year end assignment

• Grades 6-12
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57 Fun End-of-Year Activities and Assignments

Wrap up the year on a happy note.

As the school year draws to a close, it’s important to plan end-of-year activities that help bring closure to your time together with students. Talk with your students about what made this year special, recall the good memories, and reflect on all you’ve learned. After all, you’ve all put in a lot of work to get to this point. Have fun with these end-of-year activities and assignments, and let the countdown begin!

1. Hold a class family circle

A family circle is a great way to wrap up a terrific year. Prepare a set of reflection questions, then allow students to take the mic and ask a friend one of the questions. Continue around the circle until every student has had a chance to answer.

Learn more: Class Family Circle

2. Solve a mystery together

Awesome for building reading comprehension skills, whodunits are also a hoot for students to solve! Students must read the clues and collaborate to solve the mystery. Try this one:  Who Freed the Fish?  And pretty soon your students will be tapping into their inner Sherlock.

Learn more: Class Mystery at Minds in Bloom

3. Create blackout poetry

It’s amazing what beautiful poetry can come from just about any piece of writing. All you need is a photocopied article, essay, or book excerpt and a Sharpie marker.

Learn more: Blackout Poetry at Just Add Students via YouTube

4. Let students teach

Have your students sign up to teach their classmates a 20- to 30-minute mini-lesson about something they’re passionate about. Some examples include leading the class in a game, song, or other group activity.

Learn more: Let Students Teach at Minds in Bloom

5. Hold a friendly competition

Kids love a little friendly competition, especially when it’s quick and easy. Sneak in rounds between activities and hold the finals on the last day of school.

Learn more: Rock, Paper, Scissors Bracket

6. Have a class “snowball fight”

Split your class into two teams facing each other. Have each student write three things about themselves and wad it into a snowball, then let the snowball fight commence! Set a time for a few minutes of “fight” time, then have students each grab a snowball and read the items listed, guessing whose paper it is.

Learn more: Snowball Fight at TeachStarter

7. Create memories that stick

Commemorate the memories that “stuck” with your students this year with this fun end-of-year activity.

Learn more: Cactus Memories

8. Serve up a scoop of memories

Here’s a sweet way to celebrate the end of the year! Make paper ice cream sundaes with a different memory on each scoop. You can have kids draw these themselves or buy a printable version at the link below.

Learn more: Ice Cream Scoop Memories

9. Post Flip farewell videos

Flip is one of our favorite classroom tools , especially when it comes to end-of-year activities. Post topics like “What did you learn this year?” or “Share your favorite memory from the past year.” Kids post their video responses and check out other students’ contributions too.

10. Create a collaborative puzzle

Give each student a piece of the puzzle and let them get creative! Suggest a theme such as best memory or most important thing I learned or I’ll never forget, etc. Students can write on their puzzle pieces. Once the puzzle is done, you can take a picture and make sure every student gets a copy.

Learn more: Collaborative Puzzle

11. Compile an end-of-year playlist

Songs are like smells—just hearing one can bring back all kinds of memories. Ask students (as a class or individually) to compile a list of songs that relate to the past school year and have them write about why each tune has a place on the list. Celebrate the last day of school by listening to songs from the playlist as you reflect on the year gone by. And while you’re at it, check out 85 Awesome Songs for Your End-of-the-Year Playlist .

Learn more: End of Year Playlist at Reading and Writing Haven

12. Fill up a memory bag

Give each student a brown paper bag, then ask them to decorate the front and add some reflections about the year on the other three panels. Then, each student adds 10 items from the year to their bag, with notes about why each is important. Finish up by having each kid lay out their items on their desk. Have a gallery walk around the room for everyone to see one another’s selections.

Learn more: Memory Bags

13. Write commencement speeches

Commencement speeches aren’t only for graduations! Finish out the year by reading or watching other great commencements speeches (the web is full of them). Then challenge students to write—and deliver, if you like—their own speeches for the year they’ve just finished.

Learn more: Commencement Speeches at 2 Peas and a Dog

14. List what they’ve learned from A to Z

What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project. Learning virtually? Have students create a Google Slideshow instead.

Learn more: End of Year A to Z

15. Send thank-you notes

This is a skill every kid should learn: writing and sending thank-you notes. So why not incorporate it into your lineup of end-of-year activities? Have kids write a note to someone who made their school year special, then seal them in envelopes, address them, and deliver them by hand or mail. And while you’re at it, why not write a thank-you note to your own class ?

Learn more: Thank-You Notes at Cult of Pedagogy

16. Post best-of-the-year snapshots

Ask your students to sum up their favorite school-year memory (Science fair? Field day? Creative class presentations?) in one snapshot. Younger kids can draw pictures of the event, while older kids are likely to have a photo on their phone they’d be willing to share. Assemble them on a bulletin board—real-world or digital—with a few words from each student about what made that moment so special.

Learn more: Snapshots of Our Year

17. Count the days

Instead of counting down the days until the end, count up the days from the year behind you! Get students counting by having them use a calendar to figure out how many Mondays you’ve had this year, how many Fridays, how many P.E. days, and how many Jell-O-in-the-cafeteria days. Then work together to make a bar graph and hang it on the wall.

Learn more: End-of-Year Countdown at Teaching Made Practical

18. Let the students become the teachers

Take a break and let the students lead the class for a change. If you’re reviewing material for finals or another end-of-year test, have each student (or a group) lead the review session on a particular topic. You can also have your students create their own lesson on a topic they’re passionate about. Or have kids in one grade make and present lessons on what students in the grade below them can expect to learn the following year. There are a lot of options here, and all of them give you time to take a breather!

19. Talk behind each other’s backs (really!)

Have your students help tape a piece of lined paper to one another’s backs. Have each student get out a felt-tipped marker (not a Sharpie—it may bleed through). Set a timer and put on some favorite music. Let the students mix around the room and write a positive message on each student’s paper. For example, The best thing about you is …, What I appreciate most about you is …, I remember …, etc. After a set amount of time, have students stop, remove their papers from their backs, and enjoy reading the words of love from their classmates. (For a socially distanced spin, create a Google Slide or Padlet template for each student instead.)

20. Coast into summer

So fun! These DIY memory coasters are easy to make and give kids an end-of-year souvenir to take home. Get the free printable templates and complete instructions here.

21. Read end-of-year books

Little ones especially have a hard time with the end of a school year. Next year lots of things will be different, and that can be a sad and even scary thought for some. Read-alouds are simple but powerful end-of-year activities. Check out these 11 End-of-Year Books To Bring Your Class Closure , like The Egg by M.P. Robertson, to spark conversations about what kids have learned and what lies ahead.

22. Dream about the summer ahead

Here’s an end-of-year assignment that includes both art and writing. Have kids draw a portrait of themselves, then use the template at the link below to cut out and decorate an enormous pair of sunglasses. On the glasses, have them write about their summer plans (or the things they’d like to do).

Learn more: End-of-Year Writing

23. Raise a glass and toast your class

Students get a chance to practice public speaking in a very meaningful way with this end-of-year activity. Get a few liters of ginger ale and plastic champagne flutes from a party store, arrange your students in a circle, and have everyone say something—maybe a goal for the next school year, well-wishes for their peers, a favorite memory. After everyone has spoken, lift your glasses with a cheer and celebrate to end the school year.

24. Author a six-word memoir

This project has taken the world by storm. In six words, can you capture the essence of your school year? Kids can spend a little or a lot of time on this one, refining their words and even illustrating them. Collect them all into a slideshow (anonymous, if kids prefer) to share on the last day.

Learn more: Six-Word Memoirs

25. Take a field trip to the next grade

This is one of the most exciting end-of-year activities for students. Take them to visit the classrooms they’ll be in next year. Arrange to spend some time with the teachers, talk to the students, and hear more about what they’ll be learning. This is a good way to allay fears many kids have about moving on from a classroom where they’ve been comfortable. (You can do this as a Zoom tour and meet-and-greet too.)

Learn more: Next Year Classrooms Tour at Inspire Me ASAP!

26. Design a school seal

In this fun end-of-year activity that’s perfect for social studies, have your students design a “Great Seal” for their school. First, break them into groups to talk about what makes your school special and memorable for them. Then, have each kid (or group) create their own “seal” based on the ones used by states and cities. This project is especially meaningful for kids about to move on to another school like junior high.

Learn more: School Seals

27. Determine your “People of the Year”

Time magazine can’t have all the fun! Help your students compile a list of the “People of the Year” for your class. Include people important to your classroom (the custodian, the principal, everyone’s favorite “lunch lady”) along with classroom visitors and speakers from the year. Add in some people from current events and pop culture (the current president, a favorite musician) and even folks they studied throughout the year (Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart). Try to take or draw portraits of each, and assign each student to write a brief bio of one of the people included.

28. Write letters or tips for next year’s class

Who better to advise next year’s class on what they’ll need to succeed than the kids who’ve just finished doing it? They can write letters on their own or work together to create a master list of what it takes to make it in the next grade.

Learn more: Survival Guide

29. Create science-inspired art

Ask your students to create a wall-worthy piece of art that reflects something they learned in science. Did you study plants? Maybe a watercolor of flowers. Or if you studied space, a cosmic-inspired number. Send their work home to help them remember, or collect them to create a bulletin board that will inspire next year’s class about what they’ll be learning.

30. Host an open-mic night

Encourage kids to share the writing they’ve done in (and out of) class with an open mic event. Set up a stage complete with microphone and stool—get great tips for this at the link below—then bring kids up to tell a story or recite a poem. Overcome stage fright with a cool casual vibe and plenty of snacks. Invite friends and family to attend or watch virtually via Zoom.

Learn more: Poetry Cafe

31. Compose an end-of-year continuing story

Write several story titles like “The Great Summer Adventure,” “How My Teacher Lost Her Mind,” or “My Teacher, My Hero” at the top of blank pages. Then, have each student start a story and, after five minutes, pass the story to a neighbor who will continue writing. (Do this digitally on Google Docs if you’re not able to share supplies from person to person.) Continue writing round-robin style until you have several stories to read aloud to the class.

32. Publish a year-end newspaper

You can do this one as a group or individually. Create a basic newspaper template and have the class fill in the front page news. Recap the year, offer advice, illustrate favorite memories, and more. Then, pass these on to the grade below to give them an idea of what lies ahead.

Learn more: Class Newspaper

33. Perform a high school (or middle or elementary school) musical number

Break your students into groups and have them create (and perform) musical numbers commemorating the year. They can write new words to existing tunes, choreograph a lip-synch performance to an inspiring or memorable song, or even come up with something entirely new. Invite parents or other classes to a final-day performance, in person or online.

34. Assemble a Book Hall of Fame

Have each student write (or draw) a reflection on the best book they read during the year. Then, save their reflections and post them on a bulletin board or Padlet so that next year’s students can glean reading ideas.

Source: Book Hall of Fame

35. Play end-of-year charades

Looking for game-based end-of-year activities? Play charades! Have each student write out one memorable moment from the school year on a slip of paper. Collect all the slips in a bag, hat, or the like. Divide kids into teams and have them come up one team at a time, choose a slip, and act out the memory for the group. No need to keep score—the goal is just to relive all the happy memories from the year.

36. Start a school graffiti wall

Choose a wall in your school or classroom and encourage kids to sign their names and date with a quote or other memory. Use permanent markers or small paintbrushes. Each year, photograph the wall and then paint over it to start anew. If you have enough space, these walls can last longer and only be painted over every so many years, creating much more enduring memories. No wall room? Try a bulletin board or large sheet of paper instead.

Learn more: Graffiti Wall

37. Hold a “Stuff You Should Know” event

Take a day or a week to pass on important things you want your kids to know as they move on in life without you. Share poems, songs, TED Talks, quotes, books, and tips that you think will help them along the way. Don’t forget to include simple life lessons (registering and preparing to vote, protecting yourself online, how to behave on an elevator) that school usually doesn’t teach you. Learn more about this end-of-year activity here.

38. Print up a growing tree

Capture each student’s fingerprint as a tree leaf. Label them with their names, then hang them in your room from year to year so kids can see who’s come before them.

Source: End-of-Year Fingerprint Tree

39. Build a portfolio showcase

Throughout the year, have students save their best work in a folder or box. At the end of the year, each student chooses their favorite items to display in a portfolio like a binder or display board. Invite parents and friends to come to view everyone’s achievements.

40. Put together time capsules

Time capsules are classic end-of-year activities. Students will have so much fun assembling time capsules to be opened someday in the future. These can be as simple as a plastic water bottle filled with written memories or a shoebox stuffed with items to represent what kids did and learned over the school year.

Learn more: Class Time Capsule

41. Draw a school-year timeline

Classroom walls can start to look empty at the end of the year as you take things down to prepare for summer. Temporarily fill in the space with a long strip of butcher paper, then have kids create a timeline of the year. Break it down by month, then ask kids what they remember. Prompt their memories by having them look over their work (what a fun way to review!), and don’t forget to include events, speakers, and holiday celebrations.

42. Fill out an end-of-year roundup

Sometimes you just need a quick activity that doesn’t take a lot of prep, and that’s where this free printable comes in. Personalize it by taking and printing a photo of each student, or have them draw their own portrait in the space provided.

Learn more: End-of-the-Year Roundup

43. Go outside!

Build in time to celebrate the end of the year with some fun outdoor activities. Rotate teams for each activity so your students get a chance to mingle with all of their classmates. Here are 25 Clever Outdoor Games to choose from.

44. Put on a show

This is a fun end-of-year activity that could be presented to parents, a younger class, your whole school, or just for your own class. Students can perform skits, dramatic readings, act out a story, showcase a talent, or read a favorite piece from a book they read.

45. Create an end-of-year ABC book

You use them for novel studies, so why not create an ABC book for highlights of the school year? For each letter, students come up with one memorable event or lesson, write a few sentences, and draw a picture. Think of it as a literacy lesson/memory book activity.

Learn more: ABC Booklet

46. Hold a book museum walk

One of our favorite end-of-year activities is a book museum walk. Students choose one of their favorite books and create a poster, diorama, trifold, or even dress up as a character. They can work on their projects at home or at school, and their project should provide a sneak peek or trailer of the book. When the students are ready to present, invite another class or grade level in to view the “museum.”

Learn more: Museum Walk With Favorite Books at Teaching With Jennifer Findley

47. Create your own iPads

End-of-year activities can help wrap up subject matters like geography. For this fun assignment, have your students research different symbols that represent something unique about your state. Each symbol they discover will become an app for their homemade iPad. Have them draw the symbols on the outside of each app, and then write a brief summary about the symbols on the inside.

Learn more: Geography iPad apps

48. Go on a virtual field trip

Traditionally, one of the classic school end-of-year activities was field trips. But sometimes budgets don’t cooperate, so why not take it virtual? They’re fun and easy, and no permission slips, chaperones, or packed lunches are needed! Check out our favorite Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips .

