.

Learn more: True Life: I’m a Teacher

22. Set up a photo booth

Photo booths are popular for the first day of school, but they’re terrific for the last day too. Help kids capture memories with their friends before they part for the summer.

Learn more: Teach Create Motivate

23. Wear a Last Day of School crown

Little ones will love coloring and cutting out their very own Last Day of School crown. Check out the link below to buy the printable, or design your own.

Learn more: Teach Starter

24. Create a summer bucket list

Provide kids with lots of options, then have them compile their own bucket lists for the summer days ahead. In addition to fun items, encourage them to add ways to help others or learn something new too.

Learn more: Reasons to Skip the Housework

25. Put the year in a bag

This has to be one of the most fun and meaningful last-day-of-school activities. In the days leading up to the final day, have kids give some thought to what symbolizes this past school year to them and place their ideas in a labeled paper bag. On the final day, they’ll give the other students a small token of that symbol and explain their thinking. (They don’t need to buy anything; they can write or draw their symbol instead.)

Learn more: Tarheel State Teacher

26. Take a book-themed museum walk

For this project, students create a project that provides a sneak peek of one of their favorite books. They can create posters, dioramas, tri-folds, even dress up as a main character. Give students a couple of weeks to prepare their project at home, then hold your museum walk on the last day of school as a grand finale to the year.

27. Conquer an escape room

Kids love escape rooms, so they’re great activities for the last day of school. Theme yours to what you’ve learned during the year, facts about different classmates, or summer activities. Learn how to set up a classroom escape room here.

28. Dance up a storm

If you’re looking for fun last-day-of-school activities that get kids moving, hold an epic dance party! Consider having each class submit a song selection for the playlist. They could even choreograph their own special dance moves for when it comes on! We’ve also got fantastic end-of-year playlist ideas for you right here.

29. Send your wishes soaring

Follow the tutorial below and make paper kites with your students. Have each student write down their hopes and dreams for the future (or alternatively, their favorite memories of the school year) on their kite then go outside and have a launch party.

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

Loving these fun activities for the last day of school? Take a look at these end-of-year assignments and activities for every grade .

Plus, sign up for our free newsletters to get all the latest teaching tips and ideas, straight to your inbox.

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50 Fun End-of-Year Activities and Assignments

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20 End of the Year Activities to Engage Your Students

• Engagement , Planning , Seasonal

Let’s face it. At the end of the year, your students have high energy and are super excited that school is about to end. And honestly, who can blame them. You are likely ready for the break yourself. So how can you keep these children focused, motivated, and engaged without losing your sanity and without them bouncing off the walls? Check out these 20 different end of the year activities to help!

While you may not want to do all of these activities in one school year, you can pick and choose ones to try. You can also pin this post to return to next year. Some activities may work well with one group and not so well with the next. It’s always about trial and error. Don’t be afraid to put your own little twist on these end of the year activities too!

#1 – End of the Year Countdown

Students love to see how many more days they have left until summer break. Having an end of the year countdown is a great way to help them focus on how many more days they still need to learn. It should (but may not!) keep them from asking you how many more days until break! Your countdown can be something as simple as a number on the board that is changed each day to a paper chain or something even fancier. I’ve also seen teachers attach activities to countdowns. Check out this link with countdown ideas .

#2 – “Adventure of the Day”

As you approach the last few days of school, it’s completely okay to step outside of the routine. In fact, moving away from routine is a fresh way to grab your students’ attention. Consider heading outside to learn or having an “ Adventure of the Day ” activity. These could be activities such as:

• sitting on your desk for 30 minutes
• switch seats with a friend
• sit on the floor
• have popsicle time
• sitting outside in the shade
• have an extra recess
• have extra reading time

Just write a few ideas down and draw them from a hat. Let the students know the day before what the next day’s adventure will be. This advance notice helps them prepare and it’s a motivator to not lose the next day’s adventure.

#3 – Create a Number Book

It’s likely you have heard of the ABC book that students make at the end of the year with all the activities they have done throughout the year for each letter. The number book is similar, but instead of letters, it’s well, with numbers. Give prompts with each number such as the ones in the infographic below. You can find the countdown number book in my TpT Store by clicking here.

#4 – Fingerprint Art

Out of all the end of the year activities, this one is one of the best. Students love art. Students love “autographs.” Combine them together and you have this activity! Have students create an image on a piece of paper such as a tree. Then grab some ink pads and have each student ink up one finger. Then have them move around the room and place their “fingerprint autograph” on each person’s paper. After they have left their fingerprint, they should write/sign their name next to it. Continue “scooting” around the room until every student has completed everyone’s art. (Depending on your class, you may wish to have students pass around the art instead of them moving around.)

#5 – Have a Yarn Toss

In a yarn toss activity, the teacher begins by holding a ball of yarn and sharing something. In this case, it would a memory of the school year or something learned. Then the ball is tossed to a student sitting in the circle while the teacher holds on to a string. The student who now has the yarn ball will share, hold on to part of the yarn, and toss it to a student who has not had it yet. This continues until all students have had the yarn. When finished, you end up with a “web” of yarn. While many teachers have used this activity before for other content, I like to use it to share our memories and things we have learned throughout the year. When done, I like to point out that we have become connected just like we have with the yarn. Then I talk about how if we were to toss the yarn ball again, we would probably get a different result. The point is that they may never be connected again in the exact same way as this school year so they should take the time to reflect on this school year and appreciate what they learned and how they grew.

#6 – Book Brackets

At the end of the year is a great time to think about all of the books your students have really enjoyed. Have students create a list of their favorite books and then create a set of competing brackets. (Similar to what you would have in March Reading Month with March Madness basketball). If you have time, consider rereading some of the books to vote each competing book to the number one slot!

#7 – Graphing

Along with determining students’ favorite books from the year, you can find out their other favorite events during the school year and create graphs. This can be done on your whiteboard using post-it notes. Have students write their name on the post-it notes and places it on the whiteboard in the proper location based on their favorites. This engaging activity is a great way to review data analysis, a content skill that is often taught at the end of the year.

#8 – An “Unordinary” Awards Ceremony

Nearly every teacher hands out awards at the end of the year as part of their end of the year activities. They are usually the typically “best listener,” “good friend” type awards. There is definitely nothing wrong with those kinds of awards, but why not switch it up a little with the Unordinary type? What am I talking about? Why not provide awards that will make your students laugh? For example, give the award “Most likely to not be abducted by an alien” or “Most likely to fly to mars.” Giving students the unexpected will be delightful! Check out these End of the Year Silly Awards !

#9 – Give a Sneak Peek

Kids always love when they think they are in on a secret. Tell students that you are going to share a secret with them but they have to keep it on the down low. You are going to give them a sneak peek into what next year is going to look like. Then give them a small little packet of next year’s work. Don’t go too hard with the content, as you wouldn’t want to make them panic and decide they need to stay in their current grade forever. If it’s easy enough, you can send them off on their own to complete independently. Otherwise, consider giving a small mini-lesson. When finished, empower them by expressing how ready they are for the next grade!

#10 – Sneak in Some Small Chunks of Review

Not ready to look at next year yet? Some of your students may be barely hanging on to the current year and I totally get that! Instead, consider reviewing the current year in small chunks. With the students being high energy, you aren’t going to get large periods of focus. Consider reviewing with review calendars, review packets, or review games.

#11 – Let’s Do a Project!

I love working on projects with my students, but they tend to take up a lot of time during the school year and I feel pressured to rush through it to finish other curricula. When students are closing in on the end of the year, they have the looming deadline of school ending which makes them feel rushed, not me. If you aren’t sure which project to have your students work on, consider a choice board. Students love when they are given choices!

I like to vary what projects I do from year to year. What we work on will depend on what my students still need to focus on. Sometimes my students need to work on their writing skills, so we will complete a state research project . Other times we will complete a project-based learning project such as designing a house or creating an ecosystem in science.

#12 – Memories…

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper end of the year activity if we didn’t do something to remember the year in paper form. Memory books, such as my snapshots of the year memory booklet, can be made with a paper bag or construction paper. You could also have your students create their own memory books or foldables using end of the school year writing prompts or reflections. You could also have them create an end of the year accordion , such as the one below.

#13 – Chalk Talk

Speaking of using writing prompts or reflections, you could place one on a piece of chart paper and hang it around the room. After hanging several different prompts, reflections, or sentence starters around the room on chart paper, have students move around with their own markers and respond. If you’d rather, you can keep a different chart paper at each group of students and have them move from group to group.

#14 – Theme Days

Students love theme days. You can choose to multiple theme days or just one. It’s completely up to you. One year I brought in a few mini pop-up tents and set them up in my classroom. We pushed all the desks off to the side and hung out in tents all day. (We did not zip the tent doors closed.) We had a pretend fire made out of butcher paper and everything. Get creative. You can find all kinds of resources related to various themes such as beach day, camping adventures, and so much more on Teachers Pay Teachers.

#15 – End of the Year Bingo

Provide students with a bingo board that explores students’ summer plans. This is an engaging activity that gets students up and moving around the room and talking to other students. It also gives you an idea of whether a summer packet or reading program is likely to be completed over the summer. You can grab a FREE End of the Year Bingo sheet at the end of this post.

#16 – Encouragement Notes

I’m huge on self-esteem and lifting students up. Especially right now when it seems bullying is at its highest. Why not have students write encouragement notes to one another for next year. You can assign each student another person in class (to ensure each person receives a note) or let them pick. You could also have them draw names from a hat. You could also write an encouragement note to each student yourself. Students love reading these and they are incredibly helpful when the next school year starts and students are feeling nervous.

#17 – End of the Year Writing and Reflections

To continue practicing their writing skills, have students reflect and write about the school year. Each day you could post a sentence starter on a bulletin board or write it on your whiteboard for students to complete. Another option is to place cards in a center or provide them with end of the year writing prompts on a sheet such as the ones shown below. Having students think back on the year is helpful and beneficial to them.

#18 – Welcome Brochure

Most teachers like to have an advice letter of some sort for students who are coming in the following year. Instead of having your students write it in letter form, why not have them create a brochure. Each panel could be something regarding what to expect. For instance, students could include information about the teacher, things they’ll learn, things they’ll do, your top rules/pet peeves, advice, what to expect, how to be successful, etc. Then when the school year begins, you can set the brochures out during open house or meet the teacher night.

#19 – Graduation Letters – A Time Capsule of Encouragement & Love

Have students write themselves a letter for the day they graduate high school. Place the letter in an envelope, seal it and write on the outside “Do not purge. Please give it to the student on graduation day.” Then place the letter in the student’s administrative file. This file follows the student from school to school. If you desire, you can place your own letter inside the envelope too before sealing it. If you’re able, consider having teachers from other grade levels add a short encouragement note inside each year too. On graduation day, this will be a huge moment for this student!

#20 – Book Commercial

I always want my students to become avid readers. One way that I do this is by having my students at the end of the year create book commercials. Students choose one book they have read (and loved!) and want to recommend it for next year’s incoming class. They then create a 2-minute video and “advertise” it. We discuss not giving away everything and how to make it enticing. This is similar to my book trailer idea, but the students are on the video themselves.

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Click here to grab your free End of the Year Bingo Activity .

There you have it! My twenty end of the year activities to help you end the school year right! I could probably list several more, but these are to help you get started!

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End of the School Year Activities for Memorable Fun

Find tons of end of the school year activities for the classroom in this post. Plan the end of school with themed days, a countdown, gift ideas, games, bucket lists, and more!

As the end of the school year approaches, it’s time to plan some fun activities, lessons, and gift ideas for your students. I’ve searched high and low and came up with 30 end of the school year activities for the classroom. I think you’ll enjoy these creative ways to celebrate and close out the end of the school year too!

Table of Contents

End of the school year themed days.

• End of the School Year Countdown Ideas

End of the Year Arts and Crafts

Play games at the end of school, student celebrations for the end of the school year, end of the school year gift ideas for students, summer bucket list, end of year outdoor activities.

• Fun Learning

Getting Organized at the End of the Year

End of the year social-emotional learning resource, free summer reading booklet, more end of the school year ideas, 30 end of the year activities.

You and your students have worked hard all year, and you all deserve to have a little fun during the last few days! I have scoured the internet (hello  Pinterest ) and gathered awesome ideas from my teacher/blogger friends to bring you the best ways to celebrate the end of the school year.

There are themed days, countdown ideas, arts and crafts, games to play, gift ideas, outdoor lessons, bucket lists, lesson plans, party ideas, and organization tips.

1. The weather is hot, and the kids want to vacation. So, why not create a vacation within the classroom? Here’s an idea for a beach-themed day .

2. Themed days are so much fun for kids and throw excitement into your daily routine. Here are 12 theme ideas: camping, STEM, water, game, holiday, sports, decades, art, travel, and more.

End of the School Year Countdown Ideas

3. A countdown chain is just a simple paper chain that you can use as a visual reminder of the days remaining. But with a cheery cloud and bright colored paper, it will be a fun daily task.

4. During the final days of school, celebrate with “Days of You.” Each child gets a day devoted to them and receives kind words written on an anchor chart and special privileges on their day.

