15 Easy Low-Prep Last Day of School Activities — Teacher Questions - Advice and Freebies for New Elementary Teachers!

The last day of school is so special. While students (and teachers) are stoked for the summer, it’s also a time to wrap up an entire year spent together and try to put a sweet bow on your time. You are done worrying about standards and testing and can just focus on loving on those kiddos and sending them off well.

Only problem is… it always sneaks up on me. I have no idea how but a majority of years, I’m sitting at home the night before the last day of school, scouring the internet to find ideas to do on the last day.

What are some easy, low-prep, FUN last day of school activities I can do?

So, hey Internet, I finally made my own list!

Easy Last Day of School Activities:

Picnic Breakfast: Bring donuts or a special breakfast surprise and sit on your desks, or even take them outside on the playground.
No Desk Day: Spread your desks around the edge of the room and spend the day working from the middle of the room on the carpet.
Dance Party: Pretty self-explanatory but a great way to start or end the day.
Sidewalk Chalk Memories: Head outside and have each student write or draw a favorite memory/saying from the year.
Photo Slideshow: Have your phone create a video from pictures during the year and watch as a class.
A-to-Z List of Learning: For each letter of the alphabet, have students write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year.
Pass the Plate: Have each student write their names in the middle of a paper plate (or paper or anchor chart or beach ball) and pass it around while classmates write complimentary words about that student.
Paper Airplane Contest: Use some of the plethora of papers from the recycling bin and hold the ultimate paper airplane competition. You can have multiple categories like most creative, farthest, most accurate, etc.
Make a Timeline of the Year: Use a long piece of butcher paper on the wall and add memories, stories, holidays, things learned, etc.
Create a Summer Bucket List: Either as a class or individually, have students create summer bucket lists.
Field Trip to the Next Grade: Take your class on a field trip to the next grade. They could participate in an activity or ask questions to the older students about what to expect the next year.
Welcome Notes for Next Year’s Class: Similarly, have students write notes to the younger students coming the next year including what they like best about that grade, teacher, or classroom. Have the notes waiting on the desks the next year for the new class.
Thank You Cards: Write cards for staff members like cafeteria staff, custodians, and secretaries.
Help a Younger Grade: with cleaning out desks/cubbies, reading books, or whatever the teacher suggests.
Color: Hey… a coloring page is always a good time.