49. Pump up the school spirit

From dress-up days and community-building activities to outreach and volunteer projects, Spirit Week activities are a great way to end the year on a high note. Check out our massive list of School Spirit Week Ideas .

50. Story writing

Have each student start a story and then leave it on their desk. At your signal, have students rotate to the next desk, and give them a minute to read the story there and then add to the story. Keep rotating, giving students the chance to add to as many stories as you have time for. Let students know when you’re on your last rotation so they can wrap the story up.

51. Make a wearable keepsake

Mark your time together by making fun tie-dyed bandannas or decorating T-shirts with everyone’s signature or handprint. Or try making friendship bracelets or necklaces. Every time your students wear one of these items, they’ll fondly remember your year together.

Learn more: How To Tie-Dye Shirts With Kids

52. Set up a photo booth

Photo booths are a great way to start the school year, but they’re also terrific for the last days of the year. Help kids capture memories with their friends before they part for the summer.

Learn more:  Photo Booth

53. Plan a dream vacation

Kids are already dreaming of how they’ll fill the summer hours, so this last-minute math activity will be pure fun! Give kids a budget (say, $2,500), then send them off to research whether their dream trip can be accomplished. Make sure they include airfare or gas money, lodgings, food, spending money, and all the incidentals that add up when you travel.

54. Host a book tasting

Expand your readers’ palates with a book tasting and set them up for summer reading. A book tasting gives students the opportunity to sample some juicy reads in a short period of time and come away with a wish list of titles.

Learn more: Book Tasting

55. Create a summer bucket list

Provide kids with lots of options, then have them compile their own bucket lists for the summer days ahead. In addition to fun items, encourage them to add ways to help others or learn something new too.

Learn more:  Bucket List

56. Focus on kindness

Add a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge to your lineup of end-of-year activities and make it all the way to the finish line with good vibes. To get started, check out Random Acts of Kindness: 30 Activities for Elementary Students from American Montessori Society

57. See who knows you best

Challenge your kiddos to show who knows you best. Record your students’ answers on chart paper with markers or use Google Slides. It’s amazing how much kids pick up on our likes and dislikes!

Learn more: Who Knows Teacher Best

What are your favorite end-of-year activities? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out end-of-year student gifts that won’t break the bank .

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29 Unexpected Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love

Send them off for summer with a smile! Continue Reading

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45 Engaging End of Year Assignments for Your Classroom

September 9, 2023 //  by  Eileen Zajac

Building confidence and self-esteem starts with recognizing student success. Having fun end-of-year assignments is a way to celebrate their success throughout the entire school year. Whether they struggled through the year or got straight A’s, completing a grade is a big accomplishment. We’ve created a list of 18 activities projects and more that your students will love and be engaged with! Celebrate your students at the end of this school year, and celebrate YOU!

1. End of the Year Writing

A favorite activity for the end of the year is this summer-themed writing activity. Students love creating their little avatar and writing in the sunglasses always adds a little extra pazazz!

Learn More: 2nd Grade Savvy

2. Plastic Wrapped Desks

This fun activity in the final days of school will remind students HOW MUCH FUN school really is. Have students help you make this super fun fort. Let them spend some class time in here.

Learn More: Flickr

3. End-of-Year Activities in Balloons

No matter which way you look at it, popping balloons is ALWAYS exciting. This activity is perfect for the last few weeks of school. Students will love the simple visual of this countdown.

Learn More: Miss Alexx in Wonderland

4. T-Shirt Painting

Creating t-shirts to hold students’ favorite memories can be so important. Sometimes it’s easier to just do a handprint and everyone’s name, making sure no individual student feels left out!

Learn More: Dr. Cortes Writes

5. Paper Plate Activity

An activity students of any age can participate in. Whether it’s words or pictures, showing students love for their teacher and classmates is always a great way to end the year!

Learn More: Hojo’s Teaching Adventures

6. End of Year Best Reads

End-of-year books are so great for students. Some kiddos might lose their reading love over the summer so it’s important to keep it going for as long as you can with books like Miss Maple’s Seeds & Cloudette .

Learn More: Kinder and Cactus

7. Teacher Likes & Dislikes Whole-class

This can be easily made on google slides/drawings and your students will love it! If you’re still practicing distance learning, put it up on google classroom and let your kiddos prove who knows you best.

8. End of Year Countdown

Fun summer activities like this will not only serve as a countdown to the end of the year but also as a plan for the day. Each balloon will have something special for one or more of your students. Fun enrichment activities like this will keep students engaged and excited to keep coming!

Learn More: Kelcie’s Classroom

9. End-of-Year Whole-Class Poster

A puzzle poster is so much fun for your older students. This could be used as a writing assignment or one of your independent projects, just make sure to give a good assignment explanation so students understand the assignment details and expected outcome.

Learn More: Top Teaching Kids

10. Snapshots of My Year

Memory snapshots will be so much fun for your students to make! Use it as a writing assignment by having them write about their memories on the back of each picture!

Learn More: Loz Loves Prep

11. Wish I May, Wish I Might

Use a book like I Wish You More to help students picture and understand the assignment for these creative, hands-on projects!

Learn More: Coffee-Fueled Classroom

12. End of Year STEM Challenge

Using detailed project instructions students will absolutely love this activity! Archive class teams for this activity and see who can create the strongest or most elaborate treehouse using the materials given!

Learn More: Tumble Shine Gymnastics

13. Icosahedron Memory Share

An extension assignment for the end of the year like this is bound to have middle school students excited for the project. Have students watch a tutorial video on how to make this craft then decorate with their favorite memories.

Learn More: Teaching with Kindness

14. Summer Bucket List

Cute creative ideas like this summer bucket list are great for classes who just love coloring! This can also be made on google drawing if students are working distantly!

Learn More: KC Kindergarten

15. End of Year Scavenger Hunt

A game design that students will love! Have students complete this game with cardboard if you don’t have clipboards! They will love searching the classroom and answering the questions.

Learn More: From Math to Music

16. End of Year Bingo

Find game templates here for this awesome end-of-the-year Bingo game! Students will compete in active teams to complete all of the bingo pockets! This is an engaging game that will help your students talk about their summer plans!

Learn More: The Rigorous Owl

17. Compliment Scoot

Hands down an English class favorite, this compliment scoot allows students to give each other compliments! It’s so cute and fun students will love to create this for their assignment memory book.

18. Pom Pom Poppers

Celebrate the last day in the most fun way students know how PARTY! Create these super exciting and fun pompom poppers for students to use when the bell rings or at the end of the day dance party! They will love it and you will love their excitement.

Learn More: Easy Kids Craft

19. This Year in Color

Have students make a picture highlighting all of their favorite things that happened in the past year. If your school allows candy, share skittles with students to give them some ideas of what colors to color their pictures.

Learn More: Digging Deeper Teaching Resources

20. Goodbye Stars

Create each student their own star, you can write their names yourself or have them write them! Once their names are on their star, have students go around and write little notes to each other. This is something simple that they can take home and keep for years to come.

Learn More: Proud to be Primary

21. Dear Future Students

Writing to the next students coming in will allow students to feel accomplished. Not only that they’ve finished the grade, but also that they’re ready to help the next ones in line. Keeping them humble and excited to share all of their great experiences.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

22. Rock, Paper Scissors Tournament

It’s not just for the little kids. Kids throughout all grades will love to play in this tournament. Let them play in teams or individually.

Pro tip: Have multiple activities going during the tournament to keep busy ones engaged

Learn More: Session Lab

23. Find Someone Who

A little foreshadowing activity so students can see what their friends will be doing over the summer. This is a fun way to engage students in continuing their learning and friendships.

24. Coloring Page

Sometimes the most simple assignments are the best assignments. This free coloring page is great for almost any grade. Whether you have it as extra work or an actual assignment, students will be engaged while decorating and reflecting on their year.

Pro tip: Have students create one of these at the beginning of the year and one at the end!

Learn More: Crayola

25. Friendship Books

Friendship books are great because they help students to reflect on their peers, while also receiving feedback on how they were as a friend. This is helpful to both help kiddos grow and to have a keepsake!

Learn More: 18 Adorable Children’s Books About Friendship

26. End of the Year Bubbles

Making bubbles together as a class is a mix of science and fun! Take your kiddos outside in the last few days and whip up some bubbles. Not only will this be fun for students, but it will also send them home with a fun activity to do this summer.

Pro tip: Have students record the recipe used to make the bubbles in order to make them at home.

Learn More: Primarily Speaking

27. Goal Setting for the Summer

Summertime is full of excitement, warmth, and well, sometimes confusion. Taking kiddos out of their usual routine can have a pretty strong effect on their overall well-being. Help prepare your kiddos with some summer goal setting!

Pro tip: Easily create your own flip book by following this video.

28. Sidewalk Scoot

Scoot is such a fun and engaging game, especially on a hot summer day at the end of the year. If you’re still trying to squeeze some standards in the last few days, bring in some sidewalk chalk and let the kids do the work.

Learn More: Apple for the Teach

29. Lemonade Tasting

If your school allows drinks and snacks, then a lemonade tasting is the perfect end to a long year. Simply make a pink and yellow lemonade and have students decide which is their favorite! Use different charts that have been taught throughout the year to keep track.

30. End of the Year Mix

Are you always searching for that perfect playlist to play during end-of-the-year activities? This music will give you and your kiddos a great vibe to get through the last few days of the school year.

Learn More: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

31. Read Aloud

If you’re behind on grading or need some time to get other activities ready, playing a read-aloud is the perfect way to keep your kiddos busy and still attentive. This book is perfect for exactly that and the narrator uses a great voice for students to follow along with!

Pro tip: You can choose to slow down the audio if the video is too fast for younger learners by clicking on the settings wheel and slowing down the speed of the video.

Learn More: Time 2 Read 2 Us

32. End of the Year Memory Video

Make your students their own little memory video! These videos are super easy to make and they make for an amazing keepsake both for the students, for you, and for parents.

Learn More: Mrs. Young’s Teaching Corner

33. Learn a New Song

Singing songs is really important in grades throughout elementary. This song was made for Kindergarten, but honestly, it can be used in any lower-elementary grade. Students will love to learn and sing this song in the last few days of school.

Learn More: Teacher Michael TV

34. Last Day Letters

Create little bags for students to keep all of their last-day letters in. Start this activity by listening to or reading A Letter From Your Teacher on the Last Day of School   and then hand your letter to each student. Have students write each other letters.

Learn More: Life Between Summers

35. Last Day of School Brain Breaks

My students love these brain break activities. Usually, when they’re at lunch or recess I just move the desks out the way and then have the video ready for them when they get back. They’ll be super excited to follow along with the obstacles on the video.

Learn More: Now What? With Britt & Shawn

36. This or That

Playing this or that is so much fun in every class! This is great for any extra time you may find throughout the last few days. Rather than allowing students to just chat, play this video and even play along with them.

Pro tip: Follow this up with an activity about what students are most excited about this summer break! 

Learn More: PE with Coach Shockley

37. Riddles

Who doesn’t love guessing riddles? There are so many times in those last few days where there’s just not much learning left to be had. Thankfully, your students will love building these words! Let them write them on whiteboards or notebooks.

Learn More: 50 Riddles To Keep Your Students Engaged and Entertained!

39. Hot Seat

Hot seat is a perfect game for the end of the year! Whether you play inside or outside, your students will absolutely love playing this game. You could even choose a brave student and play at the school assembly.

Learn More: Games 4 ESL

40. Freeze Dance

Freeze dance, the end of the year style is great for kids of all ages. With Spongebob cartoons, students will love laughing along, while also getting ready for an intense mode of Freeze Dance!

Learn More: Coach Corey Martin

41. Ceramic Tile Art

This is fun with upper elementary and even middle school students. This is a great project that can be done inside or outside in the last few days of school.

Pro tip: Check a local thrift shop for ceramic tiles! 

Learn More: Jeff Tech Art

42. Why do We Have Summer Breaks? 

Colossal questions are some of the best videos out there for answering simple questions asked by students! This one is dedicated to understanding summer breaks. Before watching, ask students what they think.

Learn More: Colossal Cranium

43. Good Ol’ Dance Party

Well, there’s no better time to break out the disco lights than the last few days of school. This is the perfect soundtrack for a full-on dance party with all of your students!

44. Koo Koo Kanga Roo End of Day

By the end of the last day of the year, my kiddos are absolutely full of every single bean possible. They are ready to go and excited for the fun-filled summer ahead of them. This video helps everyone to get those sillies out at the end of the day!

Learn More: Steve Steve

45. End of the Year Discussion Wheel

Finding ways to keep the conversation school-focused can be challenging when kids are so excited about all of their summer plans. Keep your community tight with this end-of-the-year discussion wheel!

Learn More: Worldwall

11 Engaging End-of-Year Activities for Middle School ELA

Counting down the days until the end of the year like your students? We’ve all been there. But it might be a sign that it’s time to rethink your approach to end-of-year activities. Consider these 11 activities to stay sane and keep students engaged through the last day of the school year.

It’s that time of year again…

These final weeks are often filled with high energy and sunny days—a dangerous duo that can turn any classroom upside down. Students are starting to get restless with the anticipation of summer. And, hey, teachers feel it too. However, we also face the challenge of keeping students engaged and focused until that final bell rings.

The good news? Those final weeks don’t have to be so painful or chaotic. If you’re looking for simple yet meaningful activities to fill up those last couple of days, I got you. Instead of ending the year fighting to hold students’ attention, you can focus on enjoying your last days together and celebrating all they learned throughout the year.

Read on to learn 11 end-of-year activities that will help you keep students engaged while maintaining a positive and productive learning environment.

Engaging Activities for End-of-Year Reflections

Reflection is an important part of the learning process, and it happens to be one of my favorite ways to close out the year. End-of-year reflections encourage students to close out the year on a positive note, highlighting the progress they’ve made over the year. It doesn’t hurt that they hardly require any planning, either. It’s a win-win.

Here are a few of my favorite activities to prompt end-of-year reflections:

1. Literary Yearbook

This activity puts an ELA spin on the traditional yearbook. As a class, create a literary yearbook that showcases students’ favorite books, characters, and memorable quotes from the year. Encourage students to include personal reflections on how these examples have impacted them. Students can design digital pages to create a virtual yearbook. Alternatively, take a more traditional route by having them create physical collages with images, text, and illustrations. It’s always fun to see what stood out to different students as you look back on the completed project.

2. Highlight Reel

What do students love more than being plugged in 24/7? Nothing. Play into their tech obsession by having them create an “Instagram” feed of their highlights from the year. Provide each student with a simple Instagram post printout. Then, let them design a post to reveal their favorite memorable moment, field trip, lesson, quote, novel, or character from class. Remind them to write a reflective caption and a fitting hashtag or two to complete the post. Hang all of the “posts” on the wall to put your classroom highlight reel on full display!

