Navigating the Homestretch: 3 Tips for Ending the School Year on a High Note
Ah, the homestretch into the last day of school.
As we enter the final weeks of school, our thoughts are likely shifting from academic tasks to the anticipation of the last days of school and of summer break. But don't give up just yet! There is still a fun way to make the most of this school year and end on a high note. In this blog post, we will discuss three tips for navigating the homestretch: creating a memory book, planning special end-of-the-year activities, and making the last week of school the perfect time and memorable for the entire class.
3 Tips for Ending the School Year in a Great Way
Memory Book
First things first: create a memory book. This is a great idea for students looking to cherish their memories from this past school year. Creating something tangible that they can look back on years down the line will be priceless. Just think of all those embarrassing moments that are bound to happen throughout life- what better way to laugh at them than flipping through something like a memory book?
Memory books also take up a great deal of time for students. (Which means more time for YOU to get things done at school! I always loved getting work done at work.)
Memory books have always been one of my students' favorite activities. You can find memory books in all of my end-of-the-year theme week units, but I'm giving the memory book away for free below!
All you need to do with the freebie above is add this fun activity to your last school days by printing copies for everyone. It is also easier to cut them in advance with a large cutter. Then grab a teacher helper to put the pages in order and staple them at the top. Kids fill in the first few pages with some favorite memories or summer bucket list items, and then the fun really begins. Kids walk around the classroom much like a scavenger hunt and find other friends to sign their memory books. I have also made lesson plans easier by attaching a plan you can copy and paste.
Plan Fun Activities for the End of the Year
The next idea is to plan fun things. I like to have a variety of different things to do to keep kids extra busy, so I can work at work and also keep kids super engaged with a fun idea. My favorite activities include theme weeks!
Here are some of my favorite ways to run a theme week, and the best part is kids LOVE theme weeks and have a great time. And let's be real, getting kids excited at the end of school is hard work. Most kids checked out in April.
An easy way to draw them back in and incentivize them to practice skills until the end is to include a theme week.
Here are some key benefits included in my theme week units (that you can find on Teachers Pay Teachers inside my shop Trina Deboree Teaching and Learning.)
Key Features In Each Unit
Daily activities in each subject area (reading, writing, math, social studies, and science)
All activities are academic and fun (your students will be learning to the very end)
All worksheets and rubrics are included
Each activity has teacher directions
Activities require few materials; any needed materials are simple, inexpensive, and available at most grocery stores and pharmacies
Parent letters and schedule templates are included.
Time saved! This unit will save you hours of planning and maximize your end-of-the-year academic fun!
You can also include a field day in any of the units if you need some outside time. The reader's theater that is included at the start of each theme week is kind of like holding a fun talent show and works well in small groups or whole class.
Creating Memories as the End of the School Year Approaches
One of my favorite parts of theme weeks is the structure of the day. There is a lot of focus on practicing essential skills that the students have learned this past year. There are also creative ways for kids to show what they know and enjoy themselves during the last weeks of school.
One creative idea for the Camp Themed End of the Year Unit is to create a campfire in the center of a circle of desks. Another creative way of sitting is in tents! Elementary students love the last campout of the year.
I have 5 different theme weeks to choose from. Here is a list of the subject areas and themes included for first graders or second graders.
Some of the activities included in the Camp unit are...
School Year Memory Books for Primary Students
Camp Readers Theater- With visuals for characters
Bubble Science and Math
Camp Adding and Subtracting
Dear Teacher (letter to the teacher next year) with an All About Me
Camp Reader with activities
Camp Mapping Activities
Reflection and Goal Setting
Awesome Math Games
My Year of Favorites
Funky Camp Tales Writing! And much more!!!!
Some of the activities included in the beach unit are...
Welcome to Surf City Readers Theater
A Year of Favorites
Traveling to Find the Perfect Wave Reader's Theater
Salt Water Science
Design a T-Shirt
Funky Tales
Boat School - What Makes a Boat Float?
Surf Club Mapping
Letter to My Next Year's Class
Seashore Symmetry Sort
Ocean in A Bottle Science
Math and Science Bubble Day
Ice Cream Science Lab
Some Activities Included in the Superhero Unit are...
Welcome to Superhero School Readers Theater
Dear Future Student
Superhero Problem Solving
Super Air
Design a Superhero T-Shirt
Funky Tales
Superhero Word Problems
Superhero Save the Ship (floating/sinking)
Metropolis Mapping
Quicksand Science
Read and Make a Map
Superhero Symmetry Sort
Ice Cream Science Lab
I’m a Superhero!
Some of the activities included in the Western unit are...
Happy Hoedown Readers Theater
Bubble Science and Math
Save the Day (floating lesson)
Post Card Book Summaries
Ranch Mapping Activities
Cowboy Problem Solving and Math Games
I Am a Cowboy/Cowgirl! And much more!!!!!
Some of the activities included in the Sports unit are...
Sports Readers Theater- With visuals for characters
Bubble Science and Math
Sports Adding and Subtracting
Dear Teacher (letter to the teacher next year) with an All About Me
Sports Reader with activities
Sports Arena Mapping Activities
Funky sports Tales Writing! And much more!!!!