Finish the Year Strong with these Creative Activities

If you’re looking for creative ways to finish out the school year, look to well established websites like Scholastic and Edutopia. They have myriad ideas for how to keep your studentsengaged and excited about being at school. One Edutopia Editor explains the trick to keeping your class on track is to make them “feel as if they aren’tdoing work.” Read on for our favorite end-of-year projects that will make learning seem like a breeze!

A Student Portfolio Showcase – Have your students compile their best work from their time in school and ask them to include a brief description. Students can prepare their portfoliousing any method they wish. This is a great way to get them to use their organization, preparation, and presentation skills.

A New Ending to an Old Classic – Divide your students into groups and have them choose a favorite book, play, or movie and craft a new ending. They can decide how they want to present thisto the rest of the class, whether it’s acted out, read aloud, or filmed.

A Letter to the New You –This is a project that focuses on reflection. Your students will write a friendly letter to a new student who will be in their class (or sit in their seat)next year. They should mention a few of their favorite events from the school year and include photos. They can also offer advice to the new student,letting them know what they can expect and offering encouragement.

Interview with the Teacher – The end of the year is a perfect opportunity for your students to ask you questions and get to know you a little better. Have them choose 3-4 questions toask about the past school year, topics can range from homework to classroom policies. You can even reverse the roles, and interview your students! Gaininsight into your student’s thoughts and prepare yourself for your next round of inquiring minds.

Passion Project –Ask your students to come up with one area of learning that matters to them. Whether it’s digital animation or 3-D printing, have your students researchand create a meaningful presentation. Use school resources or utilize technology but try to think outside of the typical “PowerPoint” method.

All of the ideas above are available to you through various online resources, including our Pinterest boards. Try one out, or try them all! Sneaking in some educational “fun” is always a greatidea for any age group, and benefits students and teachers alike.