3. Author’s Chair

Why should you be the only one who gets to enjoy student writing? End the year by celebrating students’ writing by hosting an Author’s Chair session. Invite students to share an excerpt from their favorite pieces of writing with one another. Encourage them to select a piece they are particularly proud of or one that demonstrates their growth as a writer. Each student can read their chosen passage aloud, followed by a brief reflection on their writing process and why they are particularly proud of this piece. Give peers a moment to compliment one another’s work before moving on to the next author. This activity gives students an opportunity to celebrate their writing achievements, as well as the achievements of their peers.

4. Letter to My Past Self

While writing a letter to one’s future self is a popular end-of-year activity, I recommend encouraging them to look back and celebrate how far they’ve come. In this activity, students have an opportunity to reflect on their growth, experiences, and lessons learned throughout the school year. It provides a unique opportunity for students to practice self-reflection, celebrate their achievements, and offer advice to their younger selves. They can write about the books they’ve read, the writing assignments they’ve tackled, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and the skills they’ve developed.

It may be useful to provide guiding questions or prompts to help students get started:

• What are the most memorable lessons or activities that impacted you this year?
• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
• What achievements are you most proud of from this year?
• What advice would you offer to your past self to navigate this school year successfully?

Literature-Focused End-of-Year Activities

Another way to engage students until the end of the year is to incorporate literature-inspired projects and activities. These activities help celebrate the books students have read while also providing opportunities for creativity and critical thinking. Whether your students have spent the year reading novels or short stories, as a class or independently, you can find fun and engaging activities to help highlight their literary achievements.

Here are a few of my favorite literature-focused end-of-year activities:

5. Single-Sentence Text Summaries

Single-sentence text summaries are a quick and engaging way to recap the texts students have read over the course of the year. Start by working as a class to make a list of all the texts you read in class over the year. Include everything from novels to short stories. Then, have each student write a single-sentence summary for one of the titles from the list. Have students take turns sharing their summaries with the class, letting their peers guess which title they are summarizing. Repeat this process for a few rounds until all titles have been summarized at least once. Worried about students summarizing the same text? That’s actually part of the fun. It’s a great opportunity to pause and discuss the differences and similarities between summaries for the same text.

6. Literature Review Playlist  

The Literature Review Playlist activity combines literature and music to create an engaging way for students to reflect on the books they have read over the year. Have students select 10 pieces of literature, including novels, short stories, and poems, they read this year. Then, have them create a playlist where each song represents a different text they have read. Students should select songs that they feel connect to the plot, theme, characters, conflicts, or overall mood of each book. For a more robust version of this activity, require students to provide explanations or short descriptions for each song, highlighting the specific elements of the text it represents. This activity can work for both assigned texts and independent reading. Either way, this activity is always a hit (pun fully intended).

7. Student-led Book Tasting

A student-led “Book Tasting” is an engaging and interactive way for students to share their favorite independent reading books from the year with their peers. On the day of the tasting, have each student bring in their chosen book to share with their peers. However, instead of presenting their book, students will be encouraged to walk around the room, “tasting” different books by looking at the cover, reading the back synopsis, and skimming through the first several pages or chapters. As students “taste” the different books, encourage them to jot down the titles that piqued their interest. This activity allows students to discover new books and expand their reading horizons right in time for summer reading. How perfect!

If you’ve never hosted a book tasting in your classroom, I recommend starting with this post.

End-of-Year Activities for Vocabulary Review

If you take the time to teach vocabulary throughout the year, it’s worth taking the time to review it at the end of the year, too. Whether you incorporate vocab review ahead of a final exam or as a fun activity in the final days before summer, these activities will ensure your vocabulary review is anything but dull and monotonous.

Engage your students with one of these interactive end-of-year vocabulary review activities:

8.  Vocab Relay Race

Who doesn’t love a little healthy competition? For this relay-style activity, start by creating stations around the classroom with vocabulary-related activities. Activities can include word definitions, visual representations, synonyms, antonyms, fill-in-the-blanks, or use of words in sentences. When you’re ready to begin, divide the class into teams of 2-3 students. Each team must complete the activity at one station before moving on to the next. However, they must get your stamp of approval on their answer before officially moving on. The first team to complete all stations wins!

9. Vocab Charades

Charades is a classic favorite—and a great way to review vocabulary at the end of the year. The best part? It’s fun, engaging, and effective without much planning. Simply write vocabulary words on index cards and have students take turns acting out the word without speaking while their classmates guess. Depending on the group and the volume of words, feel free to let students use their notes during the game. Note or no notes, this activity promotes collaboration and critical thinking. If you plan on using vocab charades as a way to review vocabulary from the entire year, I recommend giving students 5-10 minutes to review the terms before starting to play. Trust me, this will help you avoid a lot of blank stares.

10. Vocab Bingo

Vocab Bingo is a fun and engaging game that helps students review and reinforce their knowledge of vocabulary words from the year. Start by choosing your set of vocabulary words. Then, create bingo cards with vocabulary words instead of the traditional number setup. Just be sure to mix up the words on each card. Call out definitions while students mark the corresponding word on their cards. You can also include synonyms, antonyms, or examples to mix it up. Keep going until a student gets BINGO! After a few rounds, price it up by requiring special winning patterns, like four corners or a full blackout of all squares.

Fun End-of-Year Activities for Middle School ELA

Last but not least… (because who doesn’t love to be recognized for their strengths?)

11. End of Year Award Ceremony

The end of the year is the perfect time to recognize your students for all their hard work! I mean, grades are great and all, but they are only one way to reward students for a job well done. Besides, there are so many things standard grades don’t capture. For example, grades don’t always do justice to how students treat one another or how they add to the overall classroom culture. Consider including awards that recognize students for things like collaboration, kindness, and creativity, too. Whatever specific awards you choose to include, hosting an awards ceremony will ensure you end the year on a positive note.

Trust me. I know how exhausting the end of the year can be. However, as the school year winds down, I encourage you to incorporate engaging end-of-year activities where possible. These types of activities can tap into students’ creativity while providing opportunities for critical thinking, collaboration, and self-reflection—-and help make those last weeks of school more enjoyable for everyone .

So, don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine as you plan exciting end-of-year activities—or simply steal some of the fun ideas above.

If you have any other engaging end-of-year activities to add to the list, please share them in a comment below. Here’s to making the most of those final weeks!

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12 Easy and Engaging End of Year Activities for ELA

• smithteaches9to12
• End of Year , Media Studies , Reading , Writing

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The days are long and the years are short! The first part is absolutely applicable whether you’re a parent – where this saying seems most often used – or a teacher. And this applies even more so with the final days of the school year. But we’re here to help with 12 end of year activities to help with these long days!

I’ve teamed up with a group of 11 other fantastic educators to share easy and engaging end of year activities to help you successfully finish the year in your ELA classes.

Define your year in songs

Throughout the year, music plays a significant part in lessons or as background in my classes so it’s only fitting that it figures into the end of year activities too. Compiling a playlist of 5-10 songs to reflect on the year either personally or academically works for students and teachers alike as one of your end of year activities.

Academic version : Choose songs to reflect the big ideas, essential questions, or texts studied.

This is a good review option to close out the course or prepare for a year-end exam. Plus, it has a two-fold bonus! First, it provides feedback about where students connected with course material – it’s an informal course feedback form for teachers. Second, it provides songs to use as connection pieces for next year should your course remain similar; think about using the songs for reflective writing, to connect to a text, or as a text to use for skills practice – inferencing, exploring figurative language, and more!    

Personal version : Choose songs tied to meaningful moments in your year.

This can become a memory keepsake for students about their year that was. They say the music we listen to in our teens and early-20s is the music that will stick with us most into our later years (I can personally attest to this… can you too?). So this activity might reinforce that memory for students. You could have them schedule an email to their future selves using www.futureme.org with the songs and rationales or create a class playlist on Spotify or YouTube to share with the group.

A music playlist can bring more joy into the classroom to wrap up another difficult year. Students can share and compare lists with classmates and have some discussion to see where there are similarities and differences or students can share their ‘best’ song from their list (assuming classroom approved lyrics!) with the class and have it become a bit of an ELA dance party!

To make life easier, here’s the lesson set-up for you. 

Plan a literary field trip

The end of the year can really feel like it’s dragging on. Everyone is tired, burned out, and in need of some serious sunshine. Samantha from Samantha in Secondary likes to capitalize on that wanderlust by having students plan a literary field trip.

First, students brainstorm all of the texts they’ve read over the course of the year. This kind of project works best with a nonfiction text or any novel that’s rooted in a real place. (Think “The Crucible”, To Kill a Mockingbird , or The Great Gatsby .) This can work for short stories as well. Once you have a list brainstormed, think of all the texts that would meet this criterion.

After your students choose a specific text, the next step is to research all of the different places they could pick. Usually giving them a requirement of 3 locations works best. For a text like “The Crucible”, students have plenty to choose from set in or around Salem, Massachusetts. You can even allow them to include things like museums (John Proctor Museum), important cultural or historical sites (Giles Corey’s grave), and then have them research things to see, do, and eat. (Because what’s a trip without some great food?)

If you’re looking for a great done-for-you resource that walks students through this project full of thorough instructions and attractive templates. There is even a rubric included to make grading a cinch. Click here to check it out.

Happy travels!

Create student-centered podcasts

Picture this: It’s May and students are ready to stop listening to their teachers and teachers are exhausted from pulling out all the tricks to keep kids engaged. Not too hard to imagine, right??

Krista from @whimsyandrigor knows this feeling all too well. In fact, she is feeling it right this very instant.

So, what’s the solution to help both students and teachers? Podcasting! 

Why are student-created podcasts the answer?

• Choice! Students get to choose the topic they will cover. It could be a pod all about book reviews or the latest in gaming or ideas for summer vacation. Literally anything!
• It’s creative! Students have full creative control not only in their subject but also in their cover art, sound effects, and musical choices.
• Student-led! Let Krista do all the teaching for you by using the videos she created for her students. By watching this series or instructional videos, her middle school students created their very own podcasts! ON THEIR OWN!!!

If you haven’t checked out the incredible podcast-creating tool that is Soundtrap , try it now! 

If you are feeling intimidated – let that go and dive into this sure-to-captivate project. Remember, Krista has you covered with literally everything you need-from defining a podcast, brainstorming ideas, recording the audio, and scoring their final project! 

Let’s end the school year with engagement high, creativity soaring, and frustrations dwindling!

Learn filmmaking 101

Lights, camera, ACTION!

Who doesn’t love a great movie or television show?

Students stream movies daily, but they really don’t know what happens behind the scenes. This activity is an excellent way to learn the basics of filmmaking. Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students complete different end of year activities include a film project! Her students enjoy working as a film crew to create a 20-second anti-bullying commercial.

Before creating the commercial, they learn all about the different film positions such as screenwriter, director, casting director, actor/actress, costume designer, and film editor. Once they do research, they complete a mini-lesson on the crew position they selected. Then it is time for the final product, a commercial! It is a great way to end the school year.

At the end of it all, Sharena has a movie premiere day with popcorn and commercial screenings! For more information on this activity, click here . 

Share creative book recommendations

Who better to recommend books to students than students? After a year of sharing books and encouraging students to read, Carolyn from Middle School Café likes to have her students make recommendations to her new group of students as one of her end of year activities.   

When students share about books they love, their peers are more likely to take an interest in the book. Here are 4 ways to have your students recommend book:

Bookshelf Overhang – Similar to what you might see at the book store, bookshelf reviews are perfect for your classroom library. Students write book recommendations you can display with your books throughout the following school year.

In Book Review – Another way to build curiosity for books is by having students write book reviews that are left inside the book.  As students browse the books, they will find a note within the book telling them why they should read the book.

The Best Book I Ever Read – This type of book review makes for a usable, interactive bulletin board. 

Book Review Notebook – Create a Recommended Book notebook in your classroom library. Students fill out a more traditional book review. Place the reviews in a notebook and keep the notebook accessible to students. When students are looking for recommendations, they can read through what their peers have said – this is a great place to send students to find their next book. Students love coming back year after year to see if their review is still in the book!

Book recommendations are a great activity for the end of the year that serves to fill those last days of school and helps you prepare for next year!

Here are 7 done for you book recommendation templates ready to print and go!

Throw a book-commercial party

Independent reading is at the heart of everything Olivia ’s students learn in her literature class, so the end of the year is a perfect time for students to shout-out their favorite books of the semester. Here’s how to throw a book-commercial party in your classroom this month for one of your end of year activities:

First, give your students time to evaluate which books they enjoyed reading this year and which ones they definitely wouldn’t recommend. When they have determined their favorite book, have them brainstorm ways to “advertise” their books to their classmates. (If you studied ethos, logos, and pathos earlier in the year, this is a great time to review!) Next, you can either give students time to record video commercials for their books, or you can opt for live presentations instead. Olivia prefers to have her students record their videos because it makes presentation day much less stressful. Students can bring popcorn or candy and have a commercial-watching party that doubles as book exposure for the whole class.

Design a comic strip

Who doesn’t love comic strips? Whether you get them in four panels off Twitter or in a witty political cartoon in your local newspaper, comic strips can be an amazing source of both art and commentary on the world all rolled into one. This is why Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room loves to incorporate comic strips into her end of year reflection activities for high school English.

Teachers can start off by showing students a few of their favorite comic strips, whether they make comments on a tough point in their life, like witnessing a tragic event like 9/11 unfold, or a cheesy one on some of the pain points of aging.

Then, teachers can guide students through picking a moment of triumph or growth that they went through in the year and translating it into a comic strip!

Yaddy likes to give students a few links to articles and videos on what makes a good comic strip, you can find those links here to help guide students through the process.

Overall, students are going to be challenged to utilize what they learned throughout the year about storytelling and concise writing in this comic strip and have fun creating it as well. 

Countdown with last lines

Endings are unique to our area of instruction.  Some might argue that is the ending of a story that can either make or break a book.  How many of us loved a story, only to be disappointed by the way it ended?  From cliffhangers to marriages, dramatic sword fights to mysterious disappearances, the stories we’ve studied all year long all came to an end in one way or another.

AND SO WILL THE SCHOOL YEAR!

Believe it or not, Amanda from Mud and Ink Teaching has found the perfect way to sneak in just a little bit extra literary discussion into your end of the year countdown celebration :  analyzing famous last lines in literature and film!

When 20 (school) days in the year remain, start counting down by creating a paper chain.  Each day, look at a famous last line from literature or film, discuss the type of ending that the author used, and the details and imagery within.  

As we look at each of these mentor sentences, we keep track of what we notice, and, by the end of the year, students write their own “last line” for the school year.  This countdown will keep students engaged AND eagerly looking forward to the end of the school year with these end of year activities.

