Showing posts with label End of school year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label End of school year. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Fun Activities for the End of the School Year

Do you need some fun, low-prep end-of-the-year school activities to fill up those last few days of school?

Fun Activities for the End of the School Year



This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.


1. Research Projects

Have students research a topic they are interested in.  You could have them create Google Slide Shows, videos, or traditional posters and reports.

President Research Reports



I have some ready-made research projects that are print and go!



2. Jelly bean and Toothpick Towers

The end of the year is a great time to work on STEAM collaborative activities.  I have previously shared blog posts about a Jack in the Beanstalk and a reading ottoman building project.

Jelly Bean Towers



Another fun activity is to have your students build towers out of toothpicks and jellybeans.  Give each group of students one box of toothpicks and one bag of jellybeans.  The group with the highest standing structure in 3 minutes wins.

You can add additional time or criteria (must include certain shapes or angles) to make the activity take longer.

3. Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are always a fun way to review previously learned material and have a little bit of fun!  You can find some great ones on Teachers pay Teachers.

4. Special Days Countdown

Countdown the last few days with special themed days.  Some ideas could be: movie day, craft day, reading day, electronics day, board game day, Lego day, etc.  

5. Color by Number

Color by Number activities are a great way to keep your students busy and engaged those last few days of school.

Sports Themed Color by Number

I have a ton of these in my Teachers pay Teachers store including these:





6. Mental Math

Mental Math Task Cards

My students always love these Mental Math task cards and the end of the year is a great time to bring them out!

7. Scoot Games

Scoot Games are a great way to get your students up and moving!

Check out this Sidewalk Scoot Game that is perfect for the end of the year!

8. Teach the Teacher Day

Have your students create lessons and then teach them to the class! You can have them create lessons over things you have learned during the year or some of their hobbies.

9. Bucket Lists

Have your students create a bucket list for their summer!


10. Write Letters of Advice for Next Year

Have your students write letters of advice for your new students coming in the fall.  They could also write letters to their future teacher with advice for teaching them.

11. Minute to Win It Game Day

Have a game day with Minute to Win it Games.  I love this freebie on Teachers pay Teachers!

12. Frisbees

Give your students a Frisbee as their end-of-the-year gift.  Have Sharpies available so that they can sign them for each other.  Then take them outside to play catch with them!

13. Kickball Tournament

Challenge another class in your grade level to a kickball tournament.

14. Classroom Awards

Have your students vote for each other to win classroom awards.  You can read more about hosting a Kid's Choice Awards here.

Do you have any fun activities for the end of the school year?  I'd love to hear about them in he comments below!







Saturday, May 14, 2016

End of the School Year Checklist Freebies

There is nothing that strikes panic and fear in teachers more than the principal handing you a packet of year-end procedures as you look at your already overflowing calendar and wonder how you are going to get everything done! Well, take a deep breath, grab your beverage of choice, and join us for a summer countdown blog hop filled with tips and freebies to help you have a smooth ending to the school year!







My tip and freebie for saving your sanity is to plan out your last few weeks of school with the goal of getting it all done without staying at school until the wee hours of the night!  If you are really ambitious, you might be ready in advance!  Wouldn't that be nice?



Step 1:  Create a list of any and all task you know you need to do in the next few weeks. I have listed a few possible tasks below to help you get started. If you can think of anything I might have forgotten, feel free to leave a comment below (your comments will also get you an extra entry into my giveaway!)


  • Report Cards
  • End of Year Awards
  • Student Gifts
  • Volunteer Gifts
  • Memory Books
  • Next Year Prep (binders, lesson plans, etc.)
  • Cumulative Folders
  • Packing Up Classroom 
  • Field Day
  • Field Trips
  • Assemblies
  • End of Year Parties
  • Shred IEP forms/send to new teacher
  • Return borrowed supplies
  • Supply Inventory
End of the School Year Checklist Freebie


Step 2:  Grab a calendar and start plugging in deadlines and due dates for all of the items you came up with in Step 1.

Step 3: Break down tasks by the weeks you have left.  Plan smart so that you won't have to stay late, but you'll also be able to get everything done in time.  You might want to schedule several sessions for tasks that are particularly tedious like grading, report cards, or student gifts.

End of the School Year Checklist Freebies


Step 4:  Hold yourself accountable to getting the things on your list done, and reward yourself if you do accomplish them.  (My favorite reward this time of year is an iced latte from Starbucks).

End of the School Year Checklist Freebies


You can find the checklists pictured above along with a few others in my freebie for you! 


Now, enter to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Certificate, and then follow along with our blog hop to get more tips and to collect your other freebies!










Thursday, June 4, 2015

End of the Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

Our school has quarterly awards ceremonies to honor students with perfect attendance, honor roll, citizenship, etc., but I wanted to do something a little different for the end of the year.  My own boys love the Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon each year, so, I thought this would be a fun way to do my end of year awards/celebration.

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards


The kids had an absolute blast as well!

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

We decorated our sad end of the year room with balloons (from Dollar Tree) and a red carpet (bulletin board paper).

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

One of the students wrote this on the board to kick us off.  I need to work on apostrophes apparently, but I have the same kiddos next year, so we have time! LOL!

The packet comes with pages for the students to vote for each other.  I asked them to vote for one of their classmates for each category.  The top nominees were then tallied by some of my fast finishers, and checked by me to make sure that each student received an award from their peers.  They really took the voting seriously and even had a few spirited debates.  I loved the time and thought they put into it.

In keeping with the Kids' Choice theme, I also had them run the show during the "ceremony".  Each student chose an award to give out.  I purchased small Dollar Tree items to go with each award.

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

The students really took their presenting jobs seriously and they were genuinely proud of each student award winner!
End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

I really got a kick out of how on the spot their winner choices were!
End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

This little one gave an acceptance speech!  Her category?

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards


End of School Year Awards - Kids' Choice Awards

And, last but not least, my little fashionista who manages to look stylish even in uniform with her fabulous accessories and shoe changes! LOL!

Updated April 16, 2018

Since I posted this original blog post, I have created these adorable editable awards!

End of the Year Awards by Kelly Malloy Cover Page

End of the Year Awards Future Principal


End of the Year Awards

They come in both full color and black and white for your printing preference!

End of the School Year Awards



If you are still in school and looking for some end of year fun - try a Kids' Choice Awards!  


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