Fun end-of-year activities to keep learners engaged

Charlotte Guest
A room of students working together at tables with laptops, tablets and notes
Reading time: 3 minutes

The end of the school year can be bittersweet. Students are excited for the holidays, but teachers have the tricky task of keeping their attention as focus starts to fade. The upside? It’s the perfect chance to make this time fun, memorable and engaging with creative classroom ideas that really stick. Here's a list of end-of-year school activities to ensure your students stay motivated all the way to the final bell.

1. End of year projects

Longer projects are perfect for the end of the year because they encourage deeper engagement. Here are a few ideas to try out.

  • Class memory book: Ask students to contribute to a collaborative memory book filled with drawings, photos, or written reflections on their favorite moments of the year.
  • Passion projects: Give students the chance to dive into something they’re really interested in and wrap it up with a fun presentation or creative display.
  • Local impact projects: Challenge your learners to brainstorm ways to support their local community. They could develop a plan or even implement their ideas.

2. Holiday-themed school activities

With the festive season approaching, it’s the perfect excuse to blend learning with holiday cheer.

  • Cultural exploration: Encourage students to research and share how different cultures celebrate the holidays, fostering inclusivity and curiosity. They can also share how they celebrate the end of the year and any New Year traditions.
  • Art session: Organise a holiday craft-making session where students create ornaments, cards, or posters. Encourage students to write and create cards to take home to their loved ones.

3. Interactive learning games

Interactive games are an easy way to maintain focus and excitement.

  • Trivia challenges: Create trivia questions about topics covered during the year—bonus points for including playful or funny questions about inside jokes or class moments.
  • Escape room activities: Turn your classroom into an educational escape room with puzzles, problem-solving challenges and hidden clues.
  • AI Guess Who: Most AI chatbots will let you play games like Guess Who; play this with the class to liven things up.Let them take turns to guess who the chatbot is thinking of. You can also use '.

4. Group activities

Encourage collaboration with team tasks that bring students together.

  • Talent show: Give students the chance to showcase their talents, from singing and dancing to magic tricks and storytelling. It can be a great way to encourage them to practice language skills.
  • Debate tournaments: Divide your class into teams and set them up for friendly debates on fun or meaningful topics.
  • Story circles: Build stories as a group by having students take turns adding to the tale.

5. Creative classroom ideas

Don’t hesitate to think outside the box with these unique ideas:

  • Class awards ceremony: Create fun and light-hearted awards for each student, such as “Best Scientist” or “Most Curious Learner.”
  • Time capsule creation: Have students write letters to their future selves or fill a box with objects representing the year.
  • Themed classroom party: Use a theme, such as a tropical luau or winter wonderland, to bring the class together for a fun party with food, games and music.

6. Classroom party ideas

Every great year deserves a great finish. Host a lesson that brings your students closer together.

  • Movie afternoon: Set up your classroom and dim the lights to create a cinema atmosphere for a class movie.
  • Game board bonanza: Bring in board games and allow students a relaxed day of friendly competition. If none are available, get students to create their own games.

Keep the learning spirit alive

The end of the school year doesn’t have to signal the end of learning. With a bit of creativity, teachers can make the last weeks of school productive and enjoyable. From fun classroom activities to meaningful year-end projects for students, these ideas will set the stage for a memorable finish.

Read our posts 'Keeping students motivated in the lead-up to the holidays' and 'How to make the most of AI in the classroom'

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    Exploring the four Cs: Using future skills to unlock young learners’ potential

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    What do we mean by future skills?

    The skills students will need in their future studies and careers are dramatically different from those required previously. Times are changing rapidly and educational institutions and teachers have a critical role to play in developing those skills in our young learners so that they are able to fulfill their potential and have bright futures ahead of them.

    These skills are referred to as future skills. There is no common consensus on how to define these skills but, broadly speaking, they can be grouped into four categories:

    1. Ways of thinking

    Skills in this category include critical thinking, creativity, innovation, problem solving, metacognition and learning skills.

    2. Ways of working

    Here, we’re talking about the skills of communication and collaboration.

    3. Tools for working

    Information literacy is an important 21st-century skill, as well as ICT literacy and citizenship, both global and local.

    4. Life skills

    The final category covers life and career skills, and is all about personal and social responsibility.

    One way you can encourage young learners to build these skills is through STEAM subjects (that’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math), which will equip them with functional skills such as organizing, planning, cognitive flexibility and self-regulation.

    The four Cs

    The four Cs refer to four important skills for young learners to master: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These are essential, not just in an educational context, but in everyday life.

    Falling into the first two categories of future skills (ways of thinking and ways of working), these can help children build confidence and self-esteem. They also encourage healthy emotional development.

    So let’s take a closer look at the theory behind them.

    1. Communication

    We usually think of communication as speaking and listening, but it’s actually much broader than that. Communication encapsulates telling stories, reading, sharing ideas and experiences, body language, facial expression, eye contact and tone. Children learn to decipher the world around them by learning and practicing these skills.

    Strong communication skills, developed early, are directly related to their literacy success. These skills allow children to articulate their thoughts and ideas effectively, and listen to decode meaning. Students then begin to use communication for a range of purposes, and communicate effectively in diverse environments. Furthermore, developing strong patterns of verbal and non-verbal communication also fosters self-esteem and social skills.

    2. Collaboration

    Collaboration is how young children begin to build friendships with others. At first, young children will watch what others do and say, before moving on to playing together. As they get older, they become aware of other children’s feelings and ideas. Friendships become motivating and they learn how to make compromises and respect each other’s perspectives and skills.

    Collaboration is enhanced through group work and project-based activities, sharing time with peers. Children thrive when they feel valued by the people around them, not just adults but their peers too.