Originally published May 2022 | Updated May 2026
The end of the school year brings a whirlwind of emotions, excitement, nostalgia, relief, and maybe a little chaos. As a teacher, you’re running on empty while still trying to keep 25+ students engaged and learning. Sound familiar?
The good news: you don’t need elaborate plans or Pinterest-perfect lessons to make these last days memorable.
Below are ten easy, no-prep or low-prep end of school year activities that your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will genuinely enjoy, while you actually get to breathe.
1. Take It Outside
Fresh air is free, and it works wonders for wiggly end-of-year energy. Try to get your class outside every day the weather allows. Here are a few easy ways to make it educational and fun:
Classic games: Red Light Green Light, Duck Duck Goose, or kickball — yes, even your older students will love the nostalgia.
Read outside: Students grab a favorite book, a blanket, and find a cozy spot. Instant calm.
Sidewalk chalk math: Practice multiplication facts, write and solve story problems, or play math relay races.
Picnic lunch or snack: A simple change of scenery makes even a regular Tuesday feel special.
Chalk art: Let students get creative and transform the sidewalk into a gallery.
2. Create a Summer Bucket List
This low-key activity doubles as a meaningful writing exercise. As a class, brainstorm simple, realistic things students can do over the summer, then have each student create their own personal list of 10 goals.
Encourage ideas like:
- Visit the local library
- Have a picnic at the park
- Ask a grown-up to teach you how to cook something
- Video call a friend from school
- Read a book just for fun
It’s a great way to spark excitement about summer while sneaking in some reflection and goal-setting, perfect for SEL integration.
3. Let Students Teach the Class
One of my absolute favorite end of year classroom activities is student-led teaching. Each student picks a topic they’re passionate about, a math trick, a science experiment, a song, a sport, a video game, and teaches a 10-minute mini-lesson to the class.
Here’s how I run it:
- Students submit their topic for approval
- They build a simple Google Slides presentation during class
- I post a lesson “schedule” for the week so everyone knows when they’re up
Watching students own their expertise is one of the most rewarding parts of the whole school year. And the other students? They are riveted.
4. Host a Doodle Contest
Pass out blank paper and let students draw or doodle freely. When everyone’s finished, hang the doodles on a bulletin board with numbers (names on the back). Give students time to walk the “gallery,” then vote for their favorite piece.
Simple, creative, zero prep, and you’ll be amazed at the talent hiding in your classroom.
5. Build a Class Playlist
Ask each student to submit one classroom-appropriate song. Compile the submissions into a YouTube playlist and play it throughout the day as a class soundtrack for the final weeks of school.
A few tips:
- Preview every song before adding it, things can slip through
- Play audio only (not the video) to avoid unexpected pop-ups
- Let students feel proud every time their song comes on
Music is such a simple tool for building community, and this playlist becomes a little time capsule of your class.
6. Put On a Class Talent Show
Give students a full week to prepare a talent, dancing, singing, comedy, gymnastics, a cool soccer trick, whatever they’ve got. Hold the show on Friday.
A few guidelines that make it run smoothly:
- Students submit their act in advance for approval
- Participation can be solo, partner, or group
- Use a classroom mic and projector for extra flair
The energy in the room during a class talent show is hard to beat. It’s one of those memories students talk about for years.
7. Do a STEM Challenge (or two!)
STEM challenges are hands-on, collaborative, and genuinely fun — which makes them ideal end of year activities when you have a little more flexibility with your schedule. A few crowd favorites:
- Paper airplanes: whose travels the farthest?
- Foil boats: how many pennies can yours hold?
- Longest paper chain from a single sheet
- Zipline that delivers a piece of candy to the finish line
You can let students vote on the challenge, or go all in with a full STEM Challenge Day. If you want a ready-to-go option, check out my post: 5 Paper STEM Challenges Your Students Will Love , they use only paper and tape and require zero prep on your end.
For more ideas on running STEM challenges effectively, read my post 5 Tips for Using STEM Challenges in Your Classroom.
8. Make a Graffiti Wall
Hang a large piece of butcher paper on the wall, set out markers, and let students go.
Names, doodles, inside jokes, favorite memories, everything is welcome.
What you end up with is a giant, collaborative piece of art that captures the personality of your class.
Take a photo before it comes down. You’ll want it.
9. Celebrate and Preserve the Year’s Memories
The last week of school is the perfect time to pause and look back. A few ways to do this:
- End of Year Advice Booklet: My End of Year Writing Booklet has your class write advice for the students who will sit in their seats next fall. It’s reflective, meaningful, and makes a sweet first-day-of-school surprise for your incoming class.
- Class yearbook: Collect photos from the school year and put together a digital yearbook students can keep forever. Read all about how I do this in How to Create a Class Yearbook.
10. Clean and Organize Together
Teachers have a lot to tackle at the end of the year, and students genuinely love helping. Assign pairs to specific tasks and keep a running list on the whiteboard.
Some of my go-tos:
- Test markers and toss the dead ones, box up the rest
- Check glue sticks and consolidate
- Weed and organize the classroom library
- Collect and count textbooks
- Pack up materials for storage
- Scrub down desktops and peel off tape residue
- Take down anchor charts and bulletin boards
- Sort and return student work
It gets the room clean, keeps students busy, and, bonus, makes them feel like capable, contributing members of the community. Win, win, win.
Ready to Make the Most of These Last Days?
The end of the school year doesn’t have to be something you just survive. With a little planning (and a lot of grace for yourself), it can be one of the most joyful stretches of the whole year.
Try one or two of these ideas and let me know in the comments how it goes! And if you’re looking for ready-made resources to take the planning off your plate, browse my TPT shop for end of year activities, STEM challenges, writing booklets, and more.
You’ve got this,