Gamify a current events timeline

For some reason, the last few weeks of school feel all of 5,436 days long, and getting the students to do just about anything is like pulling teeth from a mile away. They’re dragging, we’re dragging; it’s a drag no matter how you slice it. To remedy this, Ana from Simply Ana P recommends gamifying things as much as possible and throwing in “random” end of year activities just for fun. 

Ana has found that even in May, kids will still be down for competition – and if you throw in some candy, well, it’s a win/win. One competitive activity that Ana has used the past several years is an end-of-the-year timeline scramble . 

The beauty of this activity is that students get to review current events that occurred during the school year while working together and thinking a little critically. To put this activity together, Ana compiles a mix of sports, political, nature-based, and pop culture events that made headlines during the year. Then, she scrambles the events in text boxes on Google Slides, and students have to organize them in chronological order, drag-and-drop style. 

Ana recommends going over light internet research skills, reminding students that the first website they see might not always be the most accurate (just as they should remember when composing research papers). 

Let your kids work in duos or trios, up the ante with some jolly ranchers or chocolates, and sit back/relax as you watch them vigorously attack this educational competition for what can be an entire class period. Adding individual written reflection prompts at the end helps hit some ELA standards as well, for a well-rounded activity. 

As you close out your school year, may the odds be ever in your favor 🙂

Offer options with choice boards

Molly from The Littlest Teacher has found that this time of year, offering as much student choice as possible can help to maintain engagement.

Keeping a choice board or two on hand as end of year activities makes for a quick and easy lesson plan that is low-prep and low-effort for you, but involves meaningful work for students as part of your end of year activities. 

If you just finished a novel or short story, check out these fun project ideas that you could allow students to choose among.

If you’d like to read some poetry, or just finished a poetry unit, this free digital poetry choice board would be perfect! It includes grading rubrics and everything, so no prep is required. 

Some things to keep in mind when building a choice board for ELA: 

• Make sure all the choices are of equal difficulty/require equal effort as much as possible. This way, students are choosing assignments or projects based more upon their interest in them, and less upon the amount of effort required. 
• Try to incorporate several types of cognitive strengths/learning preferences. Offer options that require artistic expression, technology use, allow for creativity, and are just plain and straightforward (because some students prefer to have lots of parameters!). 
• If you want students to complete more than one task, and/or you have choices of varying difficulty, arrange them strategically on a tic-tac-toe grid, and require that students complete a row of their choice. The vocab practice choice board is a great example of this.
• Make sure you have a grading rubric for each project or activity that’s on your choice board.

Explore identity with music

The end of the school year is a perfect time to be introspective and include time in your final stretch of classes for students to reflect on their personal journeys.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks knows that introspection and vulnerability aren’t always the easiest tasks for the young adults in our classrooms, but a great way to provide a comfortable access point is through music. 

Looking for a rewarding end of the year project? Ask your students to find songs that reflect different facets of identity.

Professor and researcher Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop said that literature can be viewed as a mirror when we see our own lives reflected, as a window to understand the lives and experiences of others, and as a sliding glass door when it transforms our understanding and changes our perspectives or beliefs.

For this project, students choose three different songs – one song that they feel mirrors their own experience , one song that allows them to look through a window to understand a different experience , and one song that allows them to walk through a sliding glass door into a new perspective .

For each song, have your students address the following points:

• Explain why you chose each song by describing how it acts as a mirror, window, and sliding glass door for you
• Provide specific examples from the lyrics that categorize the song as a mirror, window, and sliding glass door for you
• Describe how each song has helped you to understand different aspects of your own identity

Students can organize their work into many formats including an essay, slide presentation, poster, or video. You can choose one of these formats or allow your students the choice.

If you want to cut down on endless Google searches and iTunes shuffling, check out the resource Songs to Explore Identity for a notebook and slides with 60 songs tailored for this topic and a handout and rubric for the project described above done for you!

Write six-word stories

You might’ve already come across Six Word Stories and Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher says they are great for writing personal narratives at the start of the year, for summing up a recent read , and of course, for closing out the school year with a bang. 

Six Word Stories require students to share an idea in, you guessed it, six words. After looking at some examples, consider writing a couple of your own, and then challenge your students to do the same!

Here are some prompts that might help your students take a look back or forward as the year comes to a close:

• A six word reflection of the school year
• A six word story from the perspective of your teacher
• A six word story from the perspective of your principal
• A six word informative statement about something you’ve learned this year
• A six word persuasive statement to the incoming class (words of advice)
• A six word summary comparing your expectation vs. reality of the school year/this class
• A six word story about the things you’re proud of achieving this school year
• A six word story of your goals for the next school year
• A message of appreciation to a staff member in six words

Students can display their six word stories on a note card, as a group with all their notecards on a poster, individually in video format, or even digitally. In a slide deck like this , students can read each other’s work and complete a short reflection on a Google Form.

As we all count down the school year, here’s hoping it flies by for you and that these end of year activities are helpful to get you across that finish line!

And then here’s hoping that the summer days are the slowest ever to keep the new school year at bay as long as possible so there’s plenty of time to relax and to recharge!

For more end of year teaching ideas check out these past posts from SmithTeaches9to12:

• 3 Things To Do Now For Back To School Success
• 3 Quick Poetry Activities for High School
• Infusing Career Education into ELA
• 12 Short, Short Films For ELA

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Science By Sinai

Middle School Science Tips, Ideas, and Resources

50 Fun End of Year Science Activities for Middle School

Are you looking for meaningful, end of year science activities for your middle school students?

Karen Sinai

Updated May 18, 2022

I put together 50 end of year science activities such as STEM, critical thinking CER, worthwhile research activities, environmental exploration, crafty ideas and just messy fun projects! I have done the research for you so most ideas have links to get you started!

Exciting STEM Activities to Finish Off the Year

1) Rube Goldberg machines Who doesn’t love these? Grab a ton of recycled materials, some glue and tape and let the students be extremely creative! Read my blog post called How to Create an Exciting but Structured Rube Goldberg Machines Unit about how to keep everything organized and structured to keep your sanity!

2) Design and Create Solar Ovens with Pizza Boxes – Break out the marshmallows and chocolate and use the sun to create yummy treats.

3) Paper airplane contest – When I did this last year I was shocked at how many students have never made paper airplanes! 4) STEM Design and Build Magnet Mazes Students love to create themes such as amusement parks, farms, zoos, Disney World, etc. as they make obstacles for the magnets throughout the maze. Keep the project structured and organized so that the students stay on task. How to Create STEM Magnet Mazes.

5) Paper Roller Coaster – This requires minimum materials and lots of critical thinking.

6) STEM Design a Seed Dispersal Method – Making organic flowers and seeds out of recyclables really has the kids thinking.

7) Design and Build a Water Filter – Make the dirtiest water you can for the students to “clean”.

8) Foam Insulation Roller Coaster – Cut foam pipe insulation in half and twist it all over your walls for a super fun marble roller coaster.

9) STEM Design and Build Craft Stick Bridges – Have students first research bridge designs and then try to create the strongest one on their own.

10) Design an Aluminum Foil Boat to hold pennies. -Give students a certain amount of aluminum foil and have them design boats to hold weight.

11) STEM Mutualism Symbiosis Structured Project -Review relationships between animals and have students design two animals that have a symbiotic relationship.

12) Design an Egg Drop (with international rules) -An old favorite and this site has the basic rules.

13) Balloon Cars – Tons of fun racing these cars.

14) STEM Design and Build Electrical Circuit Games -Students design games using their knowledge of basic electrical circuits. We love to invite younger students in to play the games! This blog post describes how we do it. How to Create STEM Electrical Circuit Games.

15) Paper Ball Run Challenge  – Great, inexpensive activity.

16) Spoon and Popsicle Stick Catapults – We all love flinging things!

Entire STEM Based Units

17) Steven Spangler This website has tons of ideas for all types of labs.

18) Science Buddies -Great site for STEM ideas.

19) Science Spot – Survivor Science – An entire unit, based on the TV Show, that could take a week to cover.

20) Science Spot- Junk Box Wars. A well organized unit using cheap materials.

Messy But Lots of Science Going On

21) Bake bread with different ratios of ingredients for the students to taste test. Use any bread recipe and change out ingredients and/or proportions. Cooking chemistry is probably something most students never thought about.

22) Dissect hearts or a brain. Preserved materials are good but one year I had a butcher come in with some fresh organs, which was amazing!

23) Play With Dry Ice Day – Dry ice is super fun as long as proper supervision is in place.

24) Make Oobleck  -Whether each student makes their own or you make a giant batch, cornstarch and water makes a super fun goo to play with for hours.

25) Launch Alka-Seltzer Rockets – You will have to order old film canisters for these but they are worth it.

26) Make Ice Cream in a Ziploc Bag _ Such a great hot day activity with a lot of science to discuss.

27) Make Slime! – Instant crowd pleaser!

28) Make Puffy Slime using Shaving Cream – Not as stretchy but a fun, great smelling alternative to regular slime.

29) Make bubble experiments -Everyone loves bubbles! Have the students experiment with different wand shapes, bubbles inside of bubbles, or different proportions for the soap solution.

30) Density experiments -There are lots and lots of density experiments that you can come up with such as guessing if something will float in water or not, building density towers, oil and water experiments, etc.

Environmental Exploration Projects

31) Food Web Dice Roll Game For Events Causing Changes in Populations and Biodiversity -Students draw out a food web from a specific biome, connecting the plants and the animals of their food chains. They then roll a pair of dice that determines either a man-made or natural event that affects different aspects of that food web. If a specific plant or animal is affected by that event, then the lines are erased on their food web. Since this is a game of chance, not all of the students will come out with the same results at the end which leads to great discussions!

32) Abiotic/Biotic Schoolyard Ecosystem Scavenger Hunt. -I do this activity at least three times during the school year. I take the kids outside and we walk around with the scavenger hunt guide, on their iPads, and observe the changing seasons. My blog post called Go Outdoors on an Exciting Schoolyard Ecosystem Scavenger Hunt! explains the components of the hunt.

33) Design an animal from two animals- This is a fun and interesting project where students take two unrelated animals and combine them into one. They need to determine it’s needs and habitat as well. The students love either drawing their new creatures or using a Photoshop app to combine two images.

34) Watch the Lorax Movie -I have never once had a class that wasn’t quiet and mesmerized watching this movie. Such great discussions can happen afterwards! I have seen extensions to this with students making the Truffle trees out of various materials. I also like to have the students write what would happen next if the movie continued.

35) Explore Pond Microorganisms as Bioindicators of Water Pollution .-If you have a pond nearby, or are you were able to collect pond water yourself, students love looking under the microscopes at the unbelievably diverse creatures! It’s very helpful to have reference images to know what they are finding. I also put together references as to which creatures are more or less tolerant of pollutants. My blog post called Identifying Pond Water Microorganisms as Bioindicators explains how I use them.

36) Build a Zoo -I know a lot of teachers do a variation of this project and it really is great. Students need to come up with the abiotic and biotic features for their specific animal and then design an enclosure with all of the needs met. The individual enclosures can then be put together into a giant map of the classroom zoo.

Critical and Creative Thinking Activities

37) CSI -This is just one of many websites describing how you can do a very fun CSI unit with lots of inexpensive and fun activities such as fingerprinting, mystery powders, acid and base testing, etc.

38) Genetic Project – This is one of my all-time favorites and it has become a favorite of my students as well! Students design a male and female alien that is especially adapted to a planet that they invent. They come up with the traits and then use Punnett squares to create the babies. I made this well structured which makes it easier. If time permits, we also love to make the aliens into three-dimensional creatures along with designing a planet surface.

39) Pringles Potato Chip Circle Challenge -If you haven’t seen this all over social media, the idea is that you stack the potato chips in a standing ring without using any glue or adhesive. It’s hard but it’s very satisfying when it works!

40) CER Image Prompts for Critical Thinking -I like to start and finish my year with a review of the basics of CER methods. The students like using the image prompts from either life, physical or earth science to figure out the scientific question asked.

41) Pretests for next year- This can be a good opportunity to see what the students know about your units for next year. This is particularly helpful if you teach multi levels of science in middle school.

Worthwhile and Interesting Research Activities

42) Research an Invasive Species -Many of our “local” animals and plants are actually invasive species. Students choose from a list of many different plants and animals and research the areas that are being invaded and how it occurred.

43) Research A Storm – Many kids are very interested in the big storms such as tornadoes, hurricanes and supercell thunderstorms. This is a very structured layout, with research prompts, and the kids can then present to the class.

44) Research a Scientist-I had a teacher friend who had the students research a scientist and then present to the class dressed up as that scientist may have dressed. The kids loved it and it was very interesting.

45) Research an Element-there are actually many different types of activities online for students to choose. I have seen making an advertisement for that element, a history of that element, a superhero made from the element, etc.

Crafty Science Projects

46) Make Shrinky Dinks -You will need access to an oven to do this project but the students really love it!

47) Paint T-shirts or lab coats-If the students have old shirts, or you have a budget for inexpensive lab coats, this can be a lot of fun with fabric paint.

48) Make Kites -You may be surprised how many kids have never flown a kite!

49) Build a Cardboard Mechanical Hand -This takes patience and time but, in the end, students understand the complexity of the human hand.

50) Design Growth Mindset posters for next year- have the students come up with their own mindset statements and make posters to hang around your classroom.

Ending the year with creativity and active, hands-on learning, is a great way to pull everything together. This is particularly important if the students have just sat through state testing and have very little mind space left for a deep unit. I am always pleasantly surprised at how engaged and enthusiastic they are with the end of the year science activities!

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Samantha in Secondary

7 End of the Year ELA Activities for Your Secondary Classroom

May 26, 2020 by Samantha H.

End of the year ELA activities can be tricky in middle school and high school ELA. Everyone is tired (students and staff alike) and just wants to hit the reset button and start fresh again next year. Although it can be difficult to win the battle with fatigue, the end of the year provides a unique opportunity to bond with your students and end your year on a high note. Here are a few of my favorite activities to help you engage your students until the very last day.

#1: One Pagers

Giving students a chance to demonstrate what they know with a high quality assessment is always a good idea. Assigning a high-interest summative can be an incredibly powerful way to end the year. I often use my One Pager Project and allow students to choose any novel we’ve read throughout the year to complete. Allow students to present so they can recommend their favorite books to their peers for summer reading.

Find more information about One Pagers and six other high-interest assessments on my blog right here .

#2: End of the Year Soundtrack Project

Music is always a powerful way to motivate students to complete any assignment. My End of the Year Soundtrack Project project allows students to recall all of their favorite music of the year and analyze the lyrics. Students are able to capture all the emotions, memories, and experiences of their school year into a single playlist that they can listen to for years to come. The project comes in both print and digital versions, so you can give students a choice of how they’d like to complete it. It’s the perfect marriage of close reading and creative fun.

