As summer approaches and the school year winds down, many teachers are looking for fun end-of-the-school-year ideas to make the most of these last few weeks with their students. Whether you are a teacher looking to keep your students engaged or a parent looking for end-of-the-school-year ideas, activities, and a project to create lasting memories for your kids, this article has something for everyone.
Here are some of my FAVORITE end of school year activities:
End of Year Count Down Anchor Charts
Since we have to take down anything “instructional” from our bulletin boards during state testing, that always leaves my boards looking very plain. I find that keeping things as “normal” as possible at the end of the year helps to minimize some of the behavior issues.
In order to fill my bulletin boards, I started writing one question per day for students to answer and turned it into a countdown. My fifth graders were SO excited to see the question of the day on the bulletin boards! Once I ran out of space, I hung them outside in the hall. They loved reading and answering the questions, and it created some memories since it was something to look forward to each day.
Here are some examples of questions:
1. What is your ideal school lunch?
2. What do you look forward to most about next year?
3. What is your favorite Disney movie?
4. Write down a favorite memory from this year.
5. If you could only see three colors, what would they be?
6. Name a person in history that inspires you.
7. What is your favorite holiday of the year?
8. Recognize someone in our class for being a good friend/classmate.
9. What is your favorite song?
10. What is your favorite picture book?
End of the Year Student Memory Book Project
Many teachers have their students complete some sort of memory book at the end of the year, and I have my students complete an autobiography. It is based on the autobiography that I completed when I was in seventh grade! My students get a real kick out of reading some of my “seventh grade thoughts” and looking through the pictures in my autobiography.
I prefer the autobiography over a memory book because it includes details about their entire life thus far and gets parents involved. Parents, in fact, LOVE this project and always thank me for putting it together!
This project is available for fourth grade, fifth grade, and sixth grade!
As part of the autobiography, I write a letter to my students and ask parents to write a letter as well. I keep the letters a secret until the books are bound, and you can imagine their sweet faces as they read them for the first time!
Here is a free parent letter template to use in your own classroom:
End of the School Year Geography Project: Imagi-Nation
Geography is always one of those standards that kind of gets…pushed to the side a bit UNTIL this geography project!! This is one of my favorite ways the end the school year!
I start this project by reviewing a variety of different map skills, and then students create their own nations. Get it – Imagi-NATION?!
Students choose a theme, and then they create their nations based on that theme. They LOVE IT. Not only are students practicing map skills, but they are fully engaged, quiet, and working independently. All of the things you want from an end-of-the-school-year project!
Here are some examples from my students:
Have Your Students Create Caricatures of Themselves!
Ok, I’ve been using these caricatures for years now, and it is my favorite end-of-the-year activity (but they work great at the beginning of the school year too)! I provide my students with these caricature templates, and they simply trace over the top to make a cartoon version of themselves.
Let me tell you, the kids LOVE making these. This activity also keeps them engaged for a good two class periods. ????
Look at some examples below:
I hope you were able to find some inspiration with these end-of-the-school-year activities. Enjoy your last few weeks of school!
Happy Teaching!
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