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
After testing is the best time of the year!! It is when teachers can relax and do "fun" things and projects. These are meaningful things that might not be on a test. (I hate that we are so test driven as I feel it takes the fun out of teaching and learning.) Many grade levels will have their field trips in May, so that is always enjoyable. We also play a lot of games, and we learn to play chess. The kids love it and it promotes critical thinking skills. We do a PBL unit and I usually let the students vote on which topic they want. The first week of May, we make Teacher Appreciation Pennants and hang them in our halls. The kids are totally engaged and attendance rates are usually up! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI hate that schools are so test driven also. It definitely takes the fun out of teaching and learning! I love the idea of Teacher Appreciation Pennants! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteWhat a great idea to have the holidays come around again. I have been struggling with coming up with some new ideas for the end of the year. I am going to do that this year with my 2nd graders. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI hope your students enjoy revisiting the holidays as much as mine did! It's so fun and unexpected to reuse some of those learning activities when students aren't all hyped up for the holiday!
DeleteSo many fun ideas! I love the idea of students bringing in games and everyone learning how to play them.
ReplyDeleteMy students always love learning and playing different board games. I hope your students do also. Thanks for reading and commenting, Angela!
DeleteLove all the great ideas! Playing games is on the top of my list.
ReplyDeletePlaying games has so many benefits! I hope your students enjoy the games!
DeleteI agree with Mrs. Griffin! After testing is when we can really make school fun again. We still have a few weeks until testing, and I am so looking forward to doing fun, social-emotional things after testing! We plan on doing lots of Just Dance (on Youtube), end-of-year reflections, and going outside. I love your idea of introducing new concepts that they will learn next year. That is such a great opportunity to invite students to be curious about what they will learn without the stress of grades or mastery. I will definitely use that this year!
ReplyDeleteIt's just a huge sigh of relief when testing is over, isn't it? All of your ideas so fun also. I love getting the students outside for fresh air and sunshine! Students LOVE feeling like they are learning something that they shouldn't yet. I always made a huge deal about it. Believe me, the next year teacher will appreciate you so very much!
DeleteI like to do messy science labs that we can go outside for: lots of water activities! I also like to do things they aren't allowed to do normally: Bubblegum day (well, hour, lol); sit by a friend, and I LOVE to let them rearrange the room or tell me how they think the room should be set up for next year's class. They have great ideas, some of which I incorporate.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a great time to use those messy science labs!
DeleteWhat great ideas! My students would love the chance to bring in games into our classroom. They're already talking about how much they're going to miss their classmates this summer, and allowing them to play more games will only continue to build a close community in our classroom.
ReplyDeletePlaying games together is a great way to finish out the year and bond even closer. I hope your students enjoy!
DeleteWhat wonderful ideas! The days after testing finally allow us to relax, play more games, & start packing up the classroom. Letting my special ed kiddos clean the tops of their desk with shaving cream is always a favorite fun activity. We hold class outdoors as much as possible & I create customized t-shirts for all my students with all the students' names in a heart shape as a memento of the past school year. The second grade students who won't be looping with me spend a day in their new third grade classroom.
ReplyDeleteOh, we always loved the shaving cream! Plus it makes the room smell clean! I love your fun ideas for May.
DeleteWe are learning about plants and pollination. The honeybee unit will go very nicely. Thank you! Can't wait to see it. We love your other Let's learn About topics
ReplyDeleteI dont know why it's anonymous lol. It's me Laurie H above
ReplyDelete