The last day of school is exciting enough by itself: cleaning your desk or locker, saying goodbye to friends, and knowing that in the next few months, you can play (or sleep!) Whatever you want. But there are many ways to make it more special. These fun activities for the last day of school will send your students back to summer with great memories of the school year!
1. Take a meaningful walk
Teacher Courtney G. Shared: “Our high school kids walk in their primary school halls wearing their caps and gowns and the day before graduation. They go from kindergarten to fifth grade when students stand in the halls and clap. Fifth graders also do this on the last day of school before leaving primary school. This is my sixth year of teaching kindergarten at my school, so my first kindergarteners are now fifth graders. I’m probably going to cry!
Source: Shelby County Reporter
2. Play year-end classmate bingo
This is the last chance for students to learn something new about their classmates! Get free printable links, or design your own to better fit your class.
Learn more: Plato to Pledo
3. List what you learned from A to Z.
What a wonderful way to screw people over. For each letter of the alphabet, ask them to write and illustrate something they have learned or done throughout the year. Click on the link below to get a free printable template for this project.
Learn more: Teaching with Jennifer Findley
4. Go to the beach
Or rather, bring the beach to you! It takes some planning and preparation, but the kids are going to like it seriously. Get all the tips you need at the link.
Learn more: Journey in seconds
5. Roll and chat
Here’s another one of those quick and easy activities for the last day of school. Grab the free printable at the link, pass some dice and let the kids chat about past year and future goals.
Learn more: @teachermompower
6. Plate pass
Take a packet of paper plates and give some colored markers. Ask each student to write their name in the middle of the plate. Then start passing! Each student writes a compliment to describe their classmate, then gives it to the next child. Each one ends with a sweet kipsake for the school year!
Source: Robin Bobo / Pinterest
7. Sign a T-shirt
You can customize t-shirts for kids to sign, or ask each student to bring a simple t-shirt from home. Then, provide fabric markers and let the kids write messages and sign their names. (Send home instructions on how to set the marker if necessary.)
Source: lvsweatshop
8. Make ice cream
Ice cream parties are popular for last day school activities, but here’s a secret way to add some fun stem learning! Ask the kids to make their own ice cream in a bag, then add some toppings and spread on the grass to enjoy.
Learn more: Growing an ornamental rose
9. Try a STEM Challenge
STEM Challenges make for terribly meaningful and fun activities for the last day of school. Try making a roller coaster out of drinking straw, or check out many other STEM challenges here.
Source: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
10. Give the pop-up toast
There is an opportunity to practice speaking to the public in a low-key way. Buy some ginger ale and plastic champagne glasses to turn the class into a party. Then compose for the kids and give their friends, teachers, school year or whatever you choose a little toast.
Learn more: Dave Stewart Jr.
11. A Lemonade Testing Host
All sorts of delicious lessons have worked in this completely sweet concept! Kids taste pink and regular lemonade, then make graphs, write descriptions, learn word by word and much more.
Learn more: Initially speaking
12. Compete in a paper airplane competition
You know they want to stay out, so take advantage of that and hold on to the final paper air race. The kids compete in multiple categories like distance and accuracy to find the overall winner.
Learn more: Thinker Builder
13. Serve a scoop of memories
What a sweet way to celebrate the end of the school year! Make paper ice cream sandwiches with a separate memory in each scoop. You can draw these for the kids themselves or buy a printable version at the link below
Learn more: Real Life: I am a teacher
14. Set up a photo booth
Photo booths are popular for the first day of school, but they are also great for the last day. Help kids capture memories with their friends before taking part in the summer.
Learn more: Build motivation
15. Wear the school crown one last day
The little ones would love to paint and cut their own last day school crown. See the link to buy printable, or design your own.
Learn more: teachstarter_us
16. Make a summer bucket list
Provide kids with lots of options, then compile their own bucket list for the summer days ahead of them. In addition to fun items, encourage others to add ways to help or learn new things.
Learn more: Reasons to skip homework
17. Put the year in a bag
It’s such a cool idea. In the days leading up to the last day, ask the kids to think a little about what this past school year symbolizes and put them in a labeled paper bag. On the final day, they will give the other students a small token of that symbol and explain their thoughts. (They don’t need to buy anything; instead they can write or draw their symbols.)
Learn more: Tarahil State Teacher
18. Make a poster for each student
It’s like a “plate pass” activity, but each kid will hang a large poster on the wall in their bedroom to take home.
Learn more: weetsweetnsauerfirsties
19. Win an escape house
Kids love the escape room, so they’re a great activity for the last day of school! What you have learned over the years, information about different classmates or the theme of summer activities is yours. Learn how to set up a classroom escape room here.
20. Dance up a storm
Hold an epic dance party on the last day of school! Consider submitting a song selection for each class playlist. Even when it comes down to it, they can choreograph their own special dance moves! We’ve got great year-end playlist ideas for you here.
21. Complete year-end roundup
Sometimes you just need a quick activity that doesn’t take much preparation, and that’s where this free printable comes in. Personalize each student by taking a picture and printing it, or ask them to draw their own portrait in the space provided.
Learn more: Squarehead teachers