5. Another way to countdown the last few days is by popping a balloon each day . Inside is a special privilege or activity to do together, such as having a scavenger hunt, dance party, ice cream or treat day, or another type of end-of-the-year pre-summer fun.

7. Create an end of the year memory book keepsake together. This is a fun way to fill those last few weeks with memories and connections as kids put together their yearbooks!

6. The end of the school year is conducive to activities that keep excited little hands busy. What better way than art activities such as these !

7 . Minute to Win It is a popular game based on the TV show. Here are some fun tasks to try out in your classroom to replicate the game.

8. Kids love candy; this candy ball game is a blast. The laughter and screams of delight will make the other classrooms down the hall jealous during this fast-paced challenge to get the candy out of the ball.

9. Get kids chatting about their summer plans and even learning things about each other they may not have known in this fun e nd-of-the-year BINGO game .

10. If you teach kindergarten, an alphabet party is the “P” erfect “P” lan! Label items with the letter they begin with, and you’ve got “P is for Party”!

11. Students’ hard work deserves praise. They will love these end of year awards, certificates, and hats that show how proud you are of them.

12. Brighten your bulletin board with a display that celebrates each child in the classroom. The Garden of Greatness wall will remind students of their uniqueness and individual accomplishments.

13. Create  goodbye stars with your students, and include them in their goodbye bags on the last day of school. They give each child positive encouragement and kind thoughts to take home with them over the summer.

14. Use Windows Live Movie Maker to create a gift DVD for your kiddos. They will enjoy watching a slideshow of photos from the year set to music. You could even show the movie during an in-class celebration of learning at the end of the school year.

15.  Looking for a unique keepsake idea? Try this  fun photo idea . It includes a FREE printable survey to get teachers organized and kids writing!

16. Create a “Then and Now” bulletin board . Not only is it a great way to decorate your classroom walls at the end of the school year, but the photos also serve as a nice gift for your kids (or their parents) on the last day of school.

17. A sweet little gift is a character rock on which you write a word that describes a child’s character. Paint the rock with bright colors and bold lettering, and the child has a keepsake that bolsters their self-esteem.

18. Don’t have much time to make a DIY gift? These slap bracelets are fast, easy to assemble, and a slappin’ good fun!

19. A resourceful gift is to encourage kids to have a bright summer with these sunglasses .

20. Tell your kids how proud of them you are with the sentiment “You blew me away” and some bubbles .

21. Give your kids summer packets in buckets ! Buckets are a creative way to take home some things you hope they’ll continue to practice over the summer to avoid the summer slump.

22. Make those buckets extra special for kids with some of  these ideas !

23. Avoid the summer reading slide with this  summer reading resource booklet . It includes a bucket list of creative places to read that kids can check off as they do them. Grab one for free below!

24. Keep them writing and practicing word work over the summer with these printables stuffed into their buckets!

25. Go outside for the simplest ways to make the last few days memorable ! Try blowing bubbles, creating with chalk, and more!

26. Plan a field trip! Take kids on a school bus or walking field trip to the park, zoo, aquarium, or someplace connected to what you’ve been learning about in the classroom.

Fun Learning

27. Science and Language Arts can be all about summer, too! Try out this summer unit , where kids can learn all about honeybees, sunflowers, and starfish.

28. Let kids clean their desks with bubbles ! Not only does it get the desks clean, but it is also fun!

29. Get ready for back-to-school NOW!  Here are some tips  to start thinking about ahead of time.

30. Go ahead and organize, print, and prepare supplies and resources for the beginning of next year . You can even let the kids help you!

31. If you want to create an end-of-the-year portfolio for your kids, why not make it spectacular ?

These 30+ fun ideas for planning the end of the school year in your classroom will keep you and your students busy during those last weeks of school. As the countdown to summer begins, try some of these activities, and let me know what you think!

Classroom Resources for the End of the Year

The end of the year social emotional learning resource is the perfect companion to your last few weeks of school lesson plans. It includes mini-lesson ideas, printable templates, and engaging activities that reflect on the connections made in the classroom.

The SEL end of the year resource   and activities will encourage discussions amongst your kids about kindness, memories they’ve had throughout the year, friendships they’ve built, and goals they have for their future.

Download and print this summer reading booklet to encourage your students to read over the break. You can download it for FREE by clicking the image below.

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Last Day of School Activity: Goodbye Stars

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11 Engaging End-of-Year Activities for Middle School ELA

Counting down the days until the end of the year like your students? We’ve all been there. But it might be a sign that it’s time to rethink your approach to end-of-year activities. Consider these 11 activities to stay sane and keep students engaged through the last day of the school year.

It’s that time of year again…

These final weeks are often filled with high energy and sunny days—a dangerous duo that can turn any classroom upside down. Students are starting to get restless with the anticipation of summer. And, hey, teachers feel it too. However, we also face the challenge of keeping students engaged and focused until that final bell rings.

The good news? Those final weeks don’t have to be so painful or chaotic. If you’re looking for simple yet meaningful activities to fill up those last couple of days, I got you. Instead of ending the year fighting to hold students’ attention, you can focus on enjoying your last days together and celebrating all they learned throughout the year.

Read on to learn 11 end-of-year activities that will help you keep students engaged while maintaining a positive and productive learning environment.

Engaging Activities for End-of-Year Reflections

Reflection is an important part of the learning process, and it happens to be one of my favorite ways to close out the year. End-of-year reflections encourage students to close out the year on a positive note, highlighting the progress they’ve made over the year. It doesn’t hurt that they hardly require any planning, either. It’s a win-win.

Here are a few of my favorite activities to prompt end-of-year reflections:

1. Literary Yearbook

This activity puts an ELA spin on the traditional yearbook. As a class, create a literary yearbook that showcases students’ favorite books, characters, and memorable quotes from the year. Encourage students to include personal reflections on how these examples have impacted them. Students can design digital pages to create a virtual yearbook. Alternatively, take a more traditional route by having them create physical collages with images, text, and illustrations. It’s always fun to see what stood out to different students as you look back on the completed project.

2. Highlight Reel

What do students love more than being plugged in 24/7? Nothing. Play into their tech obsession by having them create an “Instagram” feed of their highlights from the year. Provide each student with a simple Instagram post printout. Then, let them design a post to reveal their favorite memorable moment, field trip, lesson, quote, novel, or character from class. Remind them to write a reflective caption and a fitting hashtag or two to complete the post. Hang all of the “posts” on the wall to put your classroom highlight reel on full display!

3. Author’s Chair

Why should you be the only one who gets to enjoy student writing? End the year by celebrating students’ writing by hosting an Author’s Chair session. Invite students to share an excerpt from their favorite pieces of writing with one another. Encourage them to select a piece they are particularly proud of or one that demonstrates their growth as a writer. Each student can read their chosen passage aloud, followed by a brief reflection on their writing process and why they are particularly proud of this piece. Give peers a moment to compliment one another’s work before moving on to the next author. This activity gives students an opportunity to celebrate their writing achievements, as well as the achievements of their peers.

4. Letter to My Past Self

While writing a letter to one’s future self is a popular end-of-year activity, I recommend encouraging them to look back and celebrate how far they’ve come. In this activity, students have an opportunity to reflect on their growth, experiences, and lessons learned throughout the school year. It provides a unique opportunity for students to practice self-reflection, celebrate their achievements, and offer advice to their younger selves. They can write about the books they’ve read, the writing assignments they’ve tackled, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and the skills they’ve developed.

It may be useful to provide guiding questions or prompts to help students get started:

• What are the most memorable lessons or activities that impacted you this year?
• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
• What achievements are you most proud of from this year?
• What advice would you offer to your past self to navigate this school year successfully?

Literature-Focused End-of-Year Activities

Another way to engage students until the end of the year is to incorporate literature-inspired projects and activities. These activities help celebrate the books students have read while also providing opportunities for creativity and critical thinking. Whether your students have spent the year reading novels or short stories, as a class or independently, you can find fun and engaging activities to help highlight their literary achievements.

Here are a few of my favorite literature-focused end-of-year activities:

5. Single-Sentence Text Summaries

Single-sentence text summaries are a quick and engaging way to recap the texts students have read over the course of the year. Start by working as a class to make a list of all the texts you read in class over the year. Include everything from novels to short stories. Then, have each student write a single-sentence summary for one of the titles from the list. Have students take turns sharing their summaries with the class, letting their peers guess which title they are summarizing. Repeat this process for a few rounds until all titles have been summarized at least once. Worried about students summarizing the same text? That’s actually part of the fun. It’s a great opportunity to pause and discuss the differences and similarities between summaries for the same text.

6. Literature Review Playlist  

The Literature Review Playlist activity combines literature and music to create an engaging way for students to reflect on the books they have read over the year. Have students select 10 pieces of literature, including novels, short stories, and poems, they read this year. Then, have them create a playlist where each song represents a different text they have read. Students should select songs that they feel connect to the plot, theme, characters, conflicts, or overall mood of each book. For a more robust version of this activity, require students to provide explanations or short descriptions for each song, highlighting the specific elements of the text it represents. This activity can work for both assigned texts and independent reading. Either way, this activity is always a hit (pun fully intended).

7. Student-led Book Tasting

A student-led “Book Tasting” is an engaging and interactive way for students to share their favorite independent reading books from the year with their peers. On the day of the tasting, have each student bring in their chosen book to share with their peers. However, instead of presenting their book, students will be encouraged to walk around the room, “tasting” different books by looking at the cover, reading the back synopsis, and skimming through the first several pages or chapters. As students “taste” the different books, encourage them to jot down the titles that piqued their interest. This activity allows students to discover new books and expand their reading horizons right in time for summer reading. How perfect!

If you’ve never hosted a book tasting in your classroom, I recommend starting with this post.

End-of-Year Activities for Vocabulary Review

If you take the time to teach vocabulary throughout the year, it’s worth taking the time to review it at the end of the year, too. Whether you incorporate vocab review ahead of a final exam or as a fun activity in the final days before summer, these activities will ensure your vocabulary review is anything but dull and monotonous.

Engage your students with one of these interactive end-of-year vocabulary review activities:

8.  Vocab Relay Race

Who doesn’t love a little healthy competition? For this relay-style activity, start by creating stations around the classroom with vocabulary-related activities. Activities can include word definitions, visual representations, synonyms, antonyms, fill-in-the-blanks, or use of words in sentences. When you’re ready to begin, divide the class into teams of 2-3 students. Each team must complete the activity at one station before moving on to the next. However, they must get your stamp of approval on their answer before officially moving on. The first team to complete all stations wins!

9. Vocab Charades

Charades is a classic favorite—and a great way to review vocabulary at the end of the year. The best part? It’s fun, engaging, and effective without much planning. Simply write vocabulary words on index cards and have students take turns acting out the word without speaking while their classmates guess. Depending on the group and the volume of words, feel free to let students use their notes during the game. Note or no notes, this activity promotes collaboration and critical thinking. If you plan on using vocab charades as a way to review vocabulary from the entire year, I recommend giving students 5-10 minutes to review the terms before starting to play. Trust me, this will help you avoid a lot of blank stares.

10. Vocab Bingo

Vocab Bingo is a fun and engaging game that helps students review and reinforce their knowledge of vocabulary words from the year. Start by choosing your set of vocabulary words. Then, create bingo cards with vocabulary words instead of the traditional number setup. Just be sure to mix up the words on each card. Call out definitions while students mark the corresponding word on their cards. You can also include synonyms, antonyms, or examples to mix it up. Keep going until a student gets BINGO! After a few rounds, price it up by requiring special winning patterns, like four corners or a full blackout of all squares.

Fun End-of-Year Activities for Middle School ELA

Last but not least… (because who doesn’t love to be recognized for their strengths?)

11. End of Year Award Ceremony

The end of the year is the perfect time to recognize your students for all their hard work! I mean, grades are great and all, but they are only one way to reward students for a job well done. Besides, there are so many things standard grades don’t capture. For example, grades don’t always do justice to how students treat one another or how they add to the overall classroom culture. Consider including awards that recognize students for things like collaboration, kindness, and creativity, too. Whatever specific awards you choose to include, hosting an awards ceremony will ensure you end the year on a positive note.

Trust me. I know how exhausting the end of the year can be. However, as the school year winds down, I encourage you to incorporate engaging end-of-year activities where possible. These types of activities can tap into students’ creativity while providing opportunities for critical thinking, collaboration, and self-reflection—-and help make those last weeks of school more enjoyable for everyone .

So, don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine as you plan exciting end-of-year activities—or simply steal some of the fun ideas above.

If you have any other engaging end-of-year activities to add to the list, please share them in a comment below. Here’s to making the most of those final weeks!

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25 Fun End of the Year Classroom Activities

• By Shelley Gray
• May 14, 2022

As the end of the school year approaches, it can be more and more difficult to keep your students engaged in and excited about learning. It’s a chaotic time! You’ve got a million things to do and not much time to do it! But I know that you STILL want to make sure that these days are memorable for your students. Luckily, there are tons of different, fun ways to keep your students learning right until the last day of school! Here are 25 end-of-the-year classroom activities to make the year-end memorable for both you AND your students.

