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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    Four motivating activities to teach core values through reading

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    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Teaching our?children core?values is so important in helping them to become?happy,?well-balanced?citizens who will make a positive contribution?to?our future society.?

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    As an example, let’s have a look at how shared values?are?explored in the?new graded readers series for young learners,?Disney Kids Readers, where special emphasis has been put on exploring values within a story.?At the end, you will find several?value-based activities?that you can download for use in the classroom or?as?an activity at home.?

    How?do Disney Kids Readers teach core values?

    1. Learning through stories that are already familiar can help children to trust in and take on board the key messages much more easily. Familiarity can break down many barriers to communication and help us understand that values are often universal.?
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    Friendship, positivity, curiosity, confidence, open-mindedness, courage, determination, self-belief, responsibility, resilience, respect, honesty.

    Examples of key values in?Disney stories

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    1. My Values Road Sign (L3-4)

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    Download the worksheet

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    Download the worksheet

    3. Core Values Quiz (L5-6)

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    Download the worksheet

    4. My future self (L1-2)

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    Download the worksheet

    Read our blog posts 'Fostering self-care and wellbeing through the world of reading'?and 'The importance of teaching values to young learners'.

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