This is my favorite time of year! Students work so hard throughout the year (regrettably – intently focused on test taking) that they deserve to have opportunities to “shine” while enjoying the activities (once considered best practice) that they should have learned with throughout the year.
Some of the activities in my classrooms have been:
- Survey students – ask them what they would like to learn about in the last weeks that you may not have touched on during the year.
- Review favorite stories and/or units taught throughout the year using the arts and hands-on activities that scheduling may not have allowed time for during the year.
- Presenting plays
- Creating scenery backdrops
- Puppetry
- Create puppet stages using file folders, pvc pipes, and cardboard boxes
- Writing songs that review content learned
- Storytelling
- Publish a class magazine featuring student writing and illustrations
- Plan a concert for grade levels featuring individual classroom presentations
- Involve parents – invite parents to an end-of-year pizza or ice-cream party
- Plan interesting field trips – unique to your school’s geographic area
- Plan unit instruction unique to geographic areas – i.e.: Ocean/sea life studies, mountain/wildlife studies, desert habitat studies, etc.
Closing out your school year with enjoyable learning activities will leave you and your students eager to come to class the last few weeks and looking forward to returning in the new school year. Enjoy!
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