Wrapping Up the School Year: 5 Fun and Easy End of the Year Activities for the Last Days

5 Easy End of Year Activities for the last days of School.

The end of the school year is a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and a bit of chaos. Finding things to fill those last few days can sometimes feel overwhelming. The last thing I want to do is spend hours photocopying, prepping, and planning. Here are some simple, no-hassle ideas to keep your class meaningfully busy during those final days.

Thank You Parade

In the last week of school, I love having each child in my class create a thank you card or draw a picture. We talk about the awesome adults in the school who have made the year better—administrators, prep teachers, the librarian, the custodial staff, and more. Then we go on a little adventure around the school to find these wonderful people and personally thank them. One of my students will present their card, and it's a fantastic way to show our appreciation and teach kids the importance of saying thanks.

Coloring Page Creation

Creating coloring pages is always a hit! I tell my students I need some fresh coloring pages for next year's first day of school. We check out examples together and talk about what makes a great coloring page. Then, each student gets to design their own. They start with pencil drawings and trace them with black marker. Here are some prompts you can use: alphabet pages, cool things at school, or your favorite thing about school. These pages are a great welcome activity for the incoming class.

Memory Word Cloud

Every year, I have my students help me create a list of words that describe our year together. We brainstorm all the fun, special, and memorable moments. Then, we use a word cloud generator to make a cool visual display. The more a word is mentioned, the bigger it appears in the word cloud, so remember to retype words that are mentioned more than once. I print out the word cloud and send it home as a keepsake.

Dirties Wipe Race

This one is a favorite! It's a fun way to get a head start on classroom clean-up. Give everyone a baby wipe or a dusting wipe and have a "Dirties Wipe Race." My kids always love competing to see who can pick up the most dirt and dust. It turns cleaning into a game and leaves the classroom a little cleaner!

Compliment Circle

I save this special activity for the very last day of school. Throughout the year, I teach my students how to give and receive compliments. It's a wonderful way to build community and help kids recognize their own strengths and the strengths of their classmates. On the last day, we sit in a circle, and one by one, each student sits in the 'compliment chair.' Then I choose five students in the circle to give that child a compliment, and I give them one as well. This way, every child gets to hear how awesome they are on the last day of school. It's a powerful way to end the year on a positive note, with everyone feeling great about themselves and each other.

Bonus: Have It All by Jason Mraz

Every year, I love to play "Have It All" by Jason Mraz on the last day of school. Its upbeat and positive message is the perfect send-off into summer. It's a tradition that leaves everyone with smiles on their faces and gives me one more way to tell my students how special I think they all are.

These activities not only make the last days of school fun and memorable but also leave a lasting impact on your students. So, what did I learn at school today? The last week of school can be stressful and chaotic, but incorporating some of these easy activities always makes my year end on a positive note. Enjoy these final moments with your class and make them count!