1: Do passion projects. Have students choose a topic that they are passionate about. This can be ANYTHING – soccer, dogs, the environment, or fashion. Have students decide on a topic and guiding questions, and then complete research. Then have students create a PowerPoint presentation, poster, or lapbook in order to present their information.

2: Create a memory book. Reflecting on all the things that have happened over the year is sure to bring pride and laughter to your students. This memory book is created lapbook style, allowing your students to make their books unique.

3: Try a room transformation . Bring a small tent, some checkered tablecloths, and flashlights, and you’ve got yourself a fun camping-themed room transformation! Use this free math project to align your curriculum with the camping theme!

4 : Have a bake sale! Have students bring in baking to sell to raise money for a local charity. Use this as an opportunity to work with money in a real-life setting.

5: Do a “Meet the Teacher” day when next year’s class comes to meet the teacher and do an activity together.

6: Have the students write a letter to the upcoming students . Have them include their favorite part of the year as well as tips to be successful. 

7: Plan a picnic lunch! Take your class outside for a special picnic.

8: Hand out classroom awards! Use PowerPoint to make your own awards to suit the students in your class, or try these pre-made classroom awards that focus on positive character traits like optimism, curiosity, persistence, leadership, and kindness!

9: Have a pizza party and let students make their own personal pizzas! Add an ELA and Math component by writing about “How to Make a Pizza” and incorporating fractions. This Pizza Place Math Project might also come in handy!

10: Create a time capsule to open when your class graduates! Include a “Letter to My Future Self” as well as any memorable items from the year. Have students write down memories to include as well.

11: Pass a ‘Graffiti Page’ for each student around the room; all kids write a compliment for each of their classmates. Your students will love reading all the compliments when they get their own graffiti page back!

12: Try an Escape Room! Escape rooms are fun for any time of the year, but are especially wonderful for keeping your students engaged in those last days of school. This Trapped in the School for Summer Escape Room will have students jumping with excitement as they try to overcome the obstacles and get out of the school! See my best tips for doing an escape room with your class here.

13: Have a Writer’s Workshop celebration! Put out all the books your students have written over the year and give them time to read each other’s books. Hand out hot chocolate as they read to make it extra special!

14: Write thank you notes to someone in the school. This could be another teacher, the custodian, the principal, or anyone else who has made an impact on your students over the year!

15. Play games! Salute , Knock off the Clock , and High Low are just a few examples of fun games you can play with minimal prep and materials. Multiplication Bump is another fun one your students will love!

16. Have a ‘secret’ Random Acts of Kindness Day . Without telling anyone that they’re doing it, have your students do random acts of kindness like holding doors open, giving compliments, etc. throughout the day. At the end of the day, have a conversation about how it felt.

17. Invite a local animal shelter to the classroom to talk about what they do and how you can help. There’s no denying that kids love animals, and I’ve heard from a lot of teachers who have had great success with a talk from a local animal shelter after completing this Run a Pet Shelter Math Project .

18. Hand out End of the Year Activity Books to use as early finisher activities, Friday Fun activities, or just in those times between special events at the end of the year. This activity book includes fun activities like jokes, acrostic poetry, math squares, word search, crossword, code cracking, and more!

19. Reinforce growth mindset. When reflecting on the year, don’t just limit it to favorite activities and memorable experiences. Be sure to reflect on how students grew over the year. What did we get better at? What obstacles did we overcome? What did we accomplish as a group?

20. Do a book project . Have students choose the best book they read this year, and use it to create a diorama. Students can do a book talk and present their diorama to the class. Have other students leave a positive comment for each presenter.

21. Do an A-Z Autobiography , where students write something about themselves for each letter of the alphabet. Get a free template for this activity HERE.

22. Make ice cream sundaes! Here’s another great opportunity for a How-To writing piece. If you’d like to incorporate math as well, try this Run an Ice Cream Shop Fraction Project.

23. Get some fresh air! The end of the year is the perfect time to take your students outside to read, have an outdoor class, or even plan an outdoor scavenger hunt! Being outside feels like a “treat” on a beautiful day!

24. Have a snowball fight! Have each student write their favorite memory from the year on a piece of paper, and then crumple it up into a ball. Split the students into two groups, and position the groups at opposite sides of the classroom. Then (when you say “Go!”) have students throw their snowball to the other side. A student should pick it up, read it, and then crumple it up again and throw it for another student to read. This can also be used to review content for any subject!

25. Have a board game afternoon! Have students bring in their favorite board games, and spend the afternoon playing them!

Have ideas to add? Leave them in the comments below!

Thank you ❤️ Great ideas

Thank you for these ideas. I love all of them! These activities are really good ways to end the school year with a bang.

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25 Must-Do End of the Year Activities {and a FREEBIE}

I came home from school yesterday and cried. 

And not because the end of the year is so overwhelming, busy, and exhausting… {although that may be where part of the tears are coming from. JK! #AmIJustKiddingThough??}

But because I’m going to miss my kids SO much. 

For 180 school days, 23 of my third grade students and I have laughed, cried, worked hard, learned so many new things together, and have built some really amazing relationships with one another. 

I’ve watched them grow not only as readers and mathematicians, but in their growth mindset, their confidence and in their character. 

We became a family. 

And this is why the end of the school year is HANDS DOWN my favorite part of the year. We get to have more fun together this time of year, especially with the classroom/family culture that we built. #RelationshipsFirst

And not that we don’t have fun all year long through different classroom transformations , math games, math puzzles , centers, book clubs, group projects, and such…BUT NOW we can really have fun, enjoy each other’s company so much more, relax a bit more because IT IS the end of the year. 

__________________________________

End of the Year Activities

So what activities do you do with your students at the end of the school year?! I’m going to share a list of 21 end of the school year activities that I’ve done with my students. I would love to hear if you have done any of these end of the year activities/themes or if you plan on trying one or more of them! Definitely comment and let me know below!

1. End of the Year Activities: STEM Day

STEM Day is one of my student’s favorite end of the year themed days. During the school year, we have STEM Fridays—where my students will work in table groups to complete a STEM challenge. I literally NEVER have any absent kiddos on Friday because they don’t want to miss the Friday STEM challenge. So, having a STEM Day during the last week of school was a no brainer. These free summer STEM projects are perfect!

2. End of the Year Camping Day

Okay, this day is super fun and might be one of my favorites for sure, for sure. I turn our classroom into a mini campsite and my students engage in various Math and ELA camping themed activities. I use the end of the year review activities from this unit . I wrote a detailed blog post about my camping room transformation. You can read all about my Camping Themed Day here .

3. End of the Year Game Day

Game Day is super, super easy to implement and you don’t have to do anything. YES and YES. Students bring in their favorite board game or card game, then I give them time to play! Easy. You can choose their groups for them if you want to, or you can have them choose their own groups.

4. Peer Compliments Paper Bag Activity {Class Culture}

I saw this idea on instagram from @hello3rdgrade and instantly became obsessed with it! So how it all works….each student gets a gift bag, which is taped to the whiteboard. Each student also gets a ziploc bag with an index card for each of their classmates.

Then across the span of a the last few weeks of school or so, each student writes a fun memory, a nice message, or a favorite thing about that person. Then, they drop the index card into that person’s giftbag. On the last day of school, each kiddo gets to read all of their notes and take their baggie home.

5. End of the Year Math Review Puzzles

Have you heard of Unravel the Fact math puzzles?

Dude. If you haven’t..YOU ARE MISSING OUT {in my opinion, of course *winkie face emoji hehe}

Before I get into how these math puzzles actually work, just know these math puzzles are perfect for  end of the year math review  a nd keeping your students engaged while their minds are thinking about ALL THINGS summer!

How do these math puzzles work?

The MAY/End of the Year EDITION of these cross-curricular Unlock the Fact Math Puzzles reveal facts themed around holidays in May. Your students will  answer  the 9 math problems, put the puzzle strips in order from LEAST to GREATEST. If they have answered the problems correctly and have placed the numbers in order correctly, an interesting fact will be revealed. They will have “unlocked a fact”. Cool, right?!!

Content Integration + Self-Correcting Math Puzzles = Happy Teacher and Engaged Students. BOOM.

What themes/facts are featured this month?

Each set of Unravel the Fact Math puzzles include themed facts around that month. The following are included in the May/End of the Year unit:

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, National Space Day (facts about Planets), National Astronaut Day (facts about Astronauts), National Tuna Day (facts about tuna), National Shrimp Day (facts about shrimp), National Bike Day (facts about history of bikes), National Train Day (facts about history of trains), Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Kentucky Derby, National Egg Month, National Love a Tree Day (facts about trees)

If you’re interested in these puzzles, the 3rd grade version is available here and the 2nd grade version is available here .

6. A-Z Reflection Book for End of the Year Reflection {Freebie}

So basically, this A-Z end of the year reflection book is an activity for students to….well…reflect on their school year haha and write down their favorite things, favorite memories, things they learned, etc.

For example, they could write “A is for arrays. In math, I learned to use arrays to figure out the answer to multiplication equations.” Then, students would draw a picture of an array.

The A-Z end of the year booklet can be done individually or as a class.

If you want to grab the free download of this printable book and try it out with your class, just click HERE .

Art Day is also another really fun day because sadly, I don’t often have time to do many art projects or crafts throughout the year. For Art Day, I ask our fabulous art teacher to borrow some paint, watercolors, pastels….I bring out my construction paper, markers, all the works and have my kids GO TO TOWN.

Have you done Shaving Cream art in your classroom before?! That’s also a fun art activity!

Speaking of shaving cream, have you used shaving cream in your classroom to clean student desks?! Oh boy! Check it out here .

8. Beach Day/Pool Day

Another amazing idea from the GRAM! I saw this on Insta a few weeks ago from Juan (@teaching3rdwithmrg), a third grade teacher, and thought it was pure genius because it’s so simple yet such a memorable & fun day for the kids.

How does this work? Invite your students to bring in small pool floats, beach towels, snacks and reading material, of course. You can move all of your desks and tables to the perimeter of the room so that you have a big open space in your classroom for “the beach” or “pool area”. You can give your students time to laugh and chit chat for a bit while they “relax” by the pool, then get settled in to begin reading by the pool. So fun! I love it!

9. Beach Ball Summer Keepsake

I gave each of my students a beach ball and we used sharpies to sign each other’s beach balls. I’ve seen other teachers use frisbees and hats, too!

10. Animal Research Project

My students worked on their animal research project until the very last day of school! This was the perfect project for keeping my kids busy and engaged. My students chose an animal to research {I didn’t let anyone research the same animal}. They used books and sites like World Book Online and PebbleGo to research their animal. They had a choice of making posters or a brochure. The templates for both the poster and brochure are from this unit .

Here’s an example of a poster one of my third graders made. This is the front of her poster. On the back, she talks about the Life Cycle, Adaptations, and other Fun Facts about her animal.

11. Make S’Mores with Solar Ovens {So freaking fun!}

I did this with my third graders and we seriously had THEEE BEST time. You can check out this blog post to read about our Solar Ovens.

12. Create a Graffiti Wall

I actually haven’t done this one yet but it looked way cool so I had to include it in this end of the year must-do list! I really feel like creating a Graffiti wall in your classroom is perfect for when your bulletin boards become bare as we are closing out the school year. I always feel so bad taking everything off of the walls because the classroom becomes so sad looking. THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

Instead of having the walls totally bare {and slightly depressing} , you can put up some white or light-colored butcher paper on the wall, and have markers available to your students. They can then write shout-outs for their peers, write about fun school memories, write what they loved about third grade or whatever grade level you teach, what they loved learning this school year…the list goes on!!

13. Chalk It Up, YO!

Dude. This one is so easy and so fun. Who doesn’t love playing with chalk? I grab tons of chalk and take my students outside. My students write nice messages or shout-outs to their friends or other teachers in the building, draw or write about memories from the school year, they write out math problems and have each other solve them, and some kids just free draw. We literally just had fun with chalk!

14. End of the Year Letter to Future Students

In the past, I’ve had my students write a letter to next year’s class by giving them advice about 3rd grade, their favorite things about 3rd grade, some things they learned this year, what to expect, their FAVORITE things about Mrs. Morie {that’s me hehe} or what you should know about Mrs. Morie { she doesn’t tolerate messy desks, so keep your desk clean! 🙂 }

Here’s a great post about End of the Year Letters and a free template.

15. Sandcastle Craft and Writing Activity

This one is really cute. Students will solve the math problems in order to build a sandcastle. Then, will complete the a writing activity that ties into the craft. Check it out here – differentiated options available, too, like basic addition and subtraction within 20, two digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, three digit addition and subtraction, two by two multiplication, & basic multiplication and division!

16. Telling Time PBL Craft and Writing Project

As students read or listen to the story about Rudy’s trip through Europe, they will follow the directions and times for her train rides in order to build the train and her itinerary. Check it out here .

17. “Teach” the Teacher

The student and teacher SWITCH roles. The student will now become the teacher and teach a lesson. The student will have 15 minutes to teach the class and you, the teacher, something. They will plan the lesson prior to their assigned day and teach the class how to do something or make something. Some examples include: how to make slime, how to jump rope, how to make a paper airplane, how to do a magic trick, origami, teach words in another language, teach a card trick, etc…

18. Free End of the Year Partner Math Games

Review all those math standards from the school year in this Tic-Tac-Toe style math game. I have free sets for 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade. Grab them here .

