It feels kind of surreal not ending the school year in your classroom. Normal activities that provide closure each year like yearbook signings and class celebrations can’t take place in the traditional way. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate the accomplishments of our students as the year draws to a close. Try some different ways to celebrate with your students on and offline while they are experiencing distance learning. Here are some alternative end of year activities when the school year ends at home.

Make a Memory Book

Have your students reflect on the highs and lows of the year by making an end of the year memory book. Share the book via Google Slides in your online learning platform. It works perfectly with Google Classroom, Seesaw, One Drive, and Pic Collage! Your students will write about their favorites, share surveys with classmates, plan goals for next year, and write to special prompts. This colorful book is something students can keep digitally and share with their families!

Genius Hour Celebration

If you’ve tried Genius Hour or other project-based learning projects with your students, use the end of the year to have your students showcase what they’ve learned and share their passion projects. Have a class Zoom or have students share their projects in short videos via Flipgrid where parents, teachers, and administrators can view and give positive feedback on their amazing projects! Learn more about Genius Hour and how to get started in your digital classroom.

Celebrate Strengths

Think about something that is unique and special about each of the students in your class. Send them a special email, note, or certificate recognizing them for the progress they’ve made throughout the year. Make it specific for each child. This may be easier to accomplish if you have a small class, but it’s feasible if you spread out the note, email, or certificate creation over several days. Imagine how special your students will feel when they get a personalized note from you thanking them for all their hard work!

Have a Game Day

If you have virtual meetings with your students, one way to celebrate with them is to play a game! Try Kahoot, GimKit, or Quizizz. All three platforms are live quiz games on various topics. You can project the game via Zoom or Google Meet while students participate via their devices. Celebrate the winners with some trinkets via mail or just a special shout out online. The joy is in the learning, and the fun is even greater with competition and celebration!

It’s almost the end of the school year, and your students may be celebrating at home. Don’t forget to provide some closure and joy with these alternative end of year activities when the school year ends at home. Spend some time reflecting on the highs and lows of the year with your learners as you wrap up the end of the school year and prepare for returning to school, hopefully soon!