#3: Literary Field Trip

Sure, real field trips are great, but have you thought about having your kids create a literary field trip? This is a perfect end of the year ELA activity. Allow your students to brainstorm a list of places they’ve “visited” in the books you’ve read all year. Then, have your students create a field trip to those places. Check out my pre-made resource for this activity here . This one has always been a student favorite!

Another fun option? Have your students create their own using something like Google Tour Creator !

#4: Artistic Farewell Memento

This is an easy activity that requires nothing more than blank paper and some markers. (Pro tip: Before I complete this activity, I send a blank piece of a paper around the room and have everyone sign it in the color they chose. This way I have a record of who is using which color just in case you have a student who might have something unkind to say.)

Begin by having students design their name in the center of the paper. I tell them not to take up too much space, but to make it creative and theirs . Then, set a timer for two minutes. Give each student two minutes to write a goodbye message to each other. I usually put some sentence starters on the board in case they can’t think of anything to say. Make sure to create one for yourself, too!

I’ve done this with multiple classes and the activity leaves some time for reflection, but also a really nice memento.

#5: ABC Yearly Review

Have your students create a booklet compiling review terms for each letter of the alphabet. Tell them that they can use anything you’ve covered this year. (For example, A is for Allusion or P is for Prepositional Phrase, etc.) This will get their brains moving and incorporate plenty of creativity.

#6: Literary Quote Book

You’ve probably read tons of great texts this year with plenty of quote-worthy lines. Have your students curate a collection of the best quotes with a literary quote book. This activity is perfect for reviewing what you’ve learned this year and diving back into some of those rich themes. Click here to check out my done-for-you resource to run this project in your own classroom with no prep for you.

#7: Independent Reading Choice Board

These activities always make for a great end of the year wrap up. Students can either choose a book to read independently or give them the option to use a book you’ve already read together. Sign up for my email list below to receive a free copy of my choice board.

Grab the Bundle!

If you have more than a few days to fill and you’re looking for ideas for an entire unit that will get you to the end of the year, click here to check out my blog.

I hope that I have given you a few activity ideas to fill the space between now and summer. The end of the year can be tiring, but with just a little bit of effort, you can add some activities that will fill those final days with joy.

Happy teaching!

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Phonological Awareness: Everything You Need to Know

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As the end of the school year approaches, it’s important to keep students engaged and motivated. Here are 15 end-of-year assignments and activities for every grade level:

1. Reflection journals: Have students reflect on their growth, achievements, and challenges throughout the year.

2. Memory books: Have students create scrapbooks or memory books filled with their favorite memories and moments from the school year.

3. Class awards ceremony: Organize a special event to recognize and celebrate students’ accomplishments with certificates and awards.

4. Field trips: Plan educational field trips to local museums, parks, or zoos as a fun and memorable way to end the year.

5. Outdoor games day: Arrange a day full of outdoor games and activities to celebrate the end of the year while promoting team building and physical fitness.

6. Reading challenges: Create a reading challenge where students can choose books to read over the summer and present their reviews to the class.

7. Science experiments: Conduct hands-on science experiments that allow students to explore and discover new concepts while having fun.

8. Talent show: Organize a talent show where students can showcase their talents and skills, promoting creativity and self-expression.

9. Community service project: Engage students in a meaningful community service project that teaches them the importance of giving back to society.

10. Year-in-review slideshows: Create slideshows showcasing the highlights and achievements of each student throughout the year.

11. Time capsule: Have students create and bury a time capsule with items representing themselves and their experiences during the school year.

12. Career day: Invite professionals from various fields to share their experiences and inspire students about future career possibilities.

13. Cultural fair: Celebrate diversity by organizing a cultural fair where students can learn about different traditions, customs, and cuisines.

14. Classroom cleanup and organization: Get students involved in cleaning and organizing the classroom, teaching them responsibility and teamwork.

15. Personal goal setting: Help students set personal goals for the upcoming year, encouraging them to strive for growth and improvement.

These end-of-year assignments and activities will not only keep students engaged but also create lasting memories as they look back on their time in school.

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Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

End of Year Literacy Activities and Ideas

One of the toughest parts about the end of the year is keeping students engaged in all subjects up into the very end. I have found that it is often the most difficult to keep students engaged in normal literacy activities. They often have more energy and are more talkative at this point in the year. Since I have always taught literacy at the end of the day, and this makes it even more of a challenge to keep them engaged. Today I want to share some of my favorite end of year literacy activities and ideas that are engaging and easy to implement.

Buddy Reading with Younger Students

My students love this activity so much. I partner up with a primary teacher (usually below 2nd grade), and my students read books to them one day a week.

To prepare for the buddy reading activity, I do mini lessons on how to keep their buddy engaged, how to check for understanding, and how to ask questions as they read. For the actual buddy reading time, we spend about 20 minutes reading the books that the buddies have checked out from the library.

I love seeing my big old fifth graders reading to the little kids and being so patient and kind with them. This is by far one of my favorite end of year literacy activities (and also a great behavior motivation: if they don’t behave, they lose the opportunity to read with their buddy).

Write a Letter to Your Future Students

I get a kick out of this writing activity every year. I use this free template to have my students write a letter with tips and advice for my future students. Before we begin writing, we brainstorm different things that could be included in the letter. Here are a few ideas:

• how to stay out of trouble
• tips for passing tests
• tips for homework
• some of the skills the students will learn

This activity doubles as a beginning of the year activity. I save the letters and put them on the desks of my next year’s students to read as their morning work during the first week of schools.

Click here to grab the free letter template.

Museum Walk with Favorite Books

Museum walks are often used for science and social studies projects, but I love doing these with books as well. The students can create posters, dioramas, trifolds, or dress up as a main character. Whatever they decide, their project should provide a sneak peek or trailer of the books. Have them create their projects at school or at home. Then have them spend at least a day practicing presenting their books to their classmates (perfect chance to work on speaking and listening skills).

When the students are ready to present their favorite books, invite another class or grade level in to view the “museum”. For the grade level, I recommend 2nd or 3rd graders. They are the perfect age for students to feel comfortable speaking to and they will be avid listeners.

No Prep End of Year Literacy Activities

My favorite end of the year activities are definitely those that are low to no prep and super easy for me to explain and implement immediately. For these type of activities, I use my End of Year Literacy Activities for 4th and 5th Grade .

These are rigorous literacy activities with an engaging theme of either end of the year or summer vacation. They work well for:

• Whole group activities
• Partner activities
• Small group reading work
• Literacy centers

Here are just a few of my favorite literacy activities:

End of the Year Class Awards

For this end of the year activity, the students read fictional stories about students and then assign a class award based on what they know about the student. They then cite text evidence to support their answers.

Make a Reading Game

My students love playing games so why not let them make their own games? This end of the year literacy activity has the students reading a text (fiction or nonfiction) and then creating questions that can be answered using the text. Then they create and design their own game boards, using provided templates or their own creativity (my favorite is to give them small posters or large pieces of white paper and let them have free reign of the design).

Color by Text Structure

My favorite end of the year activities are those that require no prep and involve students coloring. My end of the year literacy resource contains two different printables for text structure that has the students reading texts on the same topic (ice cream and summer camp), determining the text structure, and then coloring in the graphic to match.

• Click here to see these No Prep End of Year Literacy Activities in my TpT Store. There are over 20 activities and printables included!  

Partner Reading

I do still want my students doing lots of authentic reading the final month of school. To make it engaging (and keep them motivated), I usually do a lot more partner reading than at other times of the year. My students enjoy reading with partners and having the chance to talk about what they are reading. Allowing them do it more often is a win-win. They are engaged and motivated to read. I do check in regularly with the partners for accountability.

Some years, I do need to add in a bit more accountability than check-ins. I do this through my partner reading choice board (shown below). Click here to download a copy of the choice board.

Create a Class or Individual ABC Booklet

Another activity that we love is creating an ABC booklet with memories of our time in fifth grade. This can be done whole class (with each student being assigned a letter) or individually (the pages can be adjusted on a copier or printed two to a page to save paper).

For this activity, the students use the letters of the alphabet to write about memories they have or skills they have learned during the school year. If you want to keep this more academic, you could require that it be all skills they have learned.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB A DIGITAL VERSION OF THIS ACTIVITY!

Each page has a place for the students to write what the letter stands for and write a paragraph briefly describing the memory or topic. Under the text is a place for them to illustrate the memory or topic. I usually make them do all of the writing (and proofreading and editing) before they can illustrate. This helps to sure they get the content done.

Click here to grab a FREE copy of the ABC Memory Booklet.

End of the Year Literacy Activities Involving Movement

My biggest tip to keep your students engaged and learning when summer break is on the horizon is to keep them moving. Incorporate as much movement into your lessons and activities as you can.

Here are some ideas that work specifically well for literacy end of the year activities:

Finish the Stories – Have the students start a story and then leave it on their desks. Rotate the class at your signal and allow them to read the stories and add to them.

SCOOT or Around the Room – Using task cards or even cut up worksheets, have the students move from desk to desk or around the room reading and answering questions.

Outdoor Activities – Up the engagement even more by taking the students outside to complete their literacy work. Click here to read my favorite outdoor learning activities for 4th and 5th graders and grab several freebies.

Find Someone Who Review – My students enjoy this interactive activity during back to school time, so why not incorporate it during the end of the year to review reading skills (+ engage the students and get them moving and discussing)? Click here to grab a FREE Find Someone Who printable that reviews 4th and 5th grade reading skills.

End-of-Year Read Alouds

Picture books with related literacy activities are another perfect end of the year activity. Click here or on the image below to read more about my favorite end of the year read alouds AND grab free printable activities.

Reader’s Theatre

My students absolutely love plays and reader’s theater. The last month of school is the perfect time for them to engage in reader’s theater. My personal favorite scripts can be found on TpT from Eddie McPherson . In particular, I love the Civil War themed ones. His scripts allow me to incorporate literacy, social studies, and super high engagement. The scripts are also humorous and my students love them.

We don’t do a big display with costumes and extreme props, but sometimes the students like to use simple props that the students make (often at home). We usually get through a few scripts in the last month of school. This activity is also great for practicing speaking skills and some of my reluctant readers usually thrive with this type of activity.

Those are some of my favorite end of year literacy activities that I use each year with my students. Do you have any activities or ideas that you do each year and love? I would love to hear about them in the comments.

If you are interested in math end of year activities, click here to check out my favorite activities for ending the year in math.

Share the Knowledge!

Reader interactions.

May 6, 2019 at 11:20 am

I love these free activities! Thanks for sharing!

May 23, 2019 at 10:38 am

Great ideas! Thank you for sharing!

March 1, 2021 at 12:17 pm

I love all your resources and suggestions and this section on readers theater is no different. You’ve helped my teaching so much. I was wondering if I could pick your brain. For my masters thesis (I am 43 and teach grade 5 full time and now completing a masters in international education) I want to link literacy and critical thinking. There are two specific areas I’d love your insight in: 1. Would you know of a woman that researched or published things about critical thinking or something similar? There is Bloom, Di Bono, Marzano, Webb, Benzanilla, but those are all men. I am looking for a woman that I’d like to use for my masters thesis.  2. What more can you tell me about readers’ theater? I mean I use it in class a lot and I love it, but do you have resources or materials or suggestions regarding the background of readers’ theater, and/or the science/research related to it? Thanks in advance, kind regards, Jenny

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Welcome Friends!

I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

5 ENGAGING ELA PROJECTS FOR THE END OF THE YEAR

I can hardly believe it’s almost the end of the 2019-2020 school year. I think it’s safe to say this has been one of the most wild, unexpected, and stressful years ever. Whether you have a few days or a couple weeks left, I wanted to share a few of my favorite mini-units and projects that work well at the end of the year. I hope these ideas help you finish the year strong with your students!

1. SLIDESHOWS THAT DON’T SUCK

Want to end the year on a good note with a fun, memorable mini-unit? “Slideshows That Don’t Suck” is one of my favorite projects ever. It’s purposeful, engaging, and just plain FUN. I designed this project when I was tired of cringing at my students’ font choices and hearing them read their slides word-for-word. I decided to tackle the problem of boring, unappealing presentations once and for all with a creative “Slideshows That Don’t Suck” mini-unit.

To make what could have been a pretty straightforward slideshow assignment fun, I gave my students total choice in topics. Well, choice with one tiny stipulation: Their topics had to be weird, random, ridiculous, boring, or obscure. The weirder, the better. I wanted students to work hard to bring a boring topic to life. I wanted them to curiously pursue the mundane and make it entertaining. My students were thrilled and instantly engaged by this challenge. Their topics included mole rats, milk, shoelaces, rocks, stink bugs, air fresheners, and spam accounts…the list goes on. Even the student who quite literally had completed 0 projects all year successfully delivered a slideshow on chicken wings. 

As weird and fun as this project sounds, it’s actually a great way to help students practice essential literacy skills. And I promise that you will never have more fun grading their final projects and learning more than you ever wanted to know about the world’s most ridiculous topics! If you want to save yourself some time teaching about slideshows, check out my digital-ready mini-unit. It’s complete with a pacing guide, a gallery walk activity, learning stations, a rubric, and more to make teaching this a breeze!

2. INTERVIEW CHALLENGE

This speaking, listening, and writing activity is a great way to keep students meaningfully engaged at the end of the year. I originally created the interview “challenge” for my journalism students, but then I realized it was too fun and meaningful to not use with my other ELA classes. Students can easily complete this with a peer over the phone/video chatting OR with a family member in their house.

Here’s how it works: The “challenge” requires students to reflect upon a memorable moment and briefly share that moment with a partner. Then, the student creates a list of questions and interviews their partner in order to write a mini-story. The better the questions, the better the answers, and the better the stories. Students will quickly realize that taking the time to craft precise, meaningful questions will be well worth it in the end.

The best part of this writing activity is reading through the final stories.  I always learn so much about my students and what has shaped their lives. For everything you need to teach this challenge from start to finish, check out my newly-updated digital resource.

3. RESUME WRITING

In the mood to teach something so practical that you won’t have to answer the question of “When will we ever use this in real life?” Teaching resume writing is just about as real-life as you can get, and it makes for the perfect end-of-year unit. You’ll feel satisfied knowing your students are leaving your class a little more prepared for the elusive real world.

But learning how to draft a resume and cover letter is about more than practicing real-life writing or becoming an employable job candidate. It’s also about growing as a human being. Writing a resume requires introspection, self-awareness, and reflection. Students will wrestle with the questions of “Who am I?” and “How can I represent what I have to offer on a piece of paper?” It’s intimidating but incredibly worthwhile and rewarding. Plus, you just might get a few excited “I got the job!” emails after teaching it, and there’s nothing better than that!

To learn more, you can read this blog post about how I teach resume writing or check out my student-ready resume writing unit. If you have the time, you can follow up resumes with a cover letter mini-unit or even sneak in some virtual mock interview practice. If your students aren’t quite ready for resumes, you can help them prepare for the real world with a career research project. Any of these options will help your students stay focused on the future, even during the chaos of the end of a wild year.

