The last days of school are still just around the corner so I thought I’d share some ways you can make the end of the year both meaningful and memorable, but most of all FUN!
Your students will love these ideas for a Superhero awards ceremony plus a full last week of school celebration as you give your students a Superhero send-off they’ll never forget!
Hold A Superhero Award Ceremony
Send off your students in style by holding a ceremony to close out the year and send them soaring into the next grade!
Acknowledge Your Superheroes
Set Up An End of the Year Photo Booth
There is nothing more fun than a photo booth! Turn a corner of your room into and end of the year, Superhero style photo booth. Grab pictures of your kids and let them take pictures with their friends too. I used this photo booth kit along with some black butcher paper to make a simple city with construction paper windows. This cloud paper is available at the teaching stores. I reuse this each year by attaching the title letters with removeable glue stick.
Send home Last Week of School Keepsake Cards
Use your photo booth pictures to make end of the year keepsake cards with a special note from you inside. A simple message telling students how much you will miss them means the world to them. I used these editable card templates or you can make your own.
Wear Superhero Capes!
Cut plastic table cloths from the dollar store in half so your superheroes can wear a cape. With all of the patriotic holidays coming up it’s easy to find red and blue but you could certainly use any color.
Highlight Their Memories At the End of the Year
I divide up the week and plan activities for each day. Monday of the last week of school is memory book day. It’s an end of the year tradition in my classroom for students to be able to have fun with their friends as they talk and write about the highlights of their year.
Use these superhero themed memory books fit perfectly with our theme and are available for grades K-1 or grades 2-3 . I especially like that students not only write about all of their favorite events, experiences and learning superpowers, but also about the power of their words, kindness, friendship and respect.
Reflect On Accomplishments
I like to have my students make superhero boys and girls that look like them and highlight the abilities and accomplishments, at school or at home, that they are most proud of. Inside the chest booklet I have them set goals they would like to achieve for next year too.
Induct Your Students Into the Knighthood of Kindness
Start a yearly tradition by “knighting” your students! I began this tradition a few years ago and my students took it so seriously and were so solemn as the kindness oath was read that I have done it every year since.
The purpose of this community building ceremony (which can be done any time of the year) is to reinforce and remind students of the importance of being kind in all they say and do.
Kindness is a pillar of our classroom culture. I want my students to carry this with them as they leave my classroom and enter the next grade. Students receive medals and certificates after they are knighted, then write in their Kindness Knights handbook describing how they Know words are powerful, Include others, Never forget they have a choice, and Demonstrate kindness in their words and deeds. KIND.
See the Kindness Knights resource I use.
Bestow Brag Tags
Shout out your students by making necklaces, bracelets, or decorating backpacks with superhero brag tags.
Celebrate Your Superheroes!
Toast and cheer the end of another successful year with water bottle trophies!
Remember Kindness Is Stronger Than Kryptonite
Make Superhero mailboxes for students to deliver kind notes to their classmates. Have your students deliver sweet messages for their classmates to look back on and treasure.
Read about how I use this with my students and turn Kryptonite from being Superman’s weakening agent to an empowering one!
In keeping with our Superhero theme, on sharing kindness day, everybody goes home with Kryptonite on a stick!
My kids flipped over these and they’re so simple to make! I purchased green apple rock candy sticks and added the gift tag. If you’d like to make them for your class the candy is available on Amazon with this (affiliate) link and you can download the gift tags for FREE!
Remind Your Students To Read
Pass out superhero bookmarks to remind your students to read over the summer!
Show Your Appreciation
Show your appreciation at the to school staff for all of their help and support of your class. The end of the school year is a great time to send a little something to show how much you value their help. We all know that the front office staff is the glue that holds the school universe together!
Say Thank You
I wouldn’t make it a minute without parent volunteers. Make simple volunteer gifts or thank you cards from your class to send home to parents who have helped and supported your classroom.
Rest, Relax, and Recharge This Summer
Need help packing up your classroom? check out these packing up tips that will make set up next year so much easier! Click here to read the post and download the FREE end of the year checklist.
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Happy teaching friends!
Cindy Calenti says
June 10 at 12:07 pmYou are creative "SUPER HERO" ! This packet is adorable. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I wish I was a student in your class!."
Cindy
Granny Goes to School.blogspot.com
Linda says
June 10 at 3:54 pmThank you Cindy, that's so nice of you! We went out with a bang! It was a week they'll always remember for sure!
Hope you're well and enjoying the summer!
Linda
Sarah Stout says
May 16 at 12:19 amThank you! I have a Superhero room and now I have ideas for end of the year gifts and party fun!! 🙂 Thanks again!