The end of the school year is near and I know these end of the year activities for secondary classrooms are going to come in clutch for you! To me, it’s important to wrap up the year on a positive note since it’ll be our last time together. The final weeks of class can be challenging, but with the right end of the year activities for secondary classrooms, everyone can enjoy a fun and engaging end to the academic year. I am excited to share these 13 creative and exciting ideas to help you and your students end the school year on a high note.
The activities I’m sharing are perfect for any secondary classroom y los puedes facilmente hacerlos en español. They can also be used in any content area. I had in mind secondary students when coming up with this list and didn’t want anything to “baby-ish” for them.
PS- Don’t forget to think about YOUR end-of-the-year time! I loved these tips from Annotated ELA about creating systems to successfully close out the year!
Start of the School Year?
Before I start sharing end of the year activities, I wanted to share a freebie I like to use at the START of the school year! I know at the end of the year I start thinking of all the things I’d like to change the following year. 😅 Check out this family homework letter freebie! It will save you time next school year because all you need to do is change your name and date. Easy peasy. It’s a great way to start off that communication with families. It’s even in English and Spanish for ya! For two other ways to start communicating with families, check out my blog post here. The focus is EL students, but all students would benefit.
Okay okay…let’s get started with these end of the year activities!!
Classroom Awards Ceremony
One way to celebrate the end of a successful school year is by recognizing students’ achievements through a classroom awards ceremony. This is a great opportunity to acknowledge each student’s unique strengths and contributions to the class. Plus, it’s a chance to have some fun and laugh together as a class. Let’s take a look at some ideas for hosting a memorable classroom awards ceremony.,
Hosting a Classroom Awards Ceremony is a great way to end the school year on a high note. There’s no better way to recognize the unique talents and contributions of each student in the class. From “Most Improved” to “Class Clown”, there are so many different award categories to choose from. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to let their hair down and have some fun.
My favorite way to do this is to have students guess who won the award by playing a Kahoot. Here is a link to the one I used. I’ve added awards and pictures, all you have to do is change the names. 🙂 I make one for each period and the students LOVE it!
Escape Room
After the awards ceremony, it’s time for a fun and challenging activity to keep the excitement going until the very end of the school year. An escape room is a perfect choice, as it requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. You can set up a scenario in which students have to solve puzzles and clues to escape your classroom.
An example of a social studies class would be one of a global geography expedition. Students have to solve puzzles related to world geography. They could identify countries, capitals, landmarks, or cultural facts to unlock clues and escape from different regions of the world.
These escape rooms can also be done digitally. This blog post from Edutopia goes more into depth.
To make it even more engaging, you can create a theme that ties in with busting out of school for summer break. Relate your escape room to your content or try one of these ideas:
- Free things to do in your town during summer
- What is your teacher doing this summer?
- Career Exploration
- Sports Trivia
Collaborative Puzzle Project
Let’s continue with the idea of collaboration. Collaboration is such a great skill to teach students and so helpful for language development! Students can continue their collaborative mindset with a puzzle project. This project allows students to work together to create a mosaic of artwork that represents their collective experiences throughout the year. Each student can contribute a puzzle piece that represents something they learned or enjoyed during their time in the classroom. The completed puzzle will serve as a lasting reminder of the class’s achievements and provide closure for the school year. You can download a free puzzle piece template here.
This puzzle project has students put three pieces together at a time and you can have students explain why the three of them chose they belong together. There is also a reflection sheet tied to the assignment to help students solidify their decision.
Time Capsule Letters
This end of year activity for your secondary class provides a platform for students to share their thoughts and emotions with their future selves while reflecting on their personal growth throughout the year. If you are in the position to be able to return these letters at the end of next school year or the start of the year, I highly recommend doing this one.
Students can write a letter to their future selves, addressing their goals, fears, or aspirations. They can also include significant events, challenges, or accomplishments that occurred during the school year. Encourage them to be open and honest in their letters, as they will be for their eyes only until the time capsule is opened.
Once the letters are complete, you can have a discussion as a class about what they hope to achieve in the future and the steps they can take to reach their goals. The Time Capsule Letters activity is an excellent way to wrap up the year and set the tone for the future.
Advice to New Student Letter
Students may be ready to take part of their time capsule letter to the next level and write advice for next year’s students. These letters will allow them to reflect on their own growth and experience, as well as provide valuable insights and tips to those who will soon be in their shoes. They could even address the letters to specific students they know! This activity provides closure for the school year while also encouraging students to think critically about their experiences to pass their knowledge on to others.
Game Board Day
Game Board Day is a fun and interactive way for students to end the school year on a high note. In this activity, students will work in teams to create a board game based on the content they learned throughout the year. The game can include questions, challenges, and even mini-activities to keep the players engaged.
To start, divide the class into small groups and assign each group a topic or unit they covered during the school year. Provide them with materials such as posters, markers, and game pieces to help them create their game board. Encourage them to be creative and think outside the box.