4. PHOTO JOURNAL

If you are searching for a purposeful project that will engage students without overwhelming them, give them a chance to document life through their own lens with a photo journal/essay assignment. Whether you assign it with journal writing or as a standalone project, a photo journal will help students practice essential skills while they contemplate what it means to live during this new normal. Simply ask students to document their lives, express their emotions, and make sense of the world around them.

A photo journal will look different for every student. Maybe it will be daily self-portraits, snapshots of empty streets, or a collection of the colors of nature. In any case, it will give students a chance to pause, reflect, and be present in the world around them. If you assign a photo journal or photo essay, I highly recommend checking out the app Getty Unshuttered. You can read more about it and find other unique photography project ideas HERE.

5. INDEPENDENT READING

Independent reading is a best-practice classic, and it just makes sense during distance learning. If you haven’t already assigned something like this, it’s the perfect activity to close out the end of the year. Give students choice in selecting their texts, as well as choice in the assignments and activities they do to represent their learning.

If students don’t have access to books, encourage them to download the Scribd app, which offers many ebooks and audiobooks. Currently, they are offering a free 30-day subscription without a credit card/payment information. This is what I would recommend to students. If you don’t mind entering your payment information, you can get a free 60-day trial with this link. For digital independent reading activities, you can check out my Novel Study for Any Novel bundle HERE. (It includes everything from “character Instagram posts” to standards-based writing assessments & rubrics!)

I hope these ideas make your last few days or weeks of school enjoyable, calm, and meaningful. Best of luck as you finish the year, and have a FABULOUS summer break! 🙂

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Free End of Year Report Templates

By Joe Weller | August 20, 2019

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An end of year report provides key information about a company’s performance and can help with strategic planning. Here, find the top annual report templates — all of which are free to download — and learn how to write a year end report.

Included on this page, you'll find a variety of free, helpful templates, including a simple year end report template , an annual financial report template , details on how to write an end of year report , and tips for writing an end of year report .

Simple Year End Report Template

This is a simple annual report that provides the basic sections: title page, executive summary, table of contents, annual financial report, and conclusion. The template comes with pre-built tables for you to add financial totals, but you can also customize the tables to include more in-depth financial information, or insert a separate financial report. Additionally, the conclusion provides space for an auditor’s report, if necessary. 

Download Simple Year End Report Template

Word | PDF | PowerPoint

Annual Financial Report Template

This template provides an in-depth breakdown of your organization’s financials for the previous and reporting years, so you can see changes in fiscal health over a one-year interval. The template includes a table with space to input revenue, operating expenses, operating profit, net profit, and tax, as well as room to add other budget metrics. The Excel version will automatically calculate totals, and you can easily cut and paste this template into your larger, written year end report.

Download Annual Financial Report Template

Excel | Word  

Annual Business Report Template

This simple spreadsheet template provides a detailed view of your company’s financials over time. Enter your planned revenue and expenses by month, and then track those estimates against actuals for the year. This template separates income from expenses, so you can clearly view cash flow, which enables you to get an accurate 12-month snapshot of your business finances. 

Download Annual Business Report Template

Excel | Smartsheet

Annual Sales Report Template

Use this annual sales report template to report on sales data from the past year, and also break down finances into monthly and quarterly activities. In addition, you can use this template for future planning by reviewing previous monthly and quarterly sales trends. Insert this sales report — available in a spreadsheet style — into a larger financial or year end report, so stakeholders can gain insight into the specifics of your sales figures. 

Download Annual Sales Report Template - Excel

Annual Marketing Report Template

This is a formal template for reporting on marketing department activities over the course of a year. The template includes an editable title page, a table of contents, an executive summary, and a conclusion page, as well as a comprehensive financial report. Input quarterly planned and actual costs, and the table will automatically calculate fiscal totals. Attach any supplemental material directly to the template, and then present this full scale marketing report directly to stakeholders. 

Download Annual Marketing Report Template

Word | PDF | PowerPoint |  Smartsheet

Department Year End Report Template

Use this Excel spreadsheet to create an annual financial overview of any department within your organization. Simply input details about every project (deliverables, client, etc.), the planned versus actual costs, and total income, and the template will automatically calculate the total net income. You can edit this template to fit the needs of a particular department, be it sales, marketing, or IT, and you can easily cut and paste it into a larger written document. 

Download Department Year End Report Template - Excel 

Annual Expense Report Template

Use this annual expense report template to document all profits and losses over the course of a year. The template includes sections to list revenue, reductions, and expenses (including professional services, banking and finance, general business, vehicle/travel, and taxes) in monthly intervals, and then combines totals to provide a full annual budget report. Once you’ve entered your totals for each month, a built-in, color-coded graph will depict gross profit, total expenses, and profit and loss. You can find additional templates in our collection of free expense report templates .

Download Annual Expense Report Template - Excel

Nonprofit Annual Report Template

This is a formal, comprehensive annual report template intended for nonprofit organizations. The template includes pages to reiterate mission statement, note all significant accomplishments, relay targeted impact stories, and list notable donors. Additionally, it provides an in-depth financial overview in a spreadsheet layout — simply add quarterly income from foundation grants, corporate and individual contributions, government contracts, and other donations, and then calculate tax, expenses, and other losses to provide an accurate annual financial summary.

Download Nonprofit Annual Report Template

Additional Project and Financial Tracking Templates

In this section, you’ll find additional templates that may assist in your annual reporting efforts, including a variety of financial planning and budgeting templates, a cash flow statement, project planning templates, and more.

Client Projects and Budget Overages Template

This comprehensive budgeting template tracks client projects (including individual tasks) with emphasis on planned versus actuals in labor, materials, and other costs (i.e., travel, equipment, and fixed costs). The template will then automatically calculate actual costs (which you can compare against planned costs) and produce a color-coded over/under balance. Use this template over time to improve budget planning and become more realistic when projecting client costs. 

Download Client Projects and Budget Overages Template

Monthly Billing Statement Template

Use this simple billing statement template to invoice any clients for services completed in the past month. Simply list the date, type of service provided, the invoice number, and balance due, and send the sheet to your customer to square away any outstanding payments. If applicable, you can also include remittance information, or edit the template to reflect weekly, quarterly, or annual billing, as appropriate. 

Download Monthly Billing Statement Template - Excel

Upcoming Projects Template

This is a simple project tracker template that you can use to list, track, and manage multiple projects. Document the status, priority, and deadline of each project, and then list information about each sub-task (description, assignee, deliverable, cost, percentage complete, etc.) as child rows. This template is useful for managing and reporting on projects within a portfolio, or when you simply need to track multiple projects simultaneously. 

Download Upcoming Projects Template - Excel

Income Statement Template

This simple income statement template functions as a budget report. Note total income, cost of goods sold, and total expenses (broken down into categories such as wages and benefits, rent/mortgage, utilities, web hosting, insurance, etc.). The Excel template automatically calculates the total net income to give you a high-level snapshot into your organization’s financial position. 

Download Income Statement Template

Balance Sheet Template

Businesses can create a balance sheet to provide a full financial overview by documenting all assets and liabilities. This balance sheet template prompts you to list all current and fixed assets and liabilities as well as the owner’s equity. Once complete, use the balance sheet as a summary of complicated financial data and share it with investors and other stakeholders. 

Download Balance Sheet Template

Cash Flow Statement Template

A cash flow statement documents the net flow of cash into and out of an organization, which is useful for analyzing overall business performance and aiding in financial planning. This simple cash flow statement template includes space to list beginning balance, cash receipts, cash payments, cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and other expenses, and then provides totals for total cash payments, net cash change, and monthly cash position. To learn more about these statements by reading “Free Cash Flow Statement Templates.”

Download Cash Flow Statement Template

Year End Reporting

A year end report , also called an annual report or end of year report , details an organization’s activities throughout the preceding year. The report typically communicates overall company performance, financial information, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) . Publicly-held companies must submit a year end report as part of their legal accountability to shareholders.

Collecting — and then interpreting — data on an annual cadence allows companies to reflect on their performance over the past year. This information is essential for making future projections, adjusting goals and timelines, and identifying any inefficiencies and areas for improvement. Annual reports can be intended for internal or external (stakeholder) use.

A year end report is different than a project management office (PMO) report , which is a document that a department creates to assess the performance or status of an individual project or group of projects.

All told, an annual report functions similarly to a school report card, taking into account various performance data and evaluating that data from multiple points of view. In addition to creating a year end report, you may choose to create quarterly or monthly reports in order to get a lower-rage view of performance.

Year End Payroll Reports

Use a year end payroll report to reconcile all the payroll information from the previous year. To create a year end payroll report, compile employee identification details (address, position, SSN, etc.), as well as all salary, benefits, and tax and deduction information. This report can fit in with an annual financial report and help plan the personnel budget for the upcoming year.

Benefits of a Year End Report

At its core, a year end report provides organizations an opportunity to evaluate their overall performance and reflect on the past year. The information in an annual report provides insight into what is and isn’t working, and therefore can prompt companies to reconsider their approach in multiple categories (operations, finance, hiring and staff retention, marketing, customer retention, etc.).

Additionally, creating a year end report will allow you to do the following:

• Make data-informed decisions for the future. 
• Identify overages by comparing estimates and actuals in a project budget, timeline, and employee time (to ensure you aren’t over or under-working your teams).
• Gain an understanding of how you spend resources. 
• Gain insight into staff and faculty success.
• Build organizational culture by demonstrating accountability and accuracy in reporting.

A year-end report can also double as marketing material — or at least serve as a jumping off point. Simply use the insights gained or data collected as content for public-facing materials.

How to Write an End of Year Report

Although annual reports may vary based on the industry or audience (i.e., internal or external stakeholders), a typical report — which should be a formal, written (typically Word or PDF) document — will include the following sections:

• Executive Summary: The executive summary presents an overview of the entire year end report. Clarify the purpose of the report (audience, intent, etc.), and provide a brief summary of the contents to follow. For more information on this section of the report, read "How to Write an Effective Executive Summary to Yield Results .”
• Total Projects Delivered: In this section, document the total number of accomplished projects. This KPI can reveal a lot about your organization’s efficiency and processes, but make sure to include context along with the numbers (i.e., project duration, complexity, etc.).
• Project Deliverables: The number of projects completed means little without context. Use this section to discuss the specifics of each project, from the deliverables to the client relationship, project scope, and how the project budget and schedule performed against estimates. Call attention to successes, but also own any failures or areas for improvement. Additionally, note both the tangible and intangible benefits of each project deliverable. 
• Full Financial Overview: This section is one of the most important — especially for publicly-traded companies. You must include an income report, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement, as well as a written summary of any big financial changes.
• Accountant Perspective: In some cases, you may also be asked to include an auditor’s report. An accountant can provide an external, unbiased review on the financial and operational health of the company, which is especially useful (and sometimes necessary) for public companies.
• Operations Overview: Provide a description of your operations to flesh out the financial report. This section can provide context for the numbers, and offer an explanation of any net losses or overages. Sometimes, you can include the operations summary as part of the financial report. 
• Conclusion: Write a formal conclusion in which you reiterate the key points of the annual report.

Tips for Writing a Year End Report

Regardless of your industry, you should adhere to the following best practices when compiling your end of year report:

• Know Your Audience: Is the report intended for internal or external viewers? The answer to this question determines the aim of your report (i.e., are you trying to motivate internal change or drive external actions such as increasing sales, promoting your brand, or reassuring stakeholders?). Understand your audience’s needs and anticipate questions or objections they may have. Even if multiple parties will be reading your report, focus on the key recipients, rather than attempting to cater to everyone’s needs. 
• Get to the Point: Before you start writing, ensure everyone is clear on the report’s objective(s). Identify what you’re trying to achieve and make your point(s) clearly and concisely. The data you include should speak for itself (or require minimal explanation and written analysis), and only include support material if absolutely necessary.
• Pay Attention to the Writing Itself: A strong annual report does more than simply relay facts and figures. For maximal impact, approach the report as a piece of writing, and therefore pay attention to tone, style, and writing quality. At minimum, focus on crafting simple sentences and using strong, active verbs. Use literal (rather than abstract) language, avoid cliches and jargon, and steer clear of confusing imagery or mixed metaphors. The writing doesn’t have to be bland, though. In fact, you can use the annual report as an opportunity to showcase your brand’s voice and personality.
• Be Sincere and Accurate: Remember the overriding goal of your report is to communicate information. Make objective, accurate claims, and don’t try to impress readers or be overly optimistic. 
• Pay Attention to Quality: Regardless of your audience, remember that an end of year report is a formal document. Take your time, write multiple drafts (experts recommend at least three), and engage multiple editors to ensure quality of both writing and data presentation.
• Be Intentional about How You Communicate Information: Format the report logically (for a general guide of how to structure the report, read the section above). Additionally, look for opportunities to communicate complicated data visually; for instance, with infographics or visual dashboards.
• Be Proactive: Get in the habit of producing a year end report — even if nobody requests one. This way, you’ll be prepared in the event of a last-minute stakeholder demand, and will also have ample experience culling company data into a report. Regularly and reliably creating year end reports is an easy way to build accountability and trust with stakeholders and customers.
• Build a Process for Collecting Data: Institute a process for collecting data to ensure that you produce regular, timely annual reports. Doing so will greatly ease the experience of writing a report since you’ll only need to compile the data and add written context, rather than mine information in a last-minute scramble.

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College Minor: Everything You Need to Know

14 fascinating teacher interview questions for principals, tips for success if you have a master’s degree and can’t find a job, 14 ways young teachers can get that professional look, which teacher supplies are worth the splurge, 8 business books every teacher should read, conditional admission: everything you need to know, college majors: everything you need to know, 7 things principals can do to make a teacher observation valuable, 3 easy teacher outfits to tackle parent-teacher conferences, end-of-year assignments and activities.

End-of-year assignments and activities can be tricky because you want to retain the child’s interests without giving yourself extra work. Fortunately, there are lots of simple activities and assignments to try that are fun and suitable for most students. You always want to end the term on a good foot, so find an activity your students will enjoy. 

Create an End-of-Year Newsletter or Newspaper

This is a great way to encourage the children to work together, contribute, and share special memories of the past year. You can oversee things but let the children decide what content should be added. You can recap the headlines of the year, add illustrations, and have a comment section too. It’s a useful way to keep the kids entertained and make the last class assignment fun. 

Try an Open-Mic Night

This might sound a bit strange for school, however, it’s the last few days of term and it should be all about fun. Open-mic nights are fun because it gives every child the opportunity to share something personal with the class. 

This might sound strange for school, but it’s the last few days of term, and it should end on a high. Open-mic nights are fantastic because it gives every child the opportunity to share something personal with the class. For example, 2 best friends can share a duet. Or have a fashion show or poetry competition. Winners get a special treat, and everyone has fun. It’s a great way to get everyone involved, and you could even have a show for parents for the children. 

