Calm The Chaos with These End of the Year Survival Tips for Teachers

This week, I began to notice the “end of school year” behaviours starting to emerge in my classroom. I wanted to shout, “IT’S ONLY MAY!!!” — but didn’t. Instead, I focused my energy on long-term unit planning to keep my 8th graders on track for two more months. Ontario public schools finish the last week of June. 

Calm The Chaos with These End of the Year Survival Tips for Teachers

To help all of us calm the chaos that might become of our classrooms over the next two months, here are my best tips survival tips for teachers for the end of the year.

Read a book that ties into a movie, then watch the movie and compare using the Book Versus Movie Comparison Analysis Project.

With this resource, students will select a book that has been made into a movie. Students will read the book and then watch the movie. Or, you can take a book you read during the school year and watch the movie adaptation.

Next, students will complete a series of assignments to demonstrate their understanding of both the book and the movie. Students will compare and contrast the novel and movie’s plot, characters, setting, and theme. Each section of the assignment includes a due date option to ensure that the assignment is presented in “sections” to students and to space out your marking load.

You can find the Book Vs. Movie Comparison Analysis Project on Shopify CAD and Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

#2: Eat a Snack! 

Have a cold treat party, if your school allows. Pair it with one of the ideas from this blog post: 21 Fun Non-Academic Middle School End of the Year Activities.

#3: Take the Class Outside

One of my favourite school activities as a child was when we had an outdoor read-aloud. Fresh air is important for everyone and what’s better than sitting on the grass, listening to a story? 

You can also take the lessons outside. Find ways to bring the curriculum concepts of science, math, geography, etc. to life in the real world outside the classroom. If the weather just won’t cooperate, bring the outdoors in with a Spring Digital Escape Room!

#4: Have a Treasure Hunt

Take your class on a modern-day treasure hunt using the Geocaching website. You can also learn more about this popular activity in this blog post: How To Use Geocaching With Students To Enrich Their Learning. 

If your students love the idea of treasure, you can also incorporate this Mystery of Oak Island Non-Fiction Article into your lessons. In this article, students will learn about the mystery behind Oak Island and the treasure that could be buried on the small island. You can find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

#5: Bust Out the Acting!

If your class has a favourite book that was read aloud during the year, why not have students act out scenes from it? If you want even more ideas for incorporating drama into your lessons, check out this blog post: Creative Ideas For Teaching Drama Lessons. 

If your students would rather not act, why not try a student-created animated podcast episode of your favourite class read-aloud? Students can create a podcast episode in the style of a full-cast audiobook (think Orson Welles’s radio drama adaptation of War of the Worlds) using the Podcast Creation Assignment.

This engaging assignment contains three dynamic lessons, carefully crafted to inspire creativity and critical thinking. With this resource students will learn how to create their own podcast. You can find the Podcast Creation Assignment on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

#6: Spread Kindness

Create a class signature page for each student, where everyone writes something nice about that student. This is a great way to spread kindness in the classroom.

You could also have students write thank you cards to school staff. These can be to staff who have helped or inspired them throughout the year, or the “behind the scenes” staff that keep the school in order, like the custodial staff. Learn more about this here: Teach Gratitude with Thank You Note Writing.

If you want even more ideas for spreading kindness in the classroom, school, and beyond, you can get a FREE Share Kindness Challenge resource just by signing up to the 2 Peas and a Dog email list.

#7: Top Ten Lists

Put students in groups of two or three and have them create a top ten list of things they loved about this year. They can also do this individually. Then, compile the most popular ideas onto class anchor chart paper for display. 

You could also have students write their own 6 Word Memoirs. What are the 6 words that sum up the school year? This free activity can be yours when you sign up for the 2 Peas and a Dog email list. Click the image below to get your copy!

#8: Letters for the Future 

Write a whole class letter to a future class and seal it in a time capsule with objects that represent the year. Open it in September with your new class.

Items included in the time capsule could include: 

• The class playlist
• Tickets from a class field trip
• A list of favourite apps used during the year
• QR codes for websites that were meaningful to the class
• Magazine covers or important news articles the class researched or engaged with
• Personal reflections from each student
• A class photo
• A fun assignment or project
• Memorabilia from a school event
• Drawings, doodles, or artwork created during the year
• Poems or stories that reflect the student experience

You could also try a collaborative writing project to include in your time capsule using Interactive Writing Prompts. With this resource, students use the 9 different story prompts to get thinking creatively about what might happen in each scenario.

Students must move around the classroom to answer each other’s story writing prompts. You can find the Interactive Writing Prompts on Shopify CAD and Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

#9 Have Students Self-Assess or Give the Teacher a Report Card

As the year comes to an end, give students the opportunity to self-assess their learning skills. This can be done using index cards, entrance or exit tickets, and feedback frames. To learn more, check out this post: 6 Quick Assessment Strategies.

This is also a great time for students to give the teacher a report card. This is done anonymously and is a fantastic way to teach students how to give constructive criticism and learn how to review not only their work, but their peers’ work as well. You can learn more here: Report Cards for The Teacher.

#10: Have Lots of Hands-On Activities

Incorporate lots of hands-on activities in Science, Math, and Language Arts. This can be a nice time to bring in activities that are engaging and exciting for students, such as forensic science.

 You can start with the Crime Scene Investigations Non-Fiction Article which teaches students about different science techniques used by crime scene investigators. It includes a non-fiction article in modified and regular versions, as well as post-reading activities. 

Next, you can follow it up with a Forensic Science Digital Escape Room where students can dive even further into learning about forensic science.

You can find the Crime Scene Investigations Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD and the Forensic Science Digital Escape Room on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

You can also find more ideas on forensics studies on this website: Science Classroom Teacher Resources.

End of the Year Mega Bundle

This End of the Year bundle contains 10 captivating activities for the end of the year specifically designed for middle school students. It’s the perfect mix of educational lessons and entertaining adventures, ensuring your students remain interested in learning until the very last day of school.

The activities for the end of the year include:

1. Are Public Pools Safe? Non-Fiction Article
2. Amusement Parks Non-Fiction Article
3. End of the Year Digital Escape Room
4. Summer Creative Writing Assignment
5. Letter Writing (Advice to Future Student, Dear Future Teacher)
6. School Year Reflections Memory Book (4 pages)
7. Read It Book Recommendations
8. Six-Word Memoirs
9. Thank You Card Writing
10. Chewing Gum Sales Decline Podcast Lesson

You can find the End of the Year Mega Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

More Middle School Activities for the End of the Year

• 3 Highly Engaging Digital End of the Year Activities
• Creative End of the Year Middle School Activities
• Engaging & Fun Middle School End of the Year Lessons
• 21 Fun Non-Academic Middle School End of the Year Activities
• 15 Exciting End of The Year Activities for Middle School Students to Enjoy