Wrapping up the end of the school year is CRAZY! Before long, your days will be consumed by Field Day, the ever-popular Talent Show, Awards Assemblies, and don’t forget Open House! The culminating activities can quickly take you off course. To keep you and your students on your educational path, I have listed my top five End of the Year Writing Activities to share with you.

end-of-year-writing-activities-1

#1 Writing Outdoors Activity

Take advantage of the beautiful blue sky, the lush green grass, and move your writing instruction outside for the perfect end of the year activity. A sturdy notebook, a sharpened pencil, and a creative mind are all that’s required. This end of the year activity provides students with the room and space needed to connect with nature while applying complex skills.

I usually stick to my curriculum-based writing plans, but I do find myself using the fresh air and open space as a time to reflect in our journals as well.

#2 Writing a Letter to the Next Year’s Class

end-of-year-writing-activities-3

End of the year writing project #2 is a favorite for students. The assignment is to write a letter to the next year’s class. The students are eager to work because, let’s face it, students love to be the “expert.” It is their opportunity to communicate true feelings, share insights, and freely give opinions about their teacher and the grade. This opportunity is something the students don’t get too often. So they quickly and eagerly dive into the project.

For this end of the year writing activity, I do not require the message to be handwritten. I discuss with the class the many options available when writing a letter to someone. By the end of the project, I receive a variety of presentations. The submissions range from the typical letter on stationery, emails, Tweets, video. My most original and unique project was a message in a bottle.

If you would rather keep it simple, I have included a FREE letter-writing paper printable for you here!

end-of-year-writing-activities
End of the Year Writing Activities Paper

If you are interested in a more traditional experience for letter writing, check out my favorite colored paper and envelopes located on Amazon.

end-of-year-writing-activities4

#3 Creating & Writing a Compliment Capsule End of Year Activity

end-of-year-writing-activities-5

My newest End of the Year Writing Activity is my Compliment Capsule. I have found that young students need and strive to hear positive compliments daily. Too often, it’s only the teacher giving positive remarks. During this end of the year writing task, the students are giving one another that self-esteem boost.

  • Students are provided with post-its to write on.
  • Students write about other students focusing on their strengths.
  • Upon completion of a compliment, students deliver it to the child who is receiving the note.
  • Once the child reads the compliment, they may remark or say thank you to the writer.
  • He or she then places the compliment into their capsule (a small, inexpensive box from Michael’s usually works well.)
  • Once all compliment cards are received, which may take up to a week depending on how many you would like to assign each day), the box is decorated and “sealed.”
  • Sealing the capsule may be tying string around the box, so it is still easily assessable for reviewing of the compliments later.
  • I instruct the students to work with a parent on “bury” the Compliment Capsule somewhere in their house. The idea is to find it later in life to get a glimpse of our younger self.

end-of-year-writing-activities-6

end-of-year-writing-activities-7

Materials for Capsule

end-of-year-writing-activities-8

# 4 “Little Experts” Writing & Speaking Activity for the End of the Year

During this End of the Year Activity, students can “teach” a lesson to the class. Usually, students choose to teach something simple. It doesn’t need to be difficult, just something they are comfortable doing on their own. A few big lessons are; a directed drawing, a dance move, and demonstrating a magic trick.

The beauty in this lesson is that the students must write an outline for the experience, which is submitted to me first. I appreciate the immediate writing and speaking grade; the student enjoys the “spotlight.”

#5 End of the Year Writing Books

end-of-year-writing-activities-9

By the end of the school year, students have accomplished more than they realize. So let students write all about this in their End of Year Writing Books. As an example, my class completes an End of the Year Writing Book. Students are asked to tell about their school accomplishments, describe the friendships created, and share fond memories about the school year.

end-of-year-writing-activities-10

My favorite page of the End of the Year Writing Book is titled #Milestones. At this point, students reflect on the learning that took place throughout the last nine months. For each subject in school, students record their most cherished accomplishment each subject. Often, students are surprised by how much they had learned within one school year.

end-of-year-writing=activities-11

The Memory Book makes a great conversation piece for students and their parents during Open House. Parents usually give me a smile, hug, or a wink after reading the Memory Book with their students. It indeed is a keepsake piece of writing.

end-of-year-writing-activities-12

If you are interested in using The Memory Book for your End of the Year Writing Activity this year, you may find the link for your grade level below.

Enjoy the outdoors!

end-of-year-writing-activities-blog-pin