Get the Students to Plan their Dream Vacations

Children don’t want to think about school as the last day draws to a close, so get them to plan out their dream vacation instead. Set the class a budget of $3,500 and let the students research travel and accommodation costs, along with spending money. It’s a fun exercise and a simple assignment that’s educational but still retains the attention of the children. 

Read a Story or Watch a Movie

End-of-term can be an emotional time for you as much as the children. It’s a major shift in their lives, and they can have reservations about moving on. So, why not make their final day a more relaxed experience? For instance, you could read a short novella to younger students and watch an age-appropriate movie with older kids. It’s a nice way to round off the year and ends on a positive foot. 

Create Paper Ice Cream Sundaes

This is a great way to celebrate the year. Students write down memories of the year on pieces of colored paper. Each student creates a ‘sundae’ with those memories. It’s a sweet way to look back at some precious memories for one final time. 

Create Flipgrid Videos

If you want to say a fond farewell to your students, you could create short Flipgrid videos. These are easy to make, and everyone can get involved. You can create a farewell video for your students, and they can do the same. It doesn’t require much effort and gives everyone the chance to participate in the project. 

Create a Playlist of Favorite Songs

Get every child to choose a song that reminds them of their year at school. You can create a playlist and play them during class. It’s a great way to encourage all students to engage – especially the shy ones. Plus, it’s a good way to celebrate the end of the year.  

The A-to-Z List

This exercise is beneficial for younger children. Set the class the task of writing about what they’ve learned throughout the year using the alphabet. For example, A stands for arithmetic. B is for biology… and so forth. Get the kids to write something that represents each letter of the alphabet. It’s a great way to engage the child’s brain and is helpful to review what everyone has learned over the last year. 

A Social Media Comments Page

If you want to include all students, set up a Facebook or Twitter page dedicated to the class. Ask the students to write a positive comment about each other on the school page. This means everyone is given a nice send-off and since most people use social media, it’s convenient. Just make sure the comments are positive and no sly ones. You could even write something positive about each student. 

Thank You Notes

Children often say goodbye to their teachers by giving them farewell cards or presents, and you could do the same. For example, give every child in the class a handwritten thanks and farewell note. It’s a great way to show your appreciation to the class, and they can send thank you notes to their classmates too. It’s a small gesture but does have a lot of sentiment attached. 

Create Memory Bags

Students personalize a paper bag and put 5 items that reflect their year. There are no upper limits as to what can be put in the bag and no judgments made either. This is a personal reflection on the student’s time at school. It’s interesting to see how each child is different and how they reflect on the past year too. 

Post Snapshots of the Past Year’s Events

School events happen throughout the year and most people take photos of those events. You could commemorate those events by posting snapshots in the classrooms. It’s the chance for everyone to get together and have a few laughs. It’s a great way to reflect on the year too. For younger children, you could get them to draw the events instead to make it more interactive for them. 

Small-Group Presentations

Split the class into several small groups and set each a topic to discuss. Then, after they’ve had time to discuss the topic, have them give a class presentation. It’s an educational activity as the day draws to a close. You could also free up some of your teaching time. 

Field Trips to the Year Ahead

As silly as it might sound, a lot of schools don’t prep kids when they move from second grade to third or fifth to sixth grade. Typically, it’s down to the fact that most kids adapt to their new surroundings; however, that doesn’t mean to say it still isn’t a scary time. It’s a big change in a child’s life – regardless of their age – and it’s crucial to ease their fears. 

So, even though you won’t be teaching the class next year, you can still show them where they’ll learn. It allows the students to explore their new surroundings because they have been used to (and comfortable) with their current classroom. Even if you do a virtual tour, it’s a great thing to do for the children. 

DIY Projects

Little DIY projects are perfect because it gives everyone the chance to unwind and make a little souvenir. You can create little picture frames or even wooden boxes with a few letters carved in them. It’s a fun way to end the year.  

Discuss Summer Plans

On the final day of term, get the class to write about what they plan to do during the summer break. It passes the time because, on the last day of term, kids are excited about summer and don’t always concentrate on boring lessons. So, this is a nice activity to try. 

Put on a Play

This is perfect for students of all ages. Give each child a role, whether it’s playing the lead or working on the scenery. It’s the best way for the class to come together one last time and have fun as a group. You can put on a show for parents and fellow students. 

End-of-Year Party

For older teens, an end-of-year party can be great. Organize a few snacks and ginger ales and let the children have fun. It allows them to mingle and say their goodbyes. If this is their last year at school, it’s a special year because most will go off to college or start in the workforce. So, giving an extra special send-off can be great. 

Have a ‘Design a Seal’ Competition

Split your class into six or seven groups and get them to come up with a design for a school coat of arms. It’s a great way to get everyone to work together and mash some ideas. This also helps to encourage communication among the students. 

School Portraits

No one likes picture day, so why not organize the class to create some self-portraits? It’s a good chance for everyone to have fun. Or you could get students to draw each other. 

Write a 1-Page Memoir of the Year

Students experience all sorts throughout the year and it’s their chance to share their stories. Let the students write a memoir about their year but keep them anonymous so that everyone feels free to express themselves fully. 

Create a Memory Wall 

Set up a pinboard at the front of the class (or outside) and let them post memories of the last year. It can be special projects, field trips, or snapshots from prom; let the children post their happy moments on the board. You can even share a class photo on the board. 

Group Discussions 

While this doesn’t technically reflect on the past year, group discussions are perfect – and easy – end-of-term activities to consider. For instance, you ask the class to come up with arguments for and against the constitution (or something less controversial). It’s great to see all points of view from the students and gets everyone involved. 

Record a Goodbye Message 

Get every student in the class to record or say a few words, then create a goodbye video. You can give a copy to every student, and they have memories of their classmates. It’s a nice idea to try, especially when you have a close-knit group. 

Create a Commencement Speech 

This is for students graduating. Get them to come up with a commencement or graduation speech. It’s their chance to write down what they want to say. You can get the student to read them to the class or keep them private. 

What did we miss?

Age and Developmentally Appropriate Chores for Children

18 women’s history month activities.

Matthew Lynch

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My favorite end-of-the-year activity for high school: letter to future self

One of my favorite end-of-the-year activities I’ve ever done with my students is an end-of-the-year letter to themselves. I did this one year that I had seniors. I had them write a letter to their future selves, and I told them I would mail the letters to them in one year.

Several days before we begin the assignment, I tell students that they will be writing a letter to themselves and that I’ll need for them to bring in a self-addressed, stamped envelope. I collect the self-addressed stamped envelopes for several days before the actual assignment, and I keep them organized and separated by class period and then in alphabetical order.

The main reason why I collect the self-addressed, stampede letters for several days is so that more students bring them in. I usually let them know about the assignment on a Thursday so they have the weekend to get the supplies, and then we usually don’t write until the end of the next week.

I provide envelopes and stamps for all of the students who did not bring in their own. Usually, there are not that many. Also, I suggest checking with your school because they might mail the letters for you! Also, if you are looking for more end-of-the-year activities for middle school and high school students, you might want to check out this blog post .

Since I did this activity with seniors, we first discussed the big steps they were about to take including graduating from high school, possibly going away to college, possibly starting at a community college, possibly joining the military, or possibly joining the workforce. We also talked about hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations for the year after high school. I also shared stories about my first year away at college with them as well. I shared fun experiences like moving into the dorms, challenging experiences like learning how to navigate an entirely new city all on my own, and how I managed to juggle a part-time job with school work.

Then, I asked them to think about what they hoped to accomplish in the year following high school. I asked them to think about what they wanted to learn, what they hoped to achieve, and where they wanted to be in one year from now.

For the actual assignment, they turned in their letters in sealed, self-addressed, stamped envelopes. I didn’t read the letters. They were not for me; it was an assignment for my students. It was a credit/no credit final assignment. On the day they wrote the letters in class, they were engaged. I could tell they were really thinking about what to write to their future selves. I put on some music for some ambiance, and it was a memorable moment. The air was heavy with optimism, excitement, and a bit of trepidation.

After all of my students turned in their letters, I stored them in a filing cabinet for a year. Exactly one year later, at the end of the next school year, I reminisced about my amazing senior classes from the years prior (and they truly were amazing classes. I missed those students so much the following year) as I took out the envelopes and put them in the mail.

Possible Reflection Questions If your students need some extra guidance, here are some reflection questions you can write on the board to help your students think about what to write.

• Where do you hope to be in one year?
• What do you hope to have accomplished in one year?
• What do you want to be working towards?
• How do you think this next year will go?
• What are you most excited about for this next year?
• What are you most worried about for this next year?
• How can you help make the world a better place?
• If you aren’t where you want to be in one year, what advice can you give your future self?

More End of the Year Activities End of the Year Activities for Secondary Students Growth Mindset End of the Year Activities End of the Year Mini Flip Book

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9 end of the year activities for high school students

by mindroar | Nov 7, 2021 | blog | 0 comments

Are you facing down the end of the academic year with your high school students? Your students are probably tired, disengaged, and basically itching to get out of school?

And you are probably feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and also itching to finish all that marking before your break too!

Today we have nine end of the year activities for high school students. In this list, you are bound to find something that is a salve to that itch, for you and your students.

1. Adulting 101

The first activity we have today is awesome. No joke. Want to know what it is? This End of Year Activities for High School Students activity by OCBeachTeacher

It’s FREE and is perfect because it has several end of the year activities for high school seniors. Because they really dgaf about school right now.

But show them some activities where they have to think about their lives beyond school and you’ll have them hooked.

The download includes a student self-assessment of their adulting skills, writing prompts for real-world problems such as roommate problems, and an interview with an alumni/alumna.

2. Surviving Senioritis

The second of our end of the year activities for high school seniors is this Poetry Activities, Surviving Senioritis & End-of-Year, Traditional & Digital product by Julie Faulkner.

This bundle includes activities and projects for the following six poems:

• “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” Dylan Thomas
• “An Indian Walks In Me” By Marilou Awiakta
• “Walking Away” By C. Day-Lewis
• “If You Forget Me” By Pablo Neruda
• “The Dash” By Linda Ellis
• “Live Like You Were Dying” sung by Tim McGraw

The mini-unit covers the six poems over six lessons and can be used either in-class or digitally (using Google classrooms). It also includes printable versions of the poems and links to audio or visual versions of the poem.

3. Senior survival guide

The third of our end of the year activities for high school seniors is this End of Year Senior Survival Guide by Mr C Spills the Tea. This activity bundle has six activities for senior students to complete, including:

• Letter to a junior (year 11 student)
• Teacher tips
• Hashtag trending
• Overcoming obstacles
• Playlist essentials

The project is designed to be a ‘Senior Survival Guide’ booklet that a senior student completes and gives to a student entering their final year.

4. Last week of school activities

This product by The Daring English Teacher is a great end of year activity for high school students. But, it is geared towards younger high school and upper middle school students. The bundle includes fifteen activities to help students reflect on their year.

Included in this bundle of fun end of the year activities for high school students are:

• class survey
• class pennant banner (bulletin board banner activity)
• summer coloring page
• snapshot project
• my favorites of the year
• social media reflection
• survival list
• classroom commercial
• letter to incoming students
• letter to my future self
• thank you letter
• story rewrite
• classroom quilt (bulletin board activity)
• find someone who
• plot diagram

These activities are great because some give you feedback on how your students felt about your class and some give tips to students in your future classes.

Other activities encourage students to reflect on favorite memories from class and to thank those who have helped them throughout the year.

5. Escape room

In this fun end of year activity for high school students, students have to escape the room by completing six different secret missions. Created by The SuperHERO Teacher, this escape room focuses on encouraging a grown mindset, career readiness, and mindfulness.

Students have to complete six secret missions and tasks include:

• Creating a team mission statement and completing mazes and letter unscrambles
• Growth mindset vocabulary crossword puzzle and letter unscramble
• Comprehension questions based on an information text about Mona Patel and a blackout poetry task
• Analyzing three candidates for an art teacher job by looking at their cover letters and resumes and then answering riddles task
• Devising a solution to a ‘worst case scenario’ prompt and escaping, then using Morse Code to answer a riddle
• Student read about famous failures and anser questions, then use a Cipher Wheel to anser a final riddle

6. End of year games

These end of the school year activities for high school students were created by Carla McLeod. They are fun, engaging, and FREE!

Activities include:

• teacher appreciation/apology letters
• student-generated summer reading lists
• personal theme song activities
• end-of-year celebration ideas and more

7. End of year movies

Let’s face it – we’ve all been there. You have a hundred papers to mark, grades to enter, and a rapidly diminishing period of time to do it in. Don’t feel guilty , use a movie.

English with Ease has created these fun end of year activities for high school students that are common core aligned. The product includes 20 educational videos and 38 ELA task cards that are cover common core skills.

Included are:

• 20 educational video links to access the videos
• movie summaries and suggested activities for each movie
• 38 ELA Movie Test Prep task cards/powerpoint slides for each movie – each task card has a movie-based reading response prompt to be answered in paragraph or essay form, 5-point writing checklist/grading rubric, brainstorming section, and final draft section

Not only does this product help you keep students engaged in those final few classes, but it also helps them practice important common core skills. Bonus: it gives you some time to get that grading done!

8. End of year growth mindset reflection

Another fun end of the year activity for high school students is my product . This fun visual worksheet encourages students to think about the goals (academic or personal) that they have reached or missed during the year.

It also encourages students to think about why they may have reached or missed goals and what they can do differently next time.

The worksheets also ask students to reflect on the poems and texts they have studied during the year, and to think about which have stuck with them and why.

9. End of year fun activities

Career and Employment Prep has created a bundle of these end of the year activities for high school students. Included in the bundle are the following fun activities:

• a personal infographic
• an escape activity
• a year-end reflection card set
• and rebus puzzles

Another great idea to tackle that end of the year blah disengagement is to review skills your students didn’t quite get.

Great skills to review are those that they use in every subject – study skills and research skills.

See here to find out my favorite way to review study skills and here for a fast and easy way to review research skills.

90 End-Of-Year Journal Prompts for Reflection

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Table of Contents

90 end-of-year questions to help you reflect

Beware: the best end-of-year journal prompts ever !

As we near the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to look back and think about everything we’ve been through.

You know, sometimes it’s helpful to take a moment and reflect on our experiences. And guess what? Journaling can be a fantastic way to do just that!

In this blog post, I’ll share some cool end-of-year journal prompts. They’ll help you discover more about yourself, think about what you’ve achieved, and plan for the future.

