Asking yourself, ‘what month do schools end?” It’s that time of the year and I’m right there with you! The end of the school year is coming up and I’m over here trying to keep my students engaged, and let’s be real- entertained, until that last day of school! Look no further, I’ve rounded up a bunch of end of year activities for middle school students.
Quotes, end of school year addition
I love using quotes in my classroom and these ones are perfect for the end of the school year.
End of school year teacher gift
There are so many end-of-school-year teacher gift ideas floating around Pinterest. Below are my favorites to give and to receive.
- Plants: I’m such a plant lady that this is my favorite gift! A succulent that can sit in my classroom until summer or a flowering plant in a cute planter is perfect!
- Pens/Notecards: A parent one year brought me a cute set of notecards and flair pens which was so thoughtful. The notecards were perfect to write thank you notes to students whenever I received a gift. And who doesn’t love a good set of pens?
- Gift cards: When in doubt, a gift card is never wrong. Target or Amazon are awesome to stock up on stuff for next school year. I love Starbucks but other options are Panera or a local bakery for sweet treats.
End of year activities for middle school
Looking for middle school-specific activities? These options are perfect for 6th-8th graders and will keep them engaged and entertained no matter how many days of school you have left!
Stem Challenges: I love incorporating stem challenges into my math and science classroom! The end of the year is the perfect time to try out a new one or try a multi-day challenge.
Play Math Games: Quick and engaging math games is an easy way to fill an afternoon. I let my students choose their partners and play a round of Math Tic Tac Toe or Double Dice. They are still learning but it’s also a chill time to hang out with friends. Learn how to make your own math games that are fun in this blog post or grab a set of print & go math games here.
Letter to Next Year: This is such a classic but writing a letter to next year’s students is a fun activity for now and later. I collect the letters at the end of the year and then start off the next school year by reading a letter a day to my classes. This is a fun way for students to give advice to next year’s group while also using a day at the end of the school year!
Make a Bucket List: I have students make a bucket list for summer but rather than having it just be a list of vacations I have them make it funny. Ideas like memorizing a tongue twister, reading 2 books that start with the letter B, making an art project, or learning a new skill in their favorite sport. This is a fun (and fast!) idea to fill a shorter class period or an extra homeroom time. Kids try to get super creative and outdo each other on their bucket lists.
End of year activities for 5th graders
Even though I teach 6th grade, these ideas are so perfect, especially if 6th grade is in elementary where you live. The transition from elementary to middle school can be such an exciting time to really lean into that excitement!
Awards Ceremony: Your school might already have something like this setup but create a space for students to ‘graduate’ to the next school. The end of elementary school is a transition to make it a big deal! Walking across a stage, or inviting parents to come and watch a performance is a great way to celebrate the top of the school students!
Field trip to next year: The 5th graders are the experts of 5th grade so invite the 4th graders to interview the 5th graders. 4th graders can brainstorm questions they want to ask and 5th graders feel like the expert. This would also be awesome if there is a way for 5th graders to see the middle school and interview current 6th graders.
End of year team building activities
Get some last-minute team building into your school year. These tips are perfect for teams within your class but even better if you can go against other homeroom classes! Nothing like a little end-of-the-school-year competition to brighten everyone’s day.
Scavenger Hunt: I usually think about a scavenger hunt to get students acquainted with the school but this could be a fun option to have students make the scavenger hunt for next year’s students.
Escape Rooms: There are so many of these on Teachers Pay Teachers but you could also have teachers put together a massive one about all of the content learned in all of the subjects.
Untangle a Human Knot: Such a classic but you can see how last you can do it. Maybe make it a competition against other classes to see which class can untangle the fastest.
Obstacle Course: Throw it back to the elementary field days and set up an obstacle course for students to complete. Another fun, outside option to enjoy a gorgeous day.
Field Day: Honestly, any grade in middle school would love this one! Set up obstacle courses, grab some dodge balls, and organize a kickball tournament. The options are endless and can be as involved as you want to get.
Countdown to end of year activities
Depending on how many days (and students!) you have, this is a cute idea to not only countdown to the last day of school but to also celebrate each student in your class. I think homeroom would be a great time to celebrate students and keep your count down going!
As opposed to counting down to the last day of school, you could also count up to the next grade. Same idea but makes the transition to next year more positive than summer. Summer break can be a rough time for kids so make sure to be sensitive to both sides of the spectrum. You know your students best!
Balloon Pop: hang up balloons for each day left of school. Put student names or fun whole-class activities inside the balloon so when you pop it there’s something to celebrate! This makes for a cute display but also a fun way to visually see the countdown!
ABC’s: All you need are 26 days for this one! Each day have students write a piece of advice for next year’s students starting with that letter of the alphabet. This is a great Bellwork/ Do Now option at the end of the year!
Paper Chain: Similar to the balloon pop idea but make it a paper chain!
Looking for other end of year activities for middle school?
Check out these other blog posts for tons more ideas to keep students excited and engaged those last few days of school.
End of School Year Countdown Ideas
Special End of the Year Countdown Ideas for School
End of the Year Activities for Upper Elementary
Free End of the Year Activities for 4th and 5th Grade
7 Low Prep End of Year Activities
30 of the Best End of School Year Quotes
5 End of Year Activities for Upper Elementary or Middle School
Do you have any fun and low prep ideas for the end of the school year? Drop your ideas in the comments below!
[…] 5th grade. If you are looking for more end of the school year activities then be sure to check out this blog post where I round up 10 different activities for upper elementary and middle […]