19. More Math Review Activities – Around the Room Math Hunt

I am obsessed with these. These task cards are so unique and so much fun. As they students solve the math problems, they will generate a silly story, sort of like a mad lib. Check out 2nd grade here , 3rd grade here and 4th grade here .

20. Fraction Friend for End of the Year Review

Want a creative and fun way to review fractions? Check out this little cutie of a fraction friend! You can check it out here in more detail.

21. Word Problem Crafts – Build a Butterfly

Ooooh! This is a fun, yet rigorous one! So, your students will solve the word problems in order to build an adorable butterfly craft! They will find their answers on the butterfly pieces sheet (this is naturally a self-checking activity because if problems were answered correctly, they’ll see their answers on the pieces). Then, they will be able color, cut out the pieces, and build their butterfly! You can find the 1st grade set here , 2nd grade here , 3rd grade here and 4th grade here .

22. Passion Research Project

Have your students choose a topic. Once you approve the topic, they can begin researching their topic and create a Google Slides presentation. Then, students will take turns presenting. Kids always LOVE doing this!

23. Paper Airplane Challenge

Have students participate in a paper airplane building STEM challenge! Students can work in partners or a small group. They will plan how they’re going to build their paper airplane, they may plan to build 4-6 different types of paper airplanes. Then, they’ll build and test out their paper airplane. You can choose to have different challenges: farthest, longest hang time, etc. Here’s an article you may find helpful about this challenge.

24. Build a Mancala Board

I LOVE playing mancala! Have you played before? It’s a great strategy game and perfect for kids to learn how to play and extend their critical thinking.

You can start by reading an article about the history of Mancala (you could even just project this article onto the screen). If you wanted, you could have students take out a piece of notebook paper, draw a bubble map and record some of the main ideas and main points from the article. Then you can show them this video on how to play Mancala.

Here’s a read aloud on YouTube that goes hand in hand with this activity. The author even shares her time growing up in Ethiopia.

Lastly, students can build their own Mancala game using egg cartons! You can ask families to send in egg cartons. Here’s an article that explains how to make the game out of egg cartons. Once students have finished making their Mancala boards (this may take a day or two), they can begin playing. You could even have a tournament if you’d like!

25. Make Ice Cream!

Okay, this end of the year activity is always a hit for sure. Have your students make ice cream as a STEM activity. Here’s an article that shows you how to make ice cream in a bag.

Well. All good things must come to an end. That’s the end of my 25 Must-Do End of the School Year activities! I hope you found this post helpful and were able to get a few ideas for how to end your school year! 

I’d love to hear what kinds of things you do in your classroom at the end of the year OR if you tried any of the ideas from this list!

Sending hugs and good vibes your way🧡

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Editor’s note: This blog post was originally published on the Teaching Channel.  Read it here .

Any teacher will tell you that school doesn’t really cool down . The end of the school year is one of the busiest, most stressful times of the year. Testing, spring fever, events, final projects, grading — the home stretch is a doozy. While it can be easy for students and teachers to mentally slide into summer, here’s how to make May and June truly memorable, impactful, and manageable.

Reflect and project

Jack Mezirow, a pioneer in the field of adult learning and former professor at Columbia University’s Teacher College, said that “a defining condition of being human is that we have to understand the meaning of our experience.” Reflection is what takes our learning experiences and cements them as lasting impressions. It’s a practice that gives students a chance to zoom out, assess their progress, and determine where they’d like to go as learners and as people.

At the end of a school year, it’s crucial to not leave dangling the hard work and efforts of the year by simply heading off into summer. Take time to provide authentic reflection activities that will help your students really think about the past year and what’s to come.

Useful end-of-the-school-year reflection resources:

• Stop, start, continue : a great way to help students break, begin, or continue habits with this simple organizer.
• Goal mapping : an opportunity to reflect upon goals they reached this year, as well as plan for the future.
• School-year-reflections mind map : a graphic, student-friendly worksheet for student reflection.
• Reflection pack : a pack of reflection station activities to use with your class for whole-class participation.
• Month-by-month reflection: Create your own month-by-month organizer that reminds students about all of the things they learned throughout the year. Incorporate opportunities for students to write or discuss each area of study and how much they’ve grown.
• Year-in-review portfolio: Have students collect their work from the year and make a portfolio to bring with them into their next grade, display in an exhibition, or leave for next year’s students.

Go list crazy

Lists are an engaging way for students to recall and reflect upon the year gone by. It’s an activity that’s sure to get students discussing memories, debating, and brainstorming together. Have students work in groups to create lists, such as Top 10 News Stories of the Year, Top 5 Pieces of Advice for Next Year’s Students, or The 10 Things You Need to Know in 11 th Grade Chemistry. Need inspiration? Check out this pack of pre-made list worksheets. Or this fun 5-4-3-2-1 Countdown List that’s perfect for younger learners.

Celebrate successes

Many schools have student award events at the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your very own awards event in your classroom. Celebrate the work your students have done. Encourage students to have an Oscar moment by giving a little speech. Many students never win an award in school, so this could be a chance to personally recognize everyone for a strength they have or something they’ve accomplished in your class. Give your students a special moment that will make your class and their learning experience meaningful and memorable.

Prep students for their next steps

Whether you’re watching your seniors go off to college, or your little 3 rd graders become 4 th graders, the end of the year means preparing students for their next steps. Once June hits, it’s time to start guiding students for what they can expect in the next grade or in the next phase of life. One idea is to have students and teachers from the next grade up come visit next year’s incoming students. Another idea is to have students make introduction videos to send to their next teacher. Students can also write about what they’re most looking forward to, any questions they have, or things they’re nervous about. A truly special thing to do is to write each of your students a letter with advice or words of encouragement as a memento they can take with them as they advance.

Don’t give in too much to summer-itis

All 180 days (or so) that we have with our students are precious. Even when we’re tired, it’s hot out, and those relaxing days are calling, make each day count by planning stellar activities. It’s okay to sometimes go beyond the traditional lesson plan and flush the format. Take the kids outside for a nature walk, play an educational game, take a cool field trip, work on a community project, reflect together, or even have a class party. Hey, maybe even let students try their hand at teaching the class! Or teach that fun unit you’re passionate about, but haven’t had time to start yet. Until the last time your students walk out of your classroom door, they’re yours to educate. Make every moment count.

Take a breath

Teachers, you’ve almost made it. With just weeks to go, summer is nearly upon us. Enjoy these last days with your current students. Feel good about the many lessons you’ve taught, the hours you’ve spent together, and the people your students have become through their connection to you. You deserve a nice break, so work hard and rest up! Before you know it, stores will be stocking school supplies again!

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Tagged as: Engaging Activities

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As the end of the school year approaches, it’s important to keep students engaged and motivated. Here are 15 end-of-year assignments and activities for every grade level:

1. Reflection journals: Have students reflect on their growth, achievements, and challenges throughout the year.

2. Memory books: Have students create scrapbooks or memory books filled with their favorite memories and moments from the school year.

3. Class awards ceremony: Organize a special event to recognize and celebrate students’ accomplishments with certificates and awards.

4. Field trips: Plan educational field trips to local museums, parks, or zoos as a fun and memorable way to end the year.

5. Outdoor games day: Arrange a day full of outdoor games and activities to celebrate the end of the year while promoting team building and physical fitness.

6. Reading challenges: Create a reading challenge where students can choose books to read over the summer and present their reviews to the class.

7. Science experiments: Conduct hands-on science experiments that allow students to explore and discover new concepts while having fun.

8. Talent show: Organize a talent show where students can showcase their talents and skills, promoting creativity and self-expression.

9. Community service project: Engage students in a meaningful community service project that teaches them the importance of giving back to society.

10. Year-in-review slideshows: Create slideshows showcasing the highlights and achievements of each student throughout the year.

11. Time capsule: Have students create and bury a time capsule with items representing themselves and their experiences during the school year.

12. Career day: Invite professionals from various fields to share their experiences and inspire students about future career possibilities.

13. Cultural fair: Celebrate diversity by organizing a cultural fair where students can learn about different traditions, customs, and cuisines.

14. Classroom cleanup and organization: Get students involved in cleaning and organizing the classroom, teaching them responsibility and teamwork.

15. Personal goal setting: Help students set personal goals for the upcoming year, encouraging them to strive for growth and improvement.

These end-of-year assignments and activities will not only keep students engaged but also create lasting memories as they look back on their time in school.

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End-of-year assignments and activities can be tricky because you want to retain the child’s interests without giving yourself extra work. Fortunately, there are lots of simple activities and assignments to try that are fun and suitable for most students. You always want to end the term on a good foot, so find an activity your students will enjoy. 

Create an End-of-Year Newsletter or Newspaper

This is a great way to encourage the children to work together, contribute, and share special memories of the past year. You can oversee things but let the children decide what content should be added. You can recap the headlines of the year, add illustrations, and have a comment section too. It’s a useful way to keep the kids entertained and make the last class assignment fun. 

Try an Open-Mic Night

This might sound a bit strange for school, however, it’s the last few days of term and it should be all about fun. Open-mic nights are fun because it gives every child the opportunity to share something personal with the class. 

This might sound strange for school, but it’s the last few days of term, and it should end on a high. Open-mic nights are fantastic because it gives every child the opportunity to share something personal with the class. For example, 2 best friends can share a duet. Or have a fashion show or poetry competition. Winners get a special treat, and everyone has fun. It’s a great way to get everyone involved, and you could even have a show for parents for the children. 

Get the Students to Plan their Dream Vacations

Children don’t want to think about school as the last day draws to a close, so get them to plan out their dream vacation instead. Set the class a budget of $3,500 and let the students research travel and accommodation costs, along with spending money. It’s a fun exercise and a simple assignment that’s educational but still retains the attention of the children. 

Read a Story or Watch a Movie

End-of-term can be an emotional time for you as much as the children. It’s a major shift in their lives, and they can have reservations about moving on. So, why not make their final day a more relaxed experience? For instance, you could read a short novella to younger students and watch an age-appropriate movie with older kids. It’s a nice way to round off the year and ends on a positive foot. 

Create Paper Ice Cream Sundaes

This is a great way to celebrate the year. Students write down memories of the year on pieces of colored paper. Each student creates a ‘sundae’ with those memories. It’s a sweet way to look back at some precious memories for one final time. 

Create Flipgrid Videos

If you want to say a fond farewell to your students, you could create short Flipgrid videos. These are easy to make, and everyone can get involved. You can create a farewell video for your students, and they can do the same. It doesn’t require much effort and gives everyone the chance to participate in the project. 

Create a Playlist of Favorite Songs

Get every child to choose a song that reminds them of their year at school. You can create a playlist and play them during class. It’s a great way to encourage all students to engage – especially the shy ones. Plus, it’s a good way to celebrate the end of the year.  

The A-to-Z List

This exercise is beneficial for younger children. Set the class the task of writing about what they’ve learned throughout the year using the alphabet. For example, A stands for arithmetic. B is for biology… and so forth. Get the kids to write something that represents each letter of the alphabet. It’s a great way to engage the child’s brain and is helpful to review what everyone has learned over the last year. 

A Social Media Comments Page

If you want to include all students, set up a Facebook or Twitter page dedicated to the class. Ask the students to write a positive comment about each other on the school page. This means everyone is given a nice send-off and since most people use social media, it’s convenient. Just make sure the comments are positive and no sly ones. You could even write something positive about each student. 

Thank You Notes

Children often say goodbye to their teachers by giving them farewell cards or presents, and you could do the same. For example, give every child in the class a handwritten thanks and farewell note. It’s a great way to show your appreciation to the class, and they can send thank you notes to their classmates too. It’s a small gesture but does have a lot of sentiment attached. 

Create Memory Bags

Students personalize a paper bag and put 5 items that reflect their year. There are no upper limits as to what can be put in the bag and no judgments made either. This is a personal reflection on the student’s time at school. It’s interesting to see how each child is different and how they reflect on the past year too. 

Post Snapshots of the Past Year’s Events

School events happen throughout the year and most people take photos of those events. You could commemorate those events by posting snapshots in the classrooms. It’s the chance for everyone to get together and have a few laughs. It’s a great way to reflect on the year too. For younger children, you could get them to draw the events instead to make it more interactive for them. 

Small-Group Presentations

Split the class into several small groups and set each a topic to discuss. Then, after they’ve had time to discuss the topic, have them give a class presentation. It’s an educational activity as the day draws to a close. You could also free up some of your teaching time. 

Field Trips to the Year Ahead

As silly as it might sound, a lot of schools don’t prep kids when they move from second grade to third or fifth to sixth grade. Typically, it’s down to the fact that most kids adapt to their new surroundings; however, that doesn’t mean to say it still isn’t a scary time. It’s a big change in a child’s life – regardless of their age – and it’s crucial to ease their fears. 