These reflective journaling prompts are perfect, whether you’re already a pro at journaling or just starting out. They’ll inspire you to explore your inner thoughts and feelings.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

30 good end-of-year reflection questions for the present moment

• What are three things you’re grateful for right now ?
• How have you grown as a person this year?
• What challenges have you overcome, and what have you learned from them?
• What moments brought you the most joy, and why?
• In what ways have you taken care of yourself this year?
• What new skills or hobbies have you developed ?
• How have your relationships evolved and strengthened?
• What have been your biggest accomplishments this year?
• How have you contributed to your community or helped others?
• What values have become more important to you?
• How have you embraced change and adapted to new situations?
• What are some positive habits you’ve developed ?
• How have you found balance in your life?
• What lessons have you learned from your mistakes?
• What experiences have challenged your perspective and led to personal growth?

• How have you practiced self-compassion and self-care?
• What are some moments of laughter and fun you’ve experienced?
• What risks have you taken that have paid off?
• How have you managed stress and maintained your well-being?
• What memorable trips or adventures have you had?
• How have you pursued your passions and interests?
• What books, movies, or music have inspired you?
• How have you nurtured your creativity?
• What positive changes have you made in your daily routines?
• How have you practiced mindfulness and being present in the moment?
• What acts of kindness have you shown to others?
• How have you maintained a positive mindset during challenging times ?
• What are some important life lessons you’ve learned?
• How have you celebrated your achievements and milestones?
• What are you most proud of yourself for right now?

30 end-of-year reflection writing prompts to reflect on the past year

• Describe your favorite memories from the past year.
• What were the major milestones you reached?
• Reflect on the biggest challenges you faced and how you overcame these obstacles .
• How have your relationships evolved throughout the year?
• What was the most valuable lesson you learned ?
• How did you step outside of your comfort zone ?
• Describe a moment when you felt the most alive and inspired.
• Reflect on the goals you achieved and the progress you made.
• What unexpected opportunities came your way?
• How did you handle setbacks or disappointments?
• Describe a time when you demonstrated resilience and perseverance.
• How did you prioritize self-care and well-being ?
• What new skills or knowledge did you acquire?
• Reflect on the times when you felt proud of yourself.
• What habits or behaviors did you let go of ?

• Describe an act of kindness you showed others.
• How did you contribute to your community or make a positive impact?
• Reflect on the times when you practiced gratitude and appreciation.
• What experiences pushed you out of your comfort zone?
• How did you practice self-reflection and self-awareness?
• Describe a moment when you faced and conquered a fear.
• Reflect on the ways in which you nurtured your personal growth .
• How did you prioritize your mental and emotional well-being?
• What important relationships did you cultivate or strengthen?
• Describe a time when you found inspiration in unexpected places.
• Reflect on the times when you made a difference in someone’s life.
• How did you embrace new opportunities for learning and growth?
• What memorable trips or adventures did you embark on?
• Describe a time when you made a positive change in your lifestyle .
• Reflect on the ways in which you took care of yourself throughout the year.

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30 end-of-year journal prompts to plan for the new year

• What are your top three goals for the upcoming year ?
• How will you prioritize self-care and well-being in the new year?
• What new habits or routines do you want to establish ?
• Reflect on the areas of your life that need more balance and how you’ll achieve it.
• Describe the steps you’ll take to pursue your passions and interests.
• How will you foster and nurture meaningful relationships?
• What steps will you take to improve your personal and professional growth?
• Reflect on the ways in which you’ll practice gratitude and appreciation every day.
• Describe the self-improvement projects or skills you want to focus on .
• How will you make time for relaxation, hobbies, and fun activities?
• What steps will you take to simplify your life and reduce stress ?
• Reflect on the ways you’ll practice mindfulness and be present in the moment.
• Describe how you’ll prioritize giving back and making a positive impact .
• What steps will you take to cultivate a positive mindset and resilience ?
• How will you incorporate more creativity into your daily life?

• Reflect on the ways in which you’ll foster a supportive and nurturing environment.
• Describe the steps you’ll take to overcome any fears or limiting beliefs.
• What actions will you take to expand your knowledge and skills?
• How will you create and maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships?
• Reflect on the ways in which you’ll prioritize self-reflection and self-awareness.
• Describe the steps you’ll take to maintain your physical well-being.
• What steps will you take to manage your time effectively and set priorities?
• How will you incorporate more adventure and exploration into your life?
• Reflect on the ways in which you’ll practice resilience in the face of challenges.
• Describe the steps you’ll take to foster a positive work-life balance.
• What actions will you take to manifest your dreams and aspirations?
• How will you surround yourself with positivity and uplifting influences?
• Reflect on the ways in which you’ll embrace change and adaptability.
• Describe the steps you’ll take to improve your communication skills .
• What actions will you take to prioritize your personal happiness and fulfillment?

FAQ: Why is it important to journal for reflection at the end of the year?

Journaling at the end of the year is like giving yourself a precious gift.

It’s a chance to pause, take a deep breath, and look back on all the ups and downs, triumphs, and challenges you’ve faced throughout the year .

Now, why is it important to journal for reflection? Well, think of it as taking a snapshot of your journey.

By putting pen to paper, you create a tangible record of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It’s like capturing a moment in time—a piece of your personal growth story.

When you reflect on your year through journaling, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself .

You start to see patterns, uncover hidden insights, and recognize the lessons learned along the way.

It’s a bit like putting together the pieces of a puzzle—every entry in your journal adds a valuable piece that contributes to the bigger picture of who you are and who you want to become.

Besides, journaling allows you to celebrate your accomplishments, big and small . It’s easy to forget all the little victories and milestones we’ve achieved throughout the year.

But when you write them down, they become tangible reminders of your progress and growth. And trust me, celebrating those wins is a wonderful boost to your self-confidence and motivation.

Now, let’s not forget about the future! Journaling at the end of the year also sets the stage for exciting possibilities and goals in the upcoming year.

By reflecting on what worked and what didn’t, you can make wiser choices and set more meaningful intentions for the future .

It’s like laying a strong foundation for personal growth and success.

FAQ: The best tips for working with these end-of-year writing prompts

Find a cozy and quiet space.

Creating the right atmosphere is key. Find a comfy spot where you can relax and focus. Maybe light a vanilla cupcake-scented candle or play some soothing music to set the mood.

This helps create a calm and inviting environment for your journaling session.

Set aside dedicated time

Life can get pretty busy, right? That’s why it’s important to carve out dedicated time for your journaling practice.

It could be in the morning with a cup of coffee, during a peaceful afternoon break, or just before bedtime. Find what works best for you and make it a regular part of your routine.

Embrace authenticity and honesty

When you’re answering these end-of-year reflection journal prompts, don’t hold back! Be your authentic self and let your true thoughts and emotions flow onto the pages.

This is your personal space to express yourself without judgment. Honesty is where the magic happens.

Don’t worry about grammar or spelling

Remember, this is a personal growth journey, not an English class. So, don’t stress over grammar or spelling mistakes.

Just focus on getting your thoughts out there. Your journal is a safe space where grammar police don’t exist!

Get creative with your responses

These end-of-year journal prompts are meant to spark your imagination, so have fun with them! Feel free to doodle, draw, or add little decorations to your journal pages.

Make it a colorful and visual representation of your reflections. It’s your personal masterpiece, after all.

Reflect on your growth and accomplishments

As you go through each prompt, take the time to acknowledge your growth and celebrate your accomplishments.

Be proud of how far you’ve come, and give yourself credit for the progress you’ve made. This boosts your self-confidence and fuels your motivation for the future.

Stay open-minded and curious

Journaling is a journey of self-discovery . Approach each prompt with an open mind and a sense of curiosity.

Explore new perspectives, ask yourself thought-provoking questions, and be receptive to unexpected insights. You never know what valuable discoveries you might make!

Now go back to my list of prompts, and let’s get started with your end-of-year journal entries.

Will you try any of these end-of-year journal prompts?

I’m a personal growth and self-care expert, as well as an avid motorcycle enthusiast and coffee and sweets lover. Through Lauraconteuse, I provide insightful and practical advice on topics such as self-care, self-love, personal growth, and productivity, drawing from my very own extensive experience and knowledge in the field. My blog has helped countless people achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives, and my goal is to continue to inspire and empower others.

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1 thought on “90 End-Of-Year Journal Prompts for Reflection”

love all the journal prompts you shared! Its always important to be reflective and introspective.

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Engaging Secondary Writers with Music: Playlist of My Year

Secondary ELA teachers can engage students in meaningful, purposeful writing activities at the end of the school year without burying themselves in grading and their students in hours of work — it’s true. Ask students to reflect and write with “Playlist of My Year.” Music rarely ever goes wrong.

“What?!?!? Are you C-R-A-Z-Y? This is the worst class EVER!” Have you ever asked students to write an essay in May? If so, you might have heard something along these lines gush from their mouths. Even the most popular teachers in a school experience pushback from students when they are asked to do something that requires as much brainpower as writing an essay during the last month of attendance. Finals are in sight, and even better, summer is so close they can smell it.

The truth is, teachers don’t want to be bogged down with huge research papers in May, either. We want to be outside enjoying the fresh air and freedom just as much as our students. I always make it a point to collect the last research paper of the year in April so that I’m free of that burden by May. Still, students (and especially teenagers who will be attending college in the future) need to continue honing their writing skills through the end of the year, which begs the question: How can teachers encourage meaningful end-of-the-year writing assignments without overloading both themselves and their students?

A quick browse on Google, Teachers Pay Teachers, or Pinterest will result in hundreds, if not thousands of options for engaging students in meaningful writing assignments that are short, purposeful, and worthwhile. In this post, I’m writing about my personal favorite — Playlist of My Year . I truly believe in the power of music. It can transform a boring lesson to a much more powerful one. It can wow evaluators and create for learning activities that students will remember for years. However, music needs to be aligned with best practices in order to be more than just “fluff.”

THE LESSON PLAN

In order to engage students in this lesson, begin with an anticipatory set. Play a song as students enter the room (a popular one or one students would be able to remember some of the lyrics to afterward usually works best – “Bad Blood,” “Roar,” “Firework,” “Happy,” “Shake it Off,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” are just a few examples). Afterward, hold a brief discussion with students during which you ask them questions like these:

• What are some possible themes / topics for this song?
• Tell me about some examples from your life or events from this school year would relate to this song.
• Do other songs that have similar themes? Name a few.

It helps to have answers in mind before class begins just in case the discussion stalls and you need to help students with their brainstorming. Generally, however, they have no shortage of input or opinion as it relates to music.

The Activity

With Playlist of My Year, encourage students to think about their school year and make a list (which they should not be required to share) of the highlights and lowlights that stand out to them. This activity is reflective, which makes it perfect for the end of the year.

Once students have developed a list of at least eight memorable events, relationships, triumphs, challenges, and places, ask them to identify a song that relates to each item. If you have one-to-one capabilities or can get a computer lab, this portion works well as an in-class activity. If not, asking students to research songs might be more effective as a homework assignment.

In order to work on writing skills students have learned throughout the year, ask them to explain how the song they have chosen relates to the item on their brainstorming list. In doing so, you can require them to demonstrate mastery of a writing skill.

For example, in one response, they might need to use a semicolon correctly. In the next, they are asked to use an Oxford comma in a parallel list. Students’ responses in this portion of the assignment are generally only a few sentences long, and a rubric makes grading their answers quick.

Developing Ideas…

If you teach high school, asking students to write only a few sentences at a time really isn’t a sufficient indicator of their ability to construct well-developed ideas. So, if you need a longer writing activity, here’s how you can step it up a notch. By this point, students have created a playlist.

Now, you can ask them to identify a common theme across the songs on their list. This part of the assignment challenges them, and sometimes they end up switching a couple songs so that they all share a clear theme. Once a theme is established, students then write an expository response wherein they tie together ideas thematically, using complete sentences and supporting details. If you wish, you can limit their extended answers to a well-developed paragraph to save time for all parties involved.

Differentiation Options

I’ve taught various levels of seventh grade through twelfth grade, so every time I make an assignment, my brain automatically begins brainstorming ways to differentiate it for struggling readers or writers.

Part of the difficulty of the Playlist of My Year assignment for at-risk students would be all of the higher-order thinking involved. By design, everything from the initial brainstorming list to the song choices to the theme identification comes from their own head.

In order to scaffold this process, reduce the number of decisions they would need to make, and promote success, a few differentiation options wouldn’t hurt.

1. The initial list

Help students brainstorm…

• possible events (like homecoming, a school fundraiser, a family vacation, or shooting their first deer)
• relationships (such as new friendships they have developed or family members they’ve connected with)
• challenges (like fitting in, finding success, injuries, quarantines)
• successes (for instance, improving grades, passing a big test, developing an appreciation for a subject, making an athletic team, participating in an extracurricular activity)
• and personal struggles or victories (such as arguments with parents, getting a driver’s license, dating their first significant other).

2. The song choice

Provide students with a short list of websites that list popular songs, or hold a class brainstorming session where you first have students list songs they  like , and then go back and help them identify what those songs are about (which would, in turn, help students match songs with items on their list).

3. The writing skills

Make sure the writing expectations you are asking students to demonstrate are truly skills that are appropriate for their developmental readiness. For instance, I would not hesitate to ask my enriched freshmen to write a paragraph using one of each of the four sentence constructions. By contrast, my at-risk students would need a different task, like writing a few sentences that are not stringy or choppy or avoiding fragments and run-ons.

4. The extended response

To scaffold the extended response, some students need multiple examples. Instead of just  showing my struggling writers an example of the type of response I’m asking them to create, I also model writing one (and include their input) during class while they listen to my think-alouds and answer my questions. Additionally, providing students with a list of topic words is beneficial. Don’t have one? You can find my one-word literary topic list here .

The Wrap Up

I always like to do something other than just collect papers when my students pour their hearts out into an assignment like this. On the other hand, I hate the idea of making anyone feel uncomfortable by requiring them to share personal details. It’s important to respect students’ emotional connections.

Sharing Out

In order to provide a safe place for students to share their thoughts, invite them to begin by sharing with a partner. Most students have at least one other person in the class who they would call a friend (although I have run into the issue where a student doesn’t want to pair up…that’s fine. I don’t make them).

After talking over their playlist and theme with a partner, share your own examples. It’s important for teachers to model being in that place of vulnerability if we are going to ask students to do the same. Then, call for volunteers to share with the group. (I have found it helps to increase involvement when I offer to play part of their favorite song on the playlist for the class.) Many students participate, even if they only choose to talk about one aspect of their assignment.

Trading ideas and opening up about our self-reflections is a meaningful activity for the end of the year. The Playlist of My Year assignment combines elements of writing mastery, growth mindset, making connections, theme analysis, critical thinking, and feel-good music.

At the very end of the school year, students need to understand that teachers want to see solid writing, but it doesn’t have to be in the context of an entire essay. When we take time to emphasize the importance and weight that a few sentences carry, it helps students understand that every word they write matters.

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Looking for other high-interest writing activities for the end of the school year? Try these:

One Pagers: A Creative Response to Reading

Ways to end the school year well, meaningful end of year ela activities, related resource:.

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