3 Activities to do on the last day

Here are 3 easy activities I like to do on the last day of school.

Words of affirmation.
Supplies necessary:  1 colored pen per child (a regular pencil would do too), 1 piece of paper per child.
Time needed: 60 minutes to 90 minutes
Grades: 2nd and higher
Steps - Explain that we are going to write words of affirmation for our classmates. Model the difference between specific praise with details and general statements that could apply to anyone. Explain that students will have 3 minutes to write something nice for each person. If they finish before the three minutes are over, they can add doodles and drawings to the edges of the paper. Make sure to model this is what a good size doodle looks like. This doodle is too large and won't leave space for everyone.
For some groups you might need to add this step: Explain that if you have nothing to say that is nice, don't write anything. Only nice things should be written.

Word Cloud Memory of Year
Supplies needed: Whiteboard and marker
Time needed: 15 - 20 min.
Grades: All
Steps: Explain you are going to make a wordcloud of the year on the board. Have students list out all of the things they will remember about the year. Prompt them that they might want to think about field trips, silly things that happened, favorite math game, best read out loud books etc.
Extension: Kids could write about one of the highlights to share with you or take home or for next year's students.

Surprise Recess
Supplies needed: Bubbles if you want
Time needed: Your choice
Grades: All
Steps: Make this a surprise. So put something that you think the kids won't love on the board. Say, we are about to begin ____. You are going to need ____, ____ and ____. Just kidding! I have a tiny fun change in schedule for you. You have been such a great class. Give lots of detailed description of some of the amazing things they have done. I would like to give us a bonus recess to celebrate all you have learned etc.

I find that all ages love to have some bubbles to blow to make the recess extra special. It just adds a little joy to a last recess.


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