The big end of year tests are finished, but we still have several days or weeks of school left. The struggle to keep students engaged is getting tougher. Planning time is lacking, so low prep activities are a must!
I’ve gathered some of my favorite end of year activities. These require little or no prep. They are interesting and fun for students in elementary, middle, or high school.
Write a Letter to a Future Student
I did this on a whim one year, and I loved the results. Ask students to write a letter to a student who will be in your class next year. They can tell them what to expect, things to look forward to, what the teacher is like, and more. Then, at the start of next school year, let your new students read some of these letters from your past students.
Write Thank You Notes
My first year teaching, a teacher had her students write thank you letters to anyone they chose. Then, she placed any letters to teachers in their mailboxes. The ones I received meant the world to me! I still have them. Letting students write thank you letters is a great way to spend some time at the end of the year.
Create a Commercial
One year, I let students create commercial videos. The only requirement was that the commercial needed to incorporate a concept we had learned. The students got very creative, and we all enjoyed watching the final products. Students love making videos, and you might discover some hidden talents and skills.
Invite a Guest Speaker
The community is filled with experts, and sometimes I think we forget that. Reach out to local businesses or colleges to see if they would come speak to your classes. Parents are also a great resource. The topics could be related to what you have taught, careers, or just something interesting that students would enjoy learning about.
Reflect on the Year
A whole year of school means students have learned about a lot of topics. See if they can remember something for every letter of the alphabet. Here’s a free print & go resource for this activity.
Try a STEAM Challenge
Students love creating and building. Hands-on challenges are perfect for keeping them engaged at the end of the year. I’ve created a pack of 20 STEAM challenges that require little to no prep and materials you probably have. These will keep students thinking while having some fun!
Fun Summer Math Activity
Make it to summer break with this engaging coordinate graphing activity. Students take a “Summer Personality Test” and graph ordered pairs to create a sun. Everyone’s sun will be different colors depending on their personality!
Check it out here.
Research Careers & Colleges
Researching careers and colleges became an end of year staple when I taught 8th graders. Many had some ideas of jobs they were interested in, and most had questions about colleges. Researching was eye-opening, especially when they looked at the costs! If you need a template for a college & career research project, check out this printable version or this Google Slides version.
Create a Collaborative Sign
Students love getting creative and working together to make these large collaborative displays. They each decorate a piece, and then all the pieces join together to create a positive message. It’s a low-stress, low-prep activity that results in the perfect decoration for next school year. Find more of these collaborative signs here.
Prepare for Next Year
I am a big fan of using every minute we have to learn something. One thing that is helpful in preparing students for the next school year is to talk to the teachers they will have. If we know what skills students usually struggle with in the next grade, we can provide some extra practice before school is out. I’ve gathered lists of skills students need for 5th grade math through Geometry. You can download those here to help prepare your students.
End of Year Stations
If you need a low-prep activity to last you a few days, check out these end of year stations. They are easily editable if needed, or just print & go!
End of Year Math Booklets
If you need a fun way to reflect on the year of math, these booklets are free to download! First you choose your cover for your grade level. 5th grade math through Geometry are included.
Inside, students fill in lists, “Do” and “Don’t” list for success, About math class, The solution is, Math thoughts, Letter to past self, and see if they are ready for the next grade level.
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