So, even though you won’t be teaching the class next year, you can still show them where they’ll learn. It allows the students to explore their new surroundings because they have been used to (and comfortable) with their current classroom. Even if you do a virtual tour, it’s a great thing to do for the children. 

DIY Projects

Little DIY projects are perfect because it gives everyone the chance to unwind and make a little souvenir. You can create little picture frames or even wooden boxes with a few letters carved in them. It’s a fun way to end the year.  

Discuss Summer Plans

On the final day of term, get the class to write about what they plan to do during the summer break. It passes the time because, on the last day of term, kids are excited about summer and don’t always concentrate on boring lessons. So, this is a nice activity to try. 

Put on a Play

This is perfect for students of all ages. Give each child a role, whether it’s playing the lead or working on the scenery. It’s the best way for the class to come together one last time and have fun as a group. You can put on a show for parents and fellow students. 

End-of-Year Party

For older teens, an end-of-year party can be great. Organize a few snacks and ginger ales and let the children have fun. It allows them to mingle and say their goodbyes. If this is their last year at school, it’s a special year because most will go off to college or start in the workforce. So, giving an extra special send-off can be great. 

Have a ‘Design a Seal’ Competition

Split your class into six or seven groups and get them to come up with a design for a school coat of arms. It’s a great way to get everyone to work together and mash some ideas. This also helps to encourage communication among the students. 

School Portraits

No one likes picture day, so why not organize the class to create some self-portraits? It’s a good chance for everyone to have fun. Or you could get students to draw each other. 

Write a 1-Page Memoir of the Year

Students experience all sorts throughout the year and it’s their chance to share their stories. Let the students write a memoir about their year but keep them anonymous so that everyone feels free to express themselves fully. 

Create a Memory Wall 

Set up a pinboard at the front of the class (or outside) and let them post memories of the last year. It can be special projects, field trips, or snapshots from prom; let the children post their happy moments on the board. You can even share a class photo on the board. 

Group Discussions 

While this doesn’t technically reflect on the past year, group discussions are perfect – and easy – end-of-term activities to consider. For instance, you ask the class to come up with arguments for and against the constitution (or something less controversial). It’s great to see all points of view from the students and gets everyone involved. 

Record a Goodbye Message 

Get every student in the class to record or say a few words, then create a goodbye video. You can give a copy to every student, and they have memories of their classmates. It’s a nice idea to try, especially when you have a close-knit group. 

Create a Commencement Speech 

This is for students graduating. Get them to come up with a commencement or graduation speech. It’s their chance to write down what they want to say. You can get the student to read them to the class or keep them private. 

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Final Portfolios: Ending the Year with Meaning

“All in all, this year was tough but I made it through. I learned a lot about culture, society, and religion. Society shouldn't determine who you are as a person because who [can] judge us? We as individuals can only judge ourselves.” —Excerpt from Long Nu's final portfolio

One way that I attempt to help make meaning of a year, give students the final word about their learning, and achieve a collective sense of completion is by assigning a portfolio project as the final major assignment of the year.

Portfolio Overview

With or without access to technology, final portfolios are opportunities for students be creative as they reflect on, describe, analyze, and interpret their own work and learning from the year. Instead of being told what they should know, students have an opportunity to articulate their learning and their realities in their own words as they create a product of personal and emotional value.

“This class has really made me think about where I fit into the world, and how I can use my position in the world to incite change.” —Excerpt from Ruby’s final portfolio

“At first I never knew stepping out of my comfort zone would make me feel like a new person.” —Excerpt from Monisha’s final portfolio

The Process

I begin the process by having students read over their work from the entire year. Each student sits, claiming a section of table to her/himself. Spread in front of them is their work from the year -- papers spilling out of graded work folders, worn journals overflowing with entries, large pieces of chart paper, and many open tabs on their laptops display assignments, docs, and websites that they have created. This first stage reminds students of all that they have accomplished. "Remember this? I forgot all about it!" is a frequent refrain. At times students are impressed by their work, and at other times disappointment is clear: "Ugh. I didn’t do so well on this."

I want them to read through their work and notice multiple things that they may not have previously realized. For this reason, I don't tell them all the details of the project at the outset. Instead, I ask them first to record at least 15 quotes of interest from their own work. The quotes must be from different assignments and significant to them for some reason. (Maybe one quote contains a powerful idea, another is something they now disagree with, a third is a quote where they appreciate the style of the writing, etc.) By completing this first assignment, they are beginning to develop larger ideas and insights into their learning from the year.

The next day, with their collection of quotes in front of them, I ask them to sit in groups and create a list of General Understandings that begin to summarize their learning from the year. I make it clear that they can think about both whatthey learned and how they learned. I give examples to get them started:

• Multiple perspectives help develop different understandings of reality.
• Discussions can lead to insights and learning not possible for an individual.
• Struggle is a necessary part of transformation.

I am intentional about modeling with complex and varied General Understandings. For each General Understanding, I have students take notes about units, assignments, projects, and memories of class activities that can be used to support the statement. During this stage, each student contributes ideas, and group wisdom helps develop individual ideas farther. Ultimately each student will choose his or her own General Understandings based on the wealth of ideas and possibilities that each group has generated on the chart paper hanging in different parts of the room.

Incorporating Creativity and Individualization

The next step is for students to draft and write the portfolio essay, the introduction to their selected body of work from the year. For my high school version of the project, students write 500 words focusing on two to three General Understandings. Each General Understanding must be supported by quotes from their own work throughout the year. By using their own work as sources, students continue to review, acknowledge, and accept the authority, power, and connections in their work from the year, while also identifying where there is room for growth.

If technology is available, portfolios can be created as blog posts. Quotes from student work can link directly to pages with those assignments. I require that students include links to at least five different examples of their collected work.

With or without technology, artwork can be a powerful element in portfolios. I have had students use a word cloud generator to create word art that represents their learning from the year. Students can create many different expressions this way.

Final Thoughts

Every year, final portfolios give my students a structure for evaluating themselves and articulating the most important aspects of their learning and growth. The day that the portfolios are due, we sit in a circle and hear an excerpt from each student. The range and variety of essays is a poignant reminder of the value of creating individualized learning experiences.

Final portfolios can be a reflective tool not only for students, but also for teachers. Reading portfolios rejuvenates me, helps me realize and understand things that I had not realized about different students and their experiences in my class, and helps me to identify my own areas for growth as I continually work to refine and improve my teaching practice. Creating structure that encourages students to develop individual, insightful voices can provide a powerful reminder of why the work of teaching matters.

“There’s different sides to ourselves that we don't really see at a first glance. Those parts of us can be brought out when we create poetry and view things about the world in different lenses. We not only learn about ourselves, but we learn sides to people surrounding us and people who are thousands of miles away. Throughout the year, I've been able to see parts of myself that I haven't seen before. Some parts surprised me and some parts led me to believe that there is something inside of me worth searching for and worth continuing beyond [the] classroom.” —Excerpt from Symone’s final portfolio

Importance of End-of-Year Celebrations

End-of-year celebrations are more than just a fun way to wrap up the school year; they play a crucial role in students’ holistic development. These festivities allow students to reflect on their academic and personal growth, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride. Additionally, they strengthen the bonds between classmates and teachers, creating lasting memories that students will cherish for years to come. Moreover, end-of-year activities provide closure and pave the way for a smooth transition into the next grade level or phase of education.

Closing Out the Year with Purpose

As the academic year draws to a close, end-of-year activities serve as the perfect platform to reinforce key concepts, celebrate achievements, and prepare students for upcoming challenges. These activities help tie up loose ends, allowing students to review important lessons and skills while engaging in enjoyable and meaningful experiences. By incorporating various activities, teachers can ensure students remain focused and motivated until the final bell rings.

Consider reading this short read-aloud to get kids excited for the end of the year: Only One You by Linda Kranz. It’s an adorable story that reminds students to be themselves, no matter what!

Exciting End-of-Year Activities

Here are some activities your students are sure to love!

• Outdoor Picnic: Arrange a picnic in the schoolyard or nearby park where students can enjoy snacks, games, and camaraderie in a relaxed setting. Encourage students to bring blankets, games, and snacks to share.
• Memory Lane Collage: Provide materials for students to create collages or scrapbooks showcasing their favorite moments from the school year. This activity encourages reflection and creativity while preserving memories.
• Talent Show: Organize a talent show where students can showcase their talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, or performing skits. This inclusive event promotes self-expression and boosts confidence.
• Classroom Awards Ceremony: Recognize students’ achievements and contributions with personalized awards such as “Most Creative Thinker” or “Kindness Ambassador.” Celebrating each student’s unique strengths fosters a sense of pride and belonging.
• Field Day: Plan a day of outdoor games and activities such as relay races, tug-of-war, and obstacle courses. Field days promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and physical activity while providing a fun way to end the year.
• Storytelling Circle: Set up a cozy corner in the classroom or outdoors where students can gather to share their favorite memories or stories from the school year. Encourage students to listen actively and show appreciation for each other’s stories, fostering empathy and communication skills.
• Classroom Clean-Up Day: Dedicate a day to organizing and tidying up the classroom, allowing students to take ownership of their learning environment. Provide cleaning supplies and divide tasks among students, promoting responsibility and teamwork while preparing the classroom for the next school year.
• Cultural Potluck: Host a multicultural potluck where students bring dishes representing their cultural backgrounds or favorite foods. This celebration of diversity fosters appreciation for different cultures while allowing students to bond over shared experiences and cuisines.
• DIY Craft Fair: Invite students to showcase their creativity by hosting a DIY craft fair where they can display and sell handmade crafts or artworks. This event promotes entrepreneurship, creativity, and collaboration while providing a platform for students to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Time Capsule Creation: Have students create a time capsule filled with items, photos, and messages representing their experiences and aspirations from the school year. Bury or store the time capsule in a safe place on school grounds, to be opened by the same students in the future, allowing them to reminisce and reflect on their growth over time.

Many end-of-year activities require minimal preparation and can be easily adapted and reused year after year. Simple materials such as paper, markers, and outdoor games are readily available and affordable. Additionally, collaborative efforts from teachers, parents, and students can help streamline the setup process and ensure that activities run smoothly.

As educators, the end of the school year offers a chance to celebrate the achievements of both students and teachers alike. Educators can create a positive and fulfilling conclusion to the academic year by incorporating engaging and memorable end-of-year activities. Let’s make the most of these final moments together and ensure that every student leaves feeling valued, inspired, and ready for the next chapter in their educational journey. Here’s to an amazing end to the school year!

By prioritizing end-of-year activities and incorporating engaging festivities, educators can create a memorable and fulfilling conclusion to the academic year while fostering a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie among students.

You will also love these posts:

10 Creative End-of-Year Award Ideas for Students

• Engaging Spelling Activities 3rd Graders Will Love: Fostering Literacy Skills in the Classroom
• Blooming Student Creativity: 30 Refreshing Spring Writing Prompts for Big Kids

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Let’s Wrap Up The School Year: 10 End-of-Year Tips and Tricks for Teachers

How to Make Student Awards Funny This Year Using Fun Superlatives

4 Simple & Effective Test-Taking Strategies for Elementary Students

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End-of-Year Assignments and Activities for Every Grade

As the school year comes to a close, it’s important to keep students engaged and motivated during the last few weeks. End-of-year assignments and activities can provide a sense of accomplishment and closure and can help students reflect on their progress over the past year. These types of assignments and activities can also serve as a way to introduce new concepts and skills that can be built upon in the following school year.

The benefits of end-of-year assignments and activities are numerous. They can help students review and reinforce their knowledge, develop new skills, and encourage critical thinking . These types of assignments and activities can also help students stay engaged and motivated as they transition to summer break or the next grade level.

High School Students

As high school students prepare for college, end-of-year assignments and activities can provide an opportunity to explore their interests and career goals. Some ideas for college or career exploration activities include creating a resume, writing a college essay, or participating in a career fair. These types of activities can help students gain valuable experience and build their confidence as they embark on the next stage of their education or career.

Personal finance lessons are another important topic for high school students to consider at the end of the year. Financial literacy is a crucial life skill, and helping students understand budgeting, saving, and investing can set them up for success in the future. There are many resources available for teaching personal finance, including online courses, videos, and interactive games.

Advanced mathematics coursework or homework help can also be a valuable end-of-year activity for high school students. For those who excel in math, this can be a chance to challenge themselves and continue learning. For those who struggle with math, extra mathematics homework help and support can encourage them so they can build confidence and improve their skills.

Mock job interviews are another great way for high school students to practice their communication and presentation skills. These types of activities can be done in small groups or individually and can be conducted with the help of a teacher, counselor, or volunteer from the community.

Finally, community service projects are a great way for high school students to give back to their community and make a positive impact. These types of projects can be done individually or in small groups and can range from cleaning up a local park to volunteering at a shelter or food bank.

Middle School Students

Research projects are a great way for middle school students to develop their critical thinking and research skills. These projects can be done individually or in small groups and can focus on a variety of topics, including science, history, or current events.

Service learning opportunities are another valuable end-of-year activity for middle school students. These types of activities involve volunteering or performing a service for the benefit of others and can help students develop a sense of responsibility and civic engagement.

