It’s always fun to throw a party or put together a special activity to celebrate the end of the school year. The following are nine great end-of-the year classroom celebrations.
1. Take a “One Grade Older” Field Trip
Gather your students and coordinate with one of the teachers from the grade above yours to give your students a tour and a little time to explore. Set up a small activity with the students in the classroom from the grade above and have your students come back afterwards to share in a letter or a discussion of what they are most excited for in the next year of school.
2. End-of-the-Year Election
This can be turned into a several-day event. Have students vote on what their favorite field trip was, their favorite dessert in the cafeteria, or their most popular subject. Come up with ten to twelve items to vote on and post the results.
3. Create Memory Gift Books
Having each child put together a unique book with favorite memories of the school year is a great way to incorporate reading, writing, and art in one project. After writing about their favorite memory, make sure to order plenty of paint, glitter, and glue so children can decorate their books.
4. Throw a Luau
Kids love parties and a luau provides plenty of activities that are both fun and educational. Learning about Hawaii, decorating the room, and even trying new foods can be part of the celebration.
5. End of the Year Paper Countdown Chain
This activity may not be new, but having students create a visual countdown to the end of the school year can add a little excitement and fun to the classroom during those final weeks. Create the chain as a class and then nominate a student who showed extra kindness each day to remove 1 of the paper chain links. For added fun: Put a sticker on one out of every 5 links. Whoever gets to remove a link with a sticker gets a prize.
6. Have an ABC Countdown
It’s fun to put together an ABC countdown on the last 26 days of school. For each letter, students can create crafts or participate in activities. For example, children can decorate balloons for the letter “B.”
7. Plan a Mini Graduation Ceremony
Make a red carpet from a non-woven fabric roll and award students with medals and ribbons during the ceremony.
8. Write Letters to Next Year’s Students
Have your students write down some of their favorite memories from their time as your student to share with students getting to know you next year. Have them leave tips and tricks for the new students in their letters, and even offer some advice for how to succeed as a student in your class. Be sure to read through these letters after they are completed and use the information to plan more “favorite” activities for next year.
9. Hide End of Year Encouragement Notes
Everyone could use a little encouragement now and again, so have your students create a few secret notes to tuck into the books of your classroom library for next year’s students to find. Students the following year can read the notes they find as they look through the books, and may even have their day brightened by your students’ kind words.
How will you celebrate this milestone? Here are some more great ideas to make the end of the school year fun — without expending too much of your waning reserves of time and energy to do it.
Shop End of the Year Classroom Awards and Incentives
