May…
It just might be one of your favorite months of teaching (if you are a teacher in the southern part of the United States).
The BIG testing is over (or about to be), and it’s time for the rest of the year to be all fun and games...
or is it?
It’s a relief that everything that is required to be taught has been taught and that testing is behind you. Now, you’re staring at the last few weeks in your lesson plans and trying to figure out what to do so that things don’t get out of control.
While it’s easy to exhale a big sigh of relief, the next minute, it’s like, “OMGosh! How am I going to fill all of these days?”
The days can’t be all fun and games, but they can be fun and enjoyable. Here are some ideas that worked well in my own room.
1) Include games, games, and more games.
Not only did I add a lot of games to our centers, but I also had a game day/week in the schedule. The students were allowed to bring their favorite board games to school. We took several days to rotate through the games as the students learned how to play each one. They had so much fun with these “old-fashioned” games.
2) Save those cereal boxes!
This FREEBIE will bring a lot of fun learning to your classroom. Just print the activities, add a variety of cereal boxes, and you have several days' worth of reading activities ready to go! (Ask parents to send in empty cereal boxes for a wide variety.) Click here to grab this freebie!
3) Include high-interest digital learning.
Students will enjoy completing research and writing, especially when choosing their own topics of research. Let students choose topics and then use approved websites to research. At the end of the week, let students teach about their topics. That’s a whole lot of learning for your students when each student has a different topic. Click here to see more than 100 topics to get you started!
4) Preview the beginning of the year math curriculum for the next grade.
The next grade level teachers will thank you when you have given students an introduction to the math topics for the beginning of the year. Students think that it is “cool” because you are showing them something for the next grade. It can simply be watching some videos to start building their background knowledge and playing games. It’s a win-win all around!
5) Revisit all of the major holidays
It’s a great time to review some of those holiday activities you used throughout the year. The students will have a ball, and it’s easy planning for you! Mix the holidays throughout one day, or assign one day for each holiday as you rework your way through the year of review. Pull out those holiday games and centers to use again.- Monday – Halloween - Students could even wear their Halloween costumes again! How fun would that be?
- Tuesday – Thanksgiving - Have a picnic “feast” outside for lunch!
- Wednesday – Christmas - Play Christmas carols while you work.
- Thursday – Valentine’s Day -Enjoy some sweet treats for a special snack.
- Friday - Easter - Play games with Easter eggs or have an Easter scavenger hunt.
Click below to find fun units.
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Valentine's Day
Easter
These are just a few of the ideas I have used in my own classroom before for the last month of school. What are some ideas you have used during the last month of school?
Save These Fun and Easy School Activities for May
Pin this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board to save so that you can come back and review these five ideas when you need some inspiration for the end of the school year!
What activities do you like to incorporate near the end of the school year? Can any of these help you?
Leave a comment below to let me know! :-)
Helping you end your year with fun is just…
My Kind of Teaching