Debate or public speaking exercises are also a great way for middle school students to build confidence and develop their communication skills. These activities can be done in small groups or individually and can involve practicing impromptu speaking or preparing a formal presentation.

Group problem-solving activities are a fun and engaging way for middle school students to work together and develop their collaboration skills. These activities can range from puzzles and brainteasers to group challenges and team-building exercises.

Elementary School Students

Creative writing prompts are a great way for elementary school students to express themselves and develop their writing skills. These prompts can be as simple as “Write a story about a magical adventure” or as specific as “Write a letter to a famous historical figure.”

Art projects are a fun and creative way for elementary school students to express themselves and develop their artistic skills. These projects can be as simple as coloring a picture or as complex as creating a sculpture.

Finally, field trips or virtual field trips can be a fun and engaging way for elementary school students to learn about the world around them. These trips can be to a local museum, nature center, or other educational location, or they can be virtual trips to places around the world.

Final Thoughts

End-of-year assignments and activities are an important way to keep students engaged and motivated as the school year comes to an end. They can help students review and reinforce their knowledge, develop new skills, and encourage critical thinking.

They can also provide a sense of accomplishment and closure, and help students transition to the next grade level or summer break. By incorporating a variety of end-of-year assignments and activities, teachers can promote student engagement and achievement throughout the school year.

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End of the Year Activities for Upper Elementary

By Mary Montero

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It’s here! It’s here! The end of the year is here!  Now, I always vacillate between being terribly sad the year is over and being so excited for a fresh start come August.  My first few years teaching, I always scrambled the last few weeks trying to find engaging but still meaningful activities for my students to do those last couple weeks of school.  I wanted it to be EXCITING and FUN, but I still wanted to maintain control of my classroom and keep them learning.  It was always a challenge.  I figure there must be other people in my same boat– searching endlessly for the perfect end of the year activity– so I compiled a huge list of the best end of the year activities (and books!) I have found and use every single year.

This compilation of end of the year activities is specifically geared towards keeping bigger kids (grades 3+) engaged the last few weeks of school.  I hope you can find an idea or two!

I shared this letter board image several years ago showcasing out last month of school activities. These were ALL activities we did from April onward that really kept the focus on academics, but students were having SO much fun. We did so many math projects (including the end of the year project I mention below), STEM sports from The Science Penguin, played games with task cards, and honed our math skills with Error Analysis.

Writing Activities

Memory boo k task cards.

I made these end of the year task cards years ago to use as our morning work during the last two weeks of school.  Each day, students picked a new task card to use to create a memory project for the school year.  Some cards took kids just one day to complete whereas others spent a good chunk of time on their task.  I always love the variety of displays I get  out  of these memory task cards! Update: This year, each student selected a memory task cards and created a page.  Then, we compiled each page into a book and turned it into an AMAZING end of the year memory book!   I have also updated this to include a digital version, which makes it SUPER easy to compile multiple students’ slides into one fantastic digital memory book for the end of the year.

Three Words

I blogged about this Three Words idea years ago, and it remains one of my favorite end of the school year traditions.  We do this as an entire school and then make a big end of the year slideshow to watch as an entire school. When I moved to a school that didn’t have this specific school-wide tradition, we made it into an end of the year anchor chart instead.  So sweet. 

I can’t find an original source for this idea, but I love it!  Here is what the original pinner wrote: “ I created a basic newspaper template and then had my students write mini-articles on what the fifth graders can expect when they come to sixth grade next year. Students wrote a brief bio on about the teacher and then articles about tips to surviving sixth grade, favorite memories, sixth grade camp, etc. We then passed them along to the fifth graders so they could read them and get an idea for what sixth grade is about. This was a really fun activity!”  

I know my students would be so excited about taking a field trip to their next grade , and they would be equally excited to host kids coming to 4th grade next year!  SUCH a brilliant idea.

We always make an ABC book for one of our novels , so this would be a fun activity, too!  They can create a memory book based on their school year .   She  includes a free template and lots of other great end of the year ideas in this post, too!  

Reading Activities

Fictional yearbook.

This End of the Year Reading Activity was created because my kids LOVE their yearbooks so much! I thought about creating a comprehension sheet to go with our yearbook, but then I realized how time intensive that would be and that I wouldn’t be able to use it from year to year.  So I created this fictional, 8-page yearbook with a super fun scavenger hunt to go with it.  It can be used in printable form (as shown), or you can make it into a center activity with the task cards that are included. 

Book Tasting

Described as book  speed dating, this activity could truly be used any time of year, but the end of the year– after all the books kids have read– would be the perfect time to host this book tasting party! I have blogged extensively about book tastings HERE .

Reading Centers

Engage your upper elementary students with these 6 high-interest End of the Year context clues reading activities that are fun and easy to prepare! No prep required, just print them out and use the context clues activities as literacy centers, or break them up into several engaging reading lessons that align to Common Core Standards!

For inference review, students will become investigators tasked with solving the ‘Case of the Mystery Pen Pal’ – finding clues and making inferences along the way with this set of end of the year inference centers .

Plan a Fun Fest Reading Project

This project reviews reading, writing, and grammar skills ! Your students will dive into planning the perfect ‘Fun Fest’ in this activity that is rigorous and FUN! The “Fun Fest” theme makes it the perfect project to finish the school year. I included a wide variety of tasks for your students to complete with one goal in mind: to plan the best Fun Fest the school has ever seen!

Reader’s Theater

My students absolutely LOVE reader’s theater, and these end of the year scripts are so fun! I set out to create a set of reader’s theater that helps students practice their reading comprehension skills, gives them plenty of opportunity for oral reading fluency practice, and provides accountability to both the readers and the audience.

Math Activities

Math project.

When I started creating math projects, I realized how engaged my students were with every new one that I pulled out.  That meant I needed one for the end of the year! I created this End of the Year Party Planner to review all of the math skills we had worked on but also to let their creative juices flow.  I always love seeing the games they come up with, how they lay out their field for the party, and more. 

Road Trip Math

This year, I had three weeks at the end of the year after I had finished all of our math standards.  I decided to pull out my Road Trip math project which I originally created to review skills at the beginning of the year.  It has been PERFECT for the last few weeks of school.  It reviews so many math skills, and I’ve been so impressed at the critical thinking my kids have shown.  Since it’s road trip themed, my students have really been getting in the summer mood, too! Keeping with the road trip theme, we also used these FREE road trip math task cards .  

Steph from Teaching in Room 6 is one of my favorites– she has the most brilliant and engaging ideas for EVERYTHING and this end  of  the year math activity is no exception!   

Science Activities

Airplane competition.

So, I will openly admit that I completely stalk The Thinker Builder.  He has amazing ideas, and this paper airplane one is no exception.  I can’t WAIT to do this activity this year.  I know the kids are going to flip out over it!

STEM Sports

Our science kits are headed back to our district science center, so these STEM Sports challenges are PERFECT for  the  end of the year.  I plan to do these challenges the entire last week of school.   

Dinosaur Fossils

Kelsey has some awesome ideas for keeping students engaged right until the very end.  Since we just finished our study of fossils, I know they would love these salt dough fossils !  

Technology Activities

What a great collection of ideas for using the iPad at the end of the year !  She has included so many wonderful ideas. 

If you have iPads in your room and a little bit of time, you absolutely MUST do this claymation project .  Seriously.  How cool is this!?

Wrapping Up The Year

My VERY favorite end of the year activity happens in the last few minutes of the last day of school.  End  of the Year Awards! I start thinking about who will get what awards toward the middle of April and always have such a fun time choosing the perfect one.  As a result of having SO many different personalities over the years, my End of the Year Awards have grown into a HUGE bundle of more than 80 editable awards!  I truly can’t wait to hand these out.  

Future Plans

Have each student hold a dry erase board with what they want to be when they grow up .  Then, turn it into a bulletin board with their graduation year. What a GREAT send off for an entire grade level– especially 5th graders! (Source unknown)

If you do portfolios, you HAVE to see this blog post.  They are some of  the  most gorgeous portfolios I have ever seen!

End Of The Year Books

Here are a few Amazon affiliate links to books that are perfect for wrapping up the year.

Ten Beautiful Things : This is the perfect book to read as the school year is winding down. It encourages students to find the beauty all around them. This would offer fabulous extension opportunities, where you could encourage students to write their own list of ten beautiful things they see over the summer (or out the window!). The writing in this book is stunning, too!

On Account of Gum : This one checks the box for just a GOOD, FUN read aloud. Nothing too deep. Nothing too serious, just a funny book!

And Then Comes Summer : This is a sweet, sweet summer book to add to your book list! I love this one as a mentor text to have students write about their hopes and dreams for their summer… no matter how big or small!

A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee : Name a picture book you have read at least 20 times. For me, this one makes that list! Ever since it arrived on our doorstep a couple months ago, it has been ON REPEAT so often that my 3 year old has nearly memorized it and my 9 year olds are still eagerly cozying up with us every time I pull it out. You should definitely add this to your reading list over the last few weeks of school.

Looking for more end of the year activities?

Join us in our FREE Inspired in Upper Elementary Facebook group, where we’re always brainstorming and sharing the best ideas for students and teachers just like you!

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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11 Fun End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students

May 10, 2021

11 FUN END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS-The end of the year is typically a time of reflection, meditation, and excitement…for the teacher! Does the following sound like you?

I am REFLECTING on what I will be doing or NOT doing this summer! I am MEDITATING on that book I have always wanted to read and am eagerly anticipating finally getting to it this summer! I am EXCITED about dusting off my feet and leaving my classroom for the peace and serenity of the summer! And you know what? I think our students feel the same way!

As we end the year, we want lessons and activities to be simple. You don’t have to rush through a research paper or start a whole new unit. Just take everything day by day and teach those texts you have been dying to teach.

Table of Contents

Below are some of my favorite FUN END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

Need help with Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

SHORT STORIES: End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students

1. “the tell-tale heart”​ by edgar allan poe.

If you have forgotten about the most-read short story in the secondary ELA classroom, it is vital to read it with your students ASAP! The end of the school year is a perfect time to read about murder and mayhem and people going literally insane.

I think we can all see the connection 🙂

Check out this bundle for tons of activities for “The Tell-Tale Heart!”

Read here for activity ideas >>> The Tell Tale Heart Edgar Allan Poe At His Best! ​

2. “The Pedestrian”​ by Ray Bradbury

Put “The Pedestrian” On Your List ​ for your End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students! This story is quick, relevant, and SO easy to teach!

It tells the story of a society consumed by technology and someone who quietly bucks the system only to suffer the consequences….

Click here for fun lessons >>> “The Pedestrian” ​ by Ray Bradbury

3.  “The Cactus”​ by O. Henry

This story is a lesser-known tale by the writer of “The Gift of the Magi,” but it has a great message about pride and miscommunication!

Click for this NO PREP lesson for your End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students >>> “The Cactus” ​ by O. Henry

POEMS that are FUN and ENGAGING: End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students

4.  “song of myself” by walt whitman.

You don’t have to teach the whole poem, as it is quite long. Why not take an excerpt from the poem and let your students connect this poem to their own lives in your END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL?

 Check out this poetry pack to include in your End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students>>> “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

5.  “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe

Have fun comparing this poem to a clip from the movie “Hairspray!” >>> “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe

6.  “My Fears” by Kristin Menke

Reading poetry about fear can be a simple way to introduce this tough topic. Before, during, and after the reading, you can chat about what we all are afraid of without having to write a full paper or read psychological reports or analyze a full short story or novel that could take days or weeks. Click here for the poem>>> “My Fears” by Kristin Menke

FILM ACTIVITY IDEAS: End of Year Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Teaching with movies can be fun, yet tricky in the classroom. Maybe it is the end of the year with testing finally completed after weeks and weeks of state exams. Or maybe you are two days from Winter Break, and YOU just need a break… Instead of starting something entirely new, you simply want your students to watch a movie. It can be tempting, but when an administrator stops by, it can be hard at times to justify. Most administrators might see students watching movies and think the teacher is trying to avoid teaching. Instead, think of teaching with films as a vital part of the educational experience!

​ Click to read about TEACHING WITH MOVIES IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL! ​

​7.  Want an easy-to-teach Film Analysis Activity Pack to help with the end-of-the-year stress? Click below!!

It is so tempting to just play and movie and relax; however, few administrators will approve of this end of school year pastime. So why not teach students how to write a basic yet rigorous film analysis?

Click below to get film analysis activities!

​8.  Check out this FREEBIE to help get your students excited about FILM ANALYSIS as a part of END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Unique activities for any ela classroom / end of year activities for middle school, 9.  reading poems simply for fun like “unique unicorn” by kristin menke .

This poem is fun and relevant as it gets kids thinking about who they want to be! You can teach character traits, rhyme, alliteration, etc. Plus, who doesn’t love unicorns? Click the image below to get more poetry ideas!

10.  Read a short story you have waited all year to read like “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl !

Make it a 2-day event by comparing and contrasting the short story with the Alfred Hitchcock Presents  episode! Click the picture below for writing activity ideas!

