Great Ideas for End-of-Year Activities

Individual activities allow students to let their imaginations run wild and work at their own pace, while reinforcing key skills.

• Presentations about favourite belongings or subjects: Ask each student to choose a topic that they’re really interested in. It doesn’t matter if that’s dinosaurs, a sport, or a historical figure—the goal is simply to have students put together a short presentation (accompanied by a report, poster, diorama, etc.). It’s a great way to foster your students’ autonomy and get them to practise their research and oral expression skills.
• My ideal day at school: For just one day, the students are in charge! Have each student imagine their ideal day at school: the schedule, the subjects they would study (the sky’s the limit!), what rules they would put in place. . . This activity stimulates creativity and planning and gives you valuable insights into what interests students.
• My own world: Every student designs their own world. For instance, they could design an amusement park with unique rides, draw a map of their very own private island, or imagine a campsite with all of their ideal amenities. This activity develops dexterity and creativity.
• Letter to my future self: Each student writes a letter to their future self that they will receive next year or in a few years. They can write about what they liked about this year, their dreams for the future, their goals, etc. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the past, look to the future, and practise writing skills. You can keep the letters and mail them out in the future, or have your students use the FutureMe service, which will send them their letter as an email at a future date.

These activities encourage collaboration, communication, and the development of social skills.

• Class comic: In small groups, students work together to create part of a giant comic. Each group is responsible for one or two panels of the final product. You can ask them to contribute to a cohesive narrative or have each group make a stand-alone panel based on a theme (e.g., favourite moments from the school year). It’s a great way to stimulate creativity and encourage teamwork.
• Two truths and a lie: Team members take turns telling two true facts and one lie about themselves. The other group members have to guess which one is the lie without asking any questions. This encourages critical thinking and creativity.
• Classroom cleanup with a fun twist: Turn classroom cleanup into a game. Give each team a job (have the “janitors” put away materials, the “librarians” organize books, the “archivists” sort documents, etc.). Make the task more fun with music or challenges. It’s a great way to contribute to a love of school and develop students’ sense of responsibility.
• Shadow puppet presentations: In teams, students write short stories or scenes to act out using shadow puppets. They can design their own cardboard characters and sets or use their hands. It’s a great activity for stimulating creativity.

These activities encourage class unity, sharing, and participation.

• Book and school supply drive: Organize a collection of gently-used school supplies and books left over from the school year, and donate the collected materials. Students can sort the supplies they no longer need but that are still in good condition (pencils, unused notebooks, rulers, etc.) and books they don’t want anymore. Explain the importance of giving back and donate the items to a charity, a school in a disadvantaged area, or students at your own school who will need them next year. This is a great concrete activity for students to practise generosity, sharing, and eco-citizenship.
• Memory suitcase: Have your class make (or draw) a suitcase. Then, have them “pack” their suitcase with their favourite memories from the school year, a lesson they learned this year, a new friendship they made, etc. This activity will encourage your students to reflect on their year, express gratitude, and exercise their affective memory.
• Peer compliments: Have every student write their name on a sheet of paper. Then, have students pass their papers around the classroom and write a kind word, compliment, or good memory on each of their classmates’ papers. At the end, every student will have a sheet of paper full positive comments from their peers, which will help boost their self-esteem.
• Scattergories: You can play your own version of this classic game with very few materials and little preparation. First, make a list of different categories (objects, animals, countries, etc.). Divide the class into teams, then draw or pick a letter at random. Each team will then have a minute or two to write down a word starting with that letter for each category. It’s a fun, fast-paced game that helps students with vocabulary and quick thinking.
• Collective memory book: Ask each student to decorate a page in a scrapbook or binder. They can write down a favourite memory from the school year, draw a picture, or write a message for their friends. Then, pass the scrapbook or binder around the classroom and have each student add a kind word, drawing, or their signature to each page.
• Human bingo: Make bingo cards with fun facts or positive traits for each student in your classroom (e.g., “Has a rock collection,” “Their favourite activity is karaoke,” “Loves bananas”). Have your students circulate around the room and talk to their classmates to find out who each bingo square is describing, crossing off squares as they go.  This activity is a great way to foster relationships between students.
• Giant thank-you card: As a group, the class creates a giant card or posters to thank school staff (janitors, daycare team, principal, teachers, etc.). Each student can leave a note or a drawing. It’s a simple, yet powerful gesture to recognize the hard work of others and helps student practise expressing gratitude.
• Bring summer camp to your classroom: Turn your classroom into a summer camp! Turn off the lights (if possible), use flashlights, and tell stories or legends. You can even build a DIY “campfire” (paper towel rolls for the logs, tissue paper for the flames). Your students can make sound effects to add to the outdoor atmosphere (frog croaks, owl hoots, thunder).
• Dress up as a historical figure or a character from a book: Students choose a historical figure or fictional character (from a book, movie, comic, etc.) they admire and come to school dressed up like them. You can have a fashion show or short performance where each student presents their figure/character and why they chose them. This activity promotes creativity, curiosity, and oral expression.
• Treasure hunt: First, send one student out of the room. Meanwhile, hide an object (the “treasure”) somewhere around the classroom. Bring the student back in and have them ask yes/no questions to figure out where the object is hidden. The class answers together. This develops logic, deduction, and communication skills.