The end of the year is a busy time in any classroom or school. The energy is buzzing as teachers wrap up the year and students prepare for summer break. The energy can easily overwhelm us if we don’t have a plan for success during that last week of school. With a to-do list full of tasks, a solid plan with engaging end of the year activities is the best way to send your students into summer with a smile on everyone’s face. There are five simple things you can do to make the end of the year a success.
1. Read to Your Students
Reading is important throughout the year and a cornerstone of any great elementary classroom. Read alouds can continue up until the last day – especially if you pick books and follow up activities that will keep your students engaged and learning. The books that I use for these end of the year activities include The Watermelon Seed, Happiness Tastes Like Cotton Candy, The Bubble Factory, The Popcorn Book, and The Night Before Summer Vacation.
I use these books as the basis for a summer countdown that includes five themed days of activities. The Watermelon Seed by Greb Pizzoli is our read aloud for a day focused on sweet memories. After reading the book, we learn about watermelons, respond to the book, and reflect on memories from the year. I like to create a bulletin board to share these memories.
Happiness Tastes Like Cotton Candy by Tina Gallo is the read-aloud for our Cotton Candy Day where we do a cotton candy experiment and taste test.
The Bubble Factory by Tommie DePoala is the book I use during our Bubble Day. In addition to reading and responding to the book, we also blow bubbles and do an experiment. The Popcorn Book by Tommie DePoala is our book of choice for Popcorn Day. This day brings together reading, math, and science with several different popcorn themed activities.
The last day of our end of the year countdown is Beach Bucket List. We read The Night Before Summer Break by Natasha Wing. We do a few beach themed activities before sending them off to summer break and the next grade. These books and themes provide a fun countdown for my students during the last week of school.
For more books to read at the end of the year check out THIS post.
2. Provide Hands-On End of the Year Activities
Books are a great starting place for an end of the year countdown. The countdown can be made even more memorable by including hands-on learning experiences. These can come in the form of crafts, science, or even math. After students respond to each of the books above, we spend the rest of the day doing fun activities related to the theme. After reading The Watermelon Seed, we talk about the life cycle of a watermelon and do a craft that includes our favorite memory from the year.
On cotton candy day, students do a taste test where they engage their senses and then we do an experiment with cotton candy to see if it dissolves or melts in certain circumstances.
On bubble day, students connect and respond to the book before taking a break to blow bubbles and do an experiment outside.
On popcorn day, the students get to do a taste test once again. This time, they take it a step further by comparing the taste of different popcorn and graphing the class results. On our last day of school, the students create a summer bucket list as they look to the future and think of the possibilities ahead. This list gets them excited for summer and allows them to engage with our book choice in a new way.
3. Have Fun with Your Students
One of my favorite parts of the end of the year activity countdown is that it makes things more fun for everyone. I include a visual countdown that allows the students to know what theme is coming up, which gets them excited for the activities that are coming. It also makes planning easier for me since these themes and activities are timeless and can be used year after year. I’ve even put them into an easy-to-download file that others can grab for their own classroom use.
The end of the year is such a hectic time that it really helps to focus on fun during that final week of school. These particular activities are low prep but fun for the entire class. They enjoy doing science experiments, tasting different foods, and listening to fun books. In addition to this, they get to spend time talking with their classmates as they discuss the books and activities.
4. Thank Their Families
The students aren’t the only ones that you’ll be saying goodbye to at the end of the year. You’ll also be saying goodbye to a group of families that you’ve communicated and connected with over the year. Some of these families may have even spent time in the classroom or helping out in other special ways. It’s important to thank these family members for their dedication and help. They play a huge part in the success of your students. Even a simple note home can go a long way in helping these families to feel supported.
5. Say Goodbye to Your Class
The last thing you’ll have to do for the year is say goodbye to your class. You’ve spent an entire year getting to know your students and bonding with them in many different ways. Think about how you’re going to say goodbye and what feels right for you and your class. A cute note or gift can help your students feel loved and appreciated as they step into their next adventure. In my end of year countdown, I include a small “O-fish-ally Summer” printable that can be used as a card or a tag. You could attach it to a fish pencil or a small bag of goldfish for a cute end of the year treat for your students.
How do you celebrate the end of the school year?
Every classroom celebrates the end of the year in a slightly different way. The teacher and students have created a little community throughout the year and that shines through at the end of the year. I’d love to hear about your classroom and how you celebrate the end of the year with your students. If you’re stuck and would like to grab the printables that go along with my last week of school countdown, then you can head to my Teachers Pay Teachers store for more details and to grab this resource that can simplify your end of the year activity planning HERE.