Lamb to the Slaughter Short Response: Step-By-Step

Sentence 1: Answer the question about the characterization of Mary from beginning to end

Sentence 2: Incorporate a piece of evidence

Sentences 3-4: Examine how the evidence conveys a specific effect that connects to the characterization (trait)

Sentence 5: Incorporate another piece of evidence

Sentences 6-7: Examine how the evidence conveys a specific effect that connects to the characterization (trait)

Sentence 8. Reiterate the traits of Mary and the purpose of the characterization

​11. This Digital End of Year Activities For Middle School and High School Pack is a FUN way to engage your middle and high school students as they close out the year in distance learning!

They will reflect on their summer dreams and real-life scenarios by creating social media posts based on their ideal and/or realistic summer(s)!

Click the image below for My Summer in Social Media!

MY END OF THE YEAR GOALS FOR SUMMER!

I teach English 1 and AP Lang completely online as a virtual full-year teacher, so I am only getting 1 week off in June and 1 week off in July. I plan, however, on using these precious 2 weeks and the rest of the summer to relax and achieve some of my personal non-school goals:

• Read for pleasure! I have a list of books that is growing longer and longer each day.
• Spend time in my garden. I love flowers, growing vegetables, and getting my hands dirty 🙂
• Go on weekly outings with my family. Particularly, I love the zoo and beach in Jacksonville, FL.
• Rest! This is easier said than done, but my goal is to take my time, move more slowly, and nap…a lot!
• Walk everywhere. Before I had kids, I walked 15,000+ steps a day, and I felt great! I NEED to get back to this!

Click below to get a bundle of END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Need more fun lessons and activities for the end of the year? Check out my store Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

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9 Low Prep End of Year Activities

The end of the school year always brings forth a huge range of emotions in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers. Eagerness about the upcoming summer break. Sadness about students moving on to the next grade level. Anxiousness about all of the end of year administrative tasks.

But mostly, teachers feel completely exhausted at the end of the school year.

This exhaustion can make it difficult to prepare fun and meaningful end of year activities. Sometimes it is just easier to put in a movie so your students are occupied while you hurriedly try to complete grades. (This was me my first year teaching!!)

Over the years, I collected some fun, meaningful, and low-prep activities for the end of the year. These activities were easy to prepare and engaging for the students so that I could get work done if I needed to. And my 3rd graders could have fun despite my exhaustion.

My favorite end of year activities are listed below!

Fun End of Year Activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Classrooms

1. end of year letter to future students.

Have students write a letter to next year's class, giving tips and advice about what next year's students should expect. This is a fun activity that also has students work on their writing skills.

Although my 3rd graders always ended the school year with much better writing skills then when they started, their writing organization left much to be desired. So, I created this End of Year Scaffolded Letting Writing Activity to help my students organize their thoughts and create a letter that would be a good model for next year's students.

My favorite part of this activity is the section where students are required to write about "What You Should Know About Your New Teacher." Students are often much more insightful than we give them credit for, and I learned a lot about myself and my teaching from these letters.

2. End of Year Reflection

Have upper elementary students reflect on the past school year by asking them reflection questions. For example:

• If you could change one thing about the school year, what would you change?
• What was your favorite book that you read this year?
• What accomplishment from this year are you most proud of?
• What is one thing you wish your teacher would have done differently this year?
• What is the nicest thing that someone at this school did for you this year?

My End of Year Reflection Questions Resource contains 24 reflection question cards and writing prompts. Question cards like these can be used in a variety of ways - sometimes I had partners or small groups share their answers with each other. Sometimes I would have everyone in the class share their answer to one specific questions.  Sometimes I would have students use it as a writing prompt.  Sometimes I would use a Kagan strategy like Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up.  

Any method for questioning students is fine, as long as you get your upper elementary students talking and reflecting!

3.  Use an End of Year Writing Prompt

Writing is a great way to keep students learning with minimal prep.  All you need is an engaging writing prompt!

Check out these 11 End of Year Writing Prompts and Activities for easy ways to incorporate this into your end of year lesson plans.

4. Field Trip to Next Year's Class

Have students visit one of the classrooms they might be in next school year. For example, if you teach 3rd grade, take your students to a 4th grade classroom!

This is especially powerful if you give the students a chance to talk to the students in the next grade. I would pair up each of my 3rd graders with a 4th grader, give them a scavenger hunt and interview questions from my End of Year Field Trip to Next Year's Class Resource,  and have students talk with each other. The 4th graders got a chance to share their wisdom, while my 3rd graders felt a little less anxiety about the next school year.

5. Summer Packet of Activities

Have students continue to read, write, and learn during the summer with a packet of fun activities to complete during the summer. You could create a list of activities for students, have students create their own, or save time by using one I have already created for you!

In this Summer Packet , students are asked to complete a variety of lists, including things like:

• reading in a variety of places
• writing using a variety of materials
• building a variety of objects
• observing different things in nature

6. An A-Z End of Year Reflection

Have 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students write down something they learned during the school year for each letter of the alphabet.

This was one of my favorite end of year activities to do with my 3rd graders because it requires no prep and is very powerful. Some of the letters are easy - multiplication for the letter M or fractions for the letter F. But some other letters require a little more creativity.

This can be a fun activity to do as a whole class - you could create a large anchor chart and add on to it whenever you have time to kill. Or, have students complete it independently or in partners.

Or, this is one of the printables in my End of Year: No Prep Activities Resource.

7. Beginning of the Year Vs End of the Year Compare and Contrast Reflection

Have students complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting their beginning of year selves with their end of year selves. They can consider all of the things they have learned, how their behavior has changed, how their friendships have changed, and more.

This end of year activity is great if you are trying to instill a growth mindset in your upper elementary students. This activity gives them the opportunity to reflect on the progress they have made and how they are improving for the better.

After completing a Venn Diagram, I would have my 3rd graders use that information to write a short paragraph about the changes they had made throughout the school year for the better.  You can use compare and contrast paragraph frames to help scaffold student writing.

Students can draw their own Venn Diagram on a blank sheet of paper. Or, if your students need something more structured, this is also one of the printables in my End of Year: No Prep Activities Resource.

8. Memory Autograph Book

Give your students an opportunity to collect memories with a Memory Autograph Book.

Instead of simply having students share autographs with each other, use this Scaffolded Autograph Book that includes sentence starters that help students share compliments and their favorite memories about each other.

9. End of Year Top 10 List

Have students create a list of their Top 10 favorite things that they did at school during the year. Once again, this can be an independent activity, a partner or small group activity, or a whole class activity depending on your needs. If you do try to create a whole group Top 10 List, good luck getting everybody to agree on their favorites!

This can also be done using a blank sheet of paper, or buy it as one of the printables in my End of Year: No Prep Activities Resource.

You might like these other end of year activities and ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students.

Many of these end of year activities can be completed by students on a blank sheet of paper. However, if you prefer for students to have a little more scaffolding, all of these activities and more can be found in my End of Year Bundle, or they can be purchased separately.

You'll save over 20% when you buy the bundle, and you'll have a huge variety of mostly no-prep activities to help make the end of the year a little less overwhelming.

Never Stress Over Sub Plans Again!

Make copies, find a fiction book, and you'll be ready for any emergency that comes your way!

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I love these. The activities sound very engaging as students reflect in a variety ways about themselves and the school year.

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Late Assignments: Tips From Educators on Managing Them

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Today’s post finishes up a two-part series on how different teachers handle late student work.

‘Taking Late Work Can Be Challenging’

Ann Stiltner is a high school special education and reading teacher in Connecticut with more than 20 years of experience in education. She shares her passion and love for working in the classroom at her blog from Room A212 (www.annstiltner.com/blog). Follow her on Twitter @fromrooma212:

Being a special education teacher means most of my students have the IEP modification of extra time, which generally translates to time and a half. For a test a teacher gives a class one hour to do, my student would have 1½ hours. For a project the class had one week to complete, my student would have 11 days. However, even with this extra time, some of my spec. ed. students are not able to complete the work. With diagnoses such as ADHD, LD (Learning Disabilities), or anxiety, they find maintaining focus and accessing one-on-one support difficult to fit into these time constraints. Their motivation is unpredictable based on their mood, family challenges, or social drama.

Due to these factors, I have adopted a policy where I accept work from both regular and special education students at any time for full credit or I take points off for each day late depending on the circumstances and if that will motivate a student to finish.

I realize that taking late work can be challenging for teachers of 100-plus students. It means constantly updating your grade book and keeping track of papers. Some teachers don’t accept late work because they think a firm cutoff teaches students the importance of meeting deadlines. Even though I agree this is an important skill, I fear that some students won’t learn that lesson from a policy of not accepting work late. These students prefer to give up and forget about the assignment in order to feel a sense of control and protect themselves from failure. Getting a zero on an assignment does not make them rethink their decision to not do the work, since a zero to them doesn’t mean the same as it does to us teachers. To them, a zero is the grade they think they deserve based on their past experiences.

I have found a time limit gives students a reason to give up and not try. This is learned helplessness in action. My working definition of learned helplessness is a person’s lack of effort due to previous experiences which have taught them that making even the smallest effort won’t make a difference.

For many students, trying involves a large investment of cognitive effort and a huge risk to put themselves out there. They are not ready to set themselves up for what, they are sure, will make them feel like a failure and especially not in a setting where they might be bullied, yelled at, or insulted. If they do not feel safe and supported, they will not risk being teased by their classmates. This is the thinking behind my policy to accept late work at any time. I do not want my conditions and requirements to be used as an excuse for why they do not engage in my lesson and do the work.

This same philosophy explains why I provide supplies like writing utensils or computer chargers. I consciously decide not to create barriers for a student to complete work. I do not want to rob them of a chance to engage with the material, learn something new, experience deep thinking and feed their curiosity by dictating conditions that they can blame for not engaging in the work. Accepting an assignment late gives them time to get motivated or set up one-to-one support so they can focus on the work when they are ready. I do not want to distract students with rules concerning time limits, pen vs. pencil, or on paper vs. on computer.

Don’t get me wrong: I do have classroom rules and expectations. I want the focus in my class to be on what is most essential—learning. This approach means the student—and their parents—will have a hard time holding me responsible for their grade. The responsibility falls on the student and their choices. This open policy allows me to create rapport when I explain my belief in their ability to do the work and my dedication to provide them the support and necessary modifications to be successful. If and when a student is ready to engage in the work, make an effort and take a risk, I am ready.

‘A Balanced Approach’

Ruth Okoye, Ed.D., is a 30-year veteran educator. She has taught in private and public school settings and is passionate about literacy, educational technology, and ed-tech coaching. She currently serves as the K-12 director at a nonprofit organization:

As an ed-tech coach working with fellow educators in their journey of professional growth, handling assignment submissions beyond the designated due date is a nuanced process that reflects both practicality and a deep understanding of individual circumstances. The approach I adopt recognizes the unique challenges that my learners who are teachers face in their daily lives, and it aims to create an inclusive learning environment that supports their development while acknowledging the diverse contexts in which they operate.

My policy on due dates is rooted in the realization that a one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the myriad of responsibilities and situations that learners encounter. Rather than rigidly adhering to stringent deadlines, I advocate a balanced approach that considers the academic integrity of assignments and the need for flexibility.

To strike this balance, I establish a preferred due date for assignments, considering the majority of learners and allowing them ample time to complete their work. This desired deadline also has a more concrete counterpart—a hard deadline—that offers a reasonable time frame for those genuinely committed to finishing their tasks. This dual-deadline structure allows proactive learners to demonstrate their dedication while acknowledging the potential challenges others may face.

For example, in a book study, there would be weekly assignments. The posted due dates would give the learners three weeks to get each assignment done. I would establish a hard deadline for all assignments two weeks after the study is completed. I’ve found that for a six- to eight-week book study, that allows ample time for a learner to deal with an external complication and then get back on track.

Of course, the purpose of the assignment plays a significant role in determining the flexibility of the due date. For instance, tasks geared toward in-class reflection, like exit tickets, maintain their original deadline as they serve an immediate and time-sensitive purpose. On the other hand, assignments designed to assess learners’ application of covered material need a more lenient approach, allowing participants the time to digest the content and apply it effectively.

I also believe in allowing learners ample time to attempt tasks and even granting multiple opportunities for submission. This practice is grounded in the understanding that the learning process is not linear, and different individuals require varying duration to internalize and implement new concepts. By granting extensions and multiple tries, I encourage a growth mindset and empower learners to engage more deeply with the subject.

One of the cornerstones of my policy is the recognition that external factors beyond the learning experience can impact a learner’s ability to meet deadlines. Illness, family emergencies, or resource constraints can hinder progress, and rigid due dates should not serve as barriers to measuring their ability to apply course concepts. Instead of penalizing them for circumstances beyond their control, I aim to evaluate their understanding of the material and capacity to use it effectively, irrespective of external hindrances.

So you can see, my approach to handling late submissions from learners revolves around flexibility, empathy, and practicality. By acknowledging the diverse challenges teachers face and tailoring due dates to the purpose of assignments, I create an environment that fosters deep learning, personal growth, and a commitment to the subject matter. This policy recognizes the unique circumstances of each learner. It underscores the overarching goal of professional learning—to nurture and support the development of capable and resilient professionals in education.

What Is the Goal?