Once the game boards are complete, each group will have the opportunity to present and play their game with the class. This activity not only reinforces the content learned throughout the year but also allows the students to showcase their creativity and presentation skills.
Here is a link to a free game board template you can have students use!
Class Wide Tournament
The end of the school year is the perfect time to bring some fun and excitement into the classroom. A Class Wide Tournament is an excellent way to engage students in friendly competition and build a sense of community within the class. You can organize a tournament with various games and challenges based on answering content questions. You could do activities such as a spelling bee, mathletics, or even a scavenger hunt. Encourage students to participate and cheer on their classmates. Running this across all your periods will also add another level of engagement. You could do the final rounds during lunch or common break time!
This tournament can be set up in bracket style. Use this link to make a copy of your own for Google Sheets.
Trivia Day
After the Class Wide Tournament, you can continue the fun with a trivia day. Trivia day is a great way to review important concepts and information learned throughout the school year. Split the class into teams and have them compete against each other to see who knows the most about the topics covered in class. This activity not only promotes learning but also allows students to bond and work together as a team.
This blog post I have goes over some fun review games that would fit in perfectly with Trivia Day! They are also low prep which is perfect for us tired teachers at the end of the year!
Teacher for the Day
Another end of year activity for your secondary class is to let students be “Teacher for the Day.” A student’s dream, right? 😜 This activity allows students to take charge of their classroom and plan a lesson or activity for their classmates. It’s a great opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and leadership skills, as well as learn the important skills of teaching.
Here is how you can set this up:
1. Students choose a unit from the year or you give them a few learning goals to learn from
2. Choose an activity – reading, notes, video, etc.?
3. Practice the content/skills – worksheet, Blooket, task cards, writing?
4. Make a quick quiz
You could have the class vote on the most interesting one, you could choose one, or just go through the lessons by yourself.
Looking for more day themes? Check out these 5 Creative EOY Theme Days! It’s full of links to easily implement the days. 🤗
Task Cards with EOY Questions
End of the Year task cards can cover a range of topics and subjects. You can create some to fit the specific needs of your classroom or use these task cards with reflection questions. Students can work individually or in groups to answer the questions, and it can serve as a fun and interactive way to review the year’s material or experiences.
Add a twist to the task cards by playing a game with them! I’ve got a blog post with ready-to-go task card games for any classroom that are great for all content areas and grade levels. Use these any time of year!
Paper Slides Project
One great option is the Paper Slides Project, which provides a fun and interactive way for students to review and present their knowledge using only paper and a smartphone or tablet. This project not only allows for creativity and technology skills to be showcased but also leaves students feeling accomplished and proud of their hard work.
Check out these slides from a WWII unit.
Teacher Appreciation Letters
After completing the various end-of-year activities, it’s important for students to take a moment to appreciate us!! Writing Teacher Appreciation Letters is a great way to show gratitude for the time and effort of teachers. These notes can be simple or elaborate. By taking the time to reflect and appreciate, students can end the school year on a high note and set the tone for positive relationships with their teachers in the future.
End of Year One-Pager Activity
As the school year draws to a close, it can be difficult to summarize everything that students have learned and accomplished over the past several months. That’s where the EOY One-Pager comes in. This activity encourages students to visually showcase their knowledge and skills by creating a single page that summarizes everything they’ve learned. This can include key concepts, important dates, and memorable moments from the school year, all presented in a creative and eye-catching way. Not only is this a different way to reflect on the school year, but it also provides a tangible representation of students’ accomplishments that they can take with them into the future.
Create a Vacation Bucket List
As the school year comes to an end, it’s natural for students to start daydreaming about their summer vacation plans. Why not give them a fun and creative way to document those plans? Creating a Vacation Bucket List is a great activity that encourages students to think about their summer goals and aspirations.
To start, have students brainstorm a list of activities they’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time or opportunity to try. This can be anything from trying a new restaurant in town to learning how to surf. Once they have a list of ideas, encourage them to research and plan out the logistics of each activity. This can include things like figuring out transportation, calculating costs, and finding a friend or family member to join them.
Once their plans are solidified, have students create a visual representation of their Vacation Bucket List. This can be a poster, a collage, or even a digital presentation. Encourage them to include pictures, maps, and other visuals to make their presentation more engaging.
Creating a Vacation Bucket List not only helps students get excited about their summer plans, but it also teaches them valuable planning and organizational skills. Plus, it gives them something fun to look forward to during those last few weeks of school! So encourage your students to dream big and make the most of their summer break.
Recap of EOY Activities
In the end, the final days of the school year don’t have to be super agonizing. By using one or more of these 13 end-of-the-year activities for secondary classrooms, you and your students can make the most of the year’s closing weeks! Collaborative art projects, teacher for the day, and trivia day are just a few of the fun alternatives. Get imaginative, try something new, have fun, and make some unforgettable memories. I hope these end of the year activities make it into your secondary classrooms!
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