Jessica Fernandez is a full-time high school teacher and instructional coach near Chicago who specializes in teaching multilingual English learners and in supporting colleagues to make small language shifts that will benefit all learners:

Fortunately, my high school freshman English PLC has decided to have two categories: formative (anything at all that is practice), which is weighted 10 percent, and summative, which is weighted 90 percent. Since the purpose of formative tasks is to practice a skill they will later demonstrate, late work is accepted until we complete the summative demonstration for that skill. Afterward, there’s not so much of a point, plus it would drive us crazy and make work-life balance tough.

The goal, after all, is to give frequent and prompt feedback so kids can improve before their final summative demonstration. Late points are more of what we used to call “habits of work”; important soft skills, yes, but for our purposes, if the kid practiced for their summative skill demonstration, I’m happy, and I’m not scoring them on timeliness. Who knows what they had going on? I’ve gotten grace, and 10 percent won’t make or break their grade anyway.

Thanks to Ann, Ruth, and Jessica for contributing their thoughts!

Today’s post responded to this question:

How do you handle students turning in work after the due date, and why do you apply that policy?

In Part One , Chandra Shaw, Stephen Katzel, and Kelly Owens contributed their ideas.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email . And if you missed any of the highlights from the first 12 years of this blog, you can see a categorized list here .

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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End-of-year activities keeping students busy

This weekly column is coordinated through Sue Gerhard at Carbon Career and Technical Institute. Schools who would like to participate in this program are invited to email her at [email protected] .

Carbon Career & Technical Institute

Gracie Heintzelman

Hello to everyone from CCTI.

Yearbooks are still on sale for $35. They will be delivered at the end of May. You can pick up an order form in the tech office or buy one online at https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/CCTI2024

The prom is scheduled for Friday, May 10, at Penn’s Peak. Prom begins at 5 p.m. and ends promptly at 10 p.m. All students and guests attending prom must have a ticket and a signed permission slip. Non-CCTI guests must also present ID at the door. Tickets are available until Friday, April 19. CCTI Students are free, guests are $550. Make checks payable to CCTI Senior Class. Prom photo papers will be given out with tickets. Friday, May 10, is a 10:30 a.m. early dismissal for all students.

Great job to all students who attended SkillsUSA states on April 3-5 in Hershey.

CCTI DECA would like to thank everyone who went to the Dine and Donate at P.J. Whelihan’s on April 3.

Senior awards will be on May 22 from 6-8 p.m.

The NOCTI performance is April 24 for all seniors except PMT. All other students will have no school that day.

Lehighton High School

Welcome back.

On Tuesday, March 26, the Me Today, Me Tomorrow program was held at the high school. The program involves a multitude of different individuals from the community coming into the high school to present various topics and lessons. Students had the opportunity to choose 3 sessions from a total of about 15 sessions to participate in. Some of the topics included managing life and career, personal finance, mental health, starting a business, choosing a career, cultural diversity, and many others. This program allows students to listen to many community leaders who have experience. Students were able to gain useful knowledge for their future endeavors.

Moving along, Student Council held an easter egg hunt throughout the school on the half day before Easter. One-hundred and fifty paper eggs were spread out throughout the building, in which students would be able to find them and keep them. The eggs were numbered, and at the end of the day, certain numbers were picked for a prize. Eggs were hidden in the hallways, cafeteria, library, and foyer. This was a very fun, excellent initiative by Student Council.

Additionally, many workshop opportunities are being advertised at the high school. First is Keystone Boys State. The Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State is an educational workshop for high school student leaders. Students selected to attend KBS have the opportunity to gain leadership skills through an intensive week-long summer program. The workshop runs from June 16-22. Second is the American Legion program. The Elmer Hafer American Legion State Police National Guard Youth Camp brings together the PA National Guard, American Legion, and the State Police to give students firsthand experience in many areas of law enforcement and the military. This program enhances leadership skills, discipline, and self-esteem to morally, intellectually, and physically prepare cadets as future leaders. The camp runs from June 9-15.

Jim Thorpe High School

Gabriella Cerra

Spring sports have kicked into high gear. The common phenomenon of quarter four seeming to either endlessly drag on or quickly fly by is very likely caused by the rush of activities, events, trips, and exams that condense the final stretch of each academic year. Specifically, track and field, which practices daily, has many meets and events for the final months of school being in session. The Olympian track and field team members had their first meet on Tuesday, March 26, and much will be going on until the season concludes in early May, with the annual Olympian Invitation on May 2 and League and District championships around that time as well. Boys tennis is regularly competing against other schools. Members of the girls and boys soccer teams have both been practicing and competing in leagues as well, in preparation for their season beginning in the summer. Students should make sure to show spirit for the Olympian sports teams, and other wonderful members of the community who do so as well are immensely appreciated.

FBLA’s long-anticipated 73rd Annual Pennsylvania State Leadership Conference is neigh. Monday is an 8-hour workshop day, followed by individual chapter and middle school awards at Giant Center in Hershey that night. Tuesday will be another day of educational workshops with many valuable business lessons for members in attendance, followed by the high school student awards, which will announce the top ten scores in each of the many business categories. The top four will be eligible to move on to compete at the National Leadership Conference. The Olympians at Hershey for the SLC will check out the morning of Wednesday. With this culmination, those who succeed to make the top ten or even top four, eligible to proceed to the national level, will be included here in the near future. Regardless of the outcome in relation to the National Leadership Conference, a notable 85 Jim Thorpe students made it to the state level from regionals, all of whom should be proud of themselves and congratulated for their accomplishments and work ethic. Of course, this is not the end of activities for Jim Thorpe’s very active three-chapter district. On May 21, from 5:30-8 p.m. the high school will host FBLA’s End of the Year Banquet, where many individual awards will be handed out. FBLA members will also be participating in many community service events throughout the remainder of the year.

This Monday there will be a Peer Buddy meeting during PODS, unless canceled prior to.

During PODS on Tuesday, there will be a meeting for the Student Advisory Council. Any students interested in sharing opinions on various topics, for administrators to hear would likely enjoy attending, which they are welcomed and encouraged to do. This week’s topic is what will be served by the cafeteria.

After school ends on Wednesday from 2:45-4 p.m., the History Club will meet in Mr. Ellison’s classroom. As always, anyone is welcome to attend. History Club discusses a variety of topics, which this week are likely to focus on Civil War Day. This event will be on Monday, April 15. May 5-6 are the dates set for the Antietam - Harpers Ferry trip.

Friday the L.B. Morris will be holding a 7th and 8th grade dance. To members of the student body who would like to earn community service hours, volunteers would be appreciated. For community service, there will also be an opportunity available at Dimmick Memorial Library and Penn Kidder Library, both from 4-7 p.m. this upcoming Wednesday.

As known by all of the students at Jim Thorpe, there are regularly representatives from various organizations, schools, and companies who set up a table for the three daily lunch periods, to speak to students about what they came to represent and offer to benefit Jim Thorpe’s students’ futures. This week, Jim Thorpe will be host to an Automotive Training Center representative on Tuesday; Pocono Whitewater and Skirmish on Wednesday; and a National Guard Recruiter on Thursday.

There will be a school board meeting on Wednesday, from 6-8 p.m.

Lastly, there Law Day is May 2, theater’s production of the Addams Family is May 3-4, and Junior and Senior Prom on May 10. Thank you all for keeping up with the goings on at Jim Thorpe. Have a great week, everyone.

Weatherly High School

Mellanie Marshman

This week for Weatherly Wreckers is extremely busy. Women of stem is this Tuesday and many young women will be going to Penn State Hazleton for the day. Envirothon is this Tuesday as well. Monday-Wednesday our FBLA qualifiers will be going to Hershey to compete in the state competition. Baseball and softball are going strong through their seasons.

Palmerton High School

Mrs. K. Baumgardt’s Journalism Class

Drama club and stage crew have kicked off their three-day run of their show, “Chicago.” Performances started on Thursday, and many have concluded that it is “spectacular.” Many students and teachers have attended the show including Ms. Keiser, who says she’s “excited to see (her) students’ stellar performances.” The last day of the show is today, bringing an end to what most consider an excellent and impressive production.

This past week and next week, Palmerton students have traveled/will travel to compete in state competitions. On Tuesday, seven students left to compete in the Pennsylvania State Press Association, PSPA, competition in State College. The students qualified for the state competition in October and performed their journalism events at Main Campus on Wednesday. Over 100 other Palmerton students are currently preparing for the FBLA SLC in Hershey. Students will leave Sunday and will compete the following two days in hopes of advancing to nationals.

The book club is the newest club of special interest in Palmerton. Recently, the club has started a book drive where students and teachers can bring in their new or old book for the club to donate.

PAAC, or “Palmerton Against Animal Cruelty,” has been collecting donations for animals in need. Students of Palmerton Area High School have donated things out of the kindness of their hearts, such as blankets, towels, toys, treats, and any other pet products.

Spring sports had an exciting week of games, meets, and matches. JV baseball was looking to achieve a winning record after starting the season 2-3. Varsity baseball was supposed to play Northwestern Lehigh but was postponed to Monday, and played Salisbury on Friday and Stroudsburg on Saturday. Tennis played Palisades, Salisbury, Southern Lehigh, and Lehighton this week. Track had a meet against Saucon Valley but their meet against Northern Lehigh was postponed.

Members of Scholastic Scrimmage, the school’s trivia club, traveled to the Carbon Lehigh

Intermediate Unit 21 in Schnecksville for their annual competition. The students tested their knowledge as they took on other schools in Carbon County.

Franklin skating rink owners coming out of retirement

Nesquehoning man charged with 25 counts of child pornography, no april fools: winter weather in forecast wednesday, earthquake shakes the region, police: woman threw dog out car window.

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Your end-of-year checklist

The finish line is in sight and the end of the academic year is almost here! If you plan to move out of your residence soon, this is a great time to prepare. Whether you live on or off campus, here’s a checklist to help you wrap up the end of the year. 

Donate items you no longer need

You may have items you no longer need or want as you prepare to move out of your residence. Donating these things means you have less to move, and you can give your items a second life. 

If you live on campus, you can participate in the Give and Go Donation Drive. Donation locations will be available in the residence halls Monday, April 22 through Thursday, May 9. Students can donate the following items at these locations: 

• Unopened non-perishable foods 
• School supplies 
• Toiletries, hygiene products and cleaning supplies  

Soft goods such as bedding, pillows, towels, etc., cannot be collected.  

If you live on or off campus, there are also many locations in Boulder where you can donate your items. Wherever you choose to donate, make sure to drop off items that are usable and in good working condition. 

Store items to use next year

It may feel easier to throw items out or donate them, but you do have another option. The UPS Store at CU Boulder offers summer storage for students living on and off campus.  

The service is simple and affordable, and students can choose customized storage solutions. For the basic storage program, you can pick up a box at the on-campus UPS Store and return it with the items inside. You can also store larger and specialty items through this program. 

Donate or store your bike

If you’d like to donate your bike, you can do so at the Folsom and TLC bike stations. Bikes will be refurbished and sold at the annual fall Bike Sale.  

The CU Bike Program can store your bike for $20 over the summer. Storage is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Stop by the TLC bike station from May 6 to May 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, to store your bike. Learn more about summer bike storage.  

Bikes left on campus that appear to be abandoned will be flagged and removed starting in May. 

Properly dispose of hard-to-recycle and hazardous materials

Sometimes you may have items you can’t throw away or donate, including electronics, cleaning products or fluorescent bulbs. Here are some tips for taking care of hard-to-recycle and hazardous items: 

• If students need to dispose of vape or other hazardous tobacco products, designated vape disposal locations are available in the UMC and the Village Center. 
• It is illegal in Colorado to throw away electronics in a dumpster. You can donate electronics in usable condition at a thrift store. Electronics not in usable condition can be recycled at Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials , Staples or Best Buy . 
• Visit the Environmental Center website for more options on disposing of hard-to-recycle items , including cell phones, batteries, toner cartridges and more. 
• Common household hazardous waste products include fluorescent bulbs, home cleaning products, home maintenance products, motor oil, antifreeze, paint and yard and garden care products. Learn more about how to dispose of hazardous waste products . 
• Dispose of your expired and unwanted medications at the take-back box on the main floor lobby of the Parking Services and Police Department building. 

Pick up your Green Cord

Are you graduating in May? Take the Graduation Pledge of Social & Environmental Responsibility and pick up an optional green cord to wear at graduation! The Graduation Pledge Alliance states: 

“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and to try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.” 

The green cord symbolizes your commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Those graduating in May or summer 2024 who take the pledge will be contacted with more information in April 2024 about a green cord for commencement. 

Drop ‘N’ Swap  

April 24 | 12-6 p.m. | UMC, room 235 

Join the Environmental Center for Drop ‘N’ Swap—a campus-wide swap shop where CU Boulder students, faculty and staff can donate and pick up new-to-you items, including: 

• Accessories 
• Outdoor gear 
• Office supplies 
• Housewares 
• Room decor, and more!  

You don’t need to bring anything to take new-to-you items at this free event.   

Bring donations to the Environmental Center (UMC 355) Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. between April 8 and April 23, or on the day of the event to UMC, room 235.