10 Fun Last-Day-of-School Activities for Elementary School

The end of the school year can be an energetic time when students are excited to head out of the classroom and start their summers. But that last day of school can be bittersweet as everyone says their goodbyes. Make this time of the year memorable with fun activities or a celebration.

5 short last-day-of-school ideas for teachers

Before the final school bell rings, celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer with your students. These fun last-day-of-school activities for elementary school students will keep them engaged and contain their excitement during class.

Activity 1: Make predictions about summer

From record-breaking temperatures to a wave of tourists visiting their hometowns, students might return to school with much to discuss with their peers. In this last-day-of-school activity, have students predict what they think might happen while school isn’t in session. The prediction can be realistic: “After watching the trailer, I think that [insert upcoming summer movie] will perform just as well as the first movie in the series.” Or the prediction can be unlikely to come true: “Humans will finally have a verbal exchange with aliens.” Have students write down their predictions and share them with next year’s incoming class.

Activity 2: Write inspirational letters to next year’s class

Because academic growth tends to happen gradually, it’s important to look back and reflect on the growth that’s happened over the school year. Provide time on the last day to let students showcase their growth by writing letters of inspiration to the incoming class, whether on paper or digitally. The letters can focus on boosting future students’ confidence, with messages along the lines of “If at first you don’t succeed, try again” or “Your hard work will pay off!’” 

Alternatively, students can dig deeper and share with the incoming students what they learned, what they loved the most, and what challenged them the most. Or students can write just one sentence of advice on how to succeed at that grade level.

If you are looking for other writing prompts about summer, try HMH AI Tools. The prompt writing and discussion generator offers a variety of suggestions, including: 

• Write about a summer goal you want to achieve and the steps you will take to accomplish it.
• Imagine you discover a mysterious map on the last day of school that leads to a hidden summer adventure. What happens next?
• Interview a classmate (or family member) about their favorite summer tradition and summarize what makes it special to them. 

Activity 3: Celebrate summer holidays

Celebrating holidays and commemorative months throughout the school year adds more excitement to learning. However, some official or unofficial holidays occur over the summer months. Before the last day, have students choose one of these events to research. Here’s a list to get started (depending on when the last day is for your school):

Students can research how long the holiday lasts and how people celebrate it. Then, on the last day of school, provide time for students to share what they discovered about their chosen holidays or commemorative months. Consider having students share stories, games, or anything else associated with their holidays or events as a way to celebrate summer holidays.

Activity 4: Lend a helping hand

Have students help you tidy up the classroom before the official staff comes in to clean before summer break. Explain to students that in some cultures, cleaning is a source of pride and ownership. They can pick up trash, toss recyclables into the appropriate bin, and organize classroom items. Take this activity further by seeing if other teachers need helping hands tidying up their classrooms. You could even have students help clean the school’s exterior, such as the playground or garden.

Activity 5: Hold a read-aloud

On the last day of school, have a read-aloud on a topic like the emotions the last day of school brings or the excitement of summer adventures to come. Consider inviting students from other classes, too, or having the students take turns reading. Two options are below; the first book is about the end of the school year, and the second is about summer adventures. Note that the following are potential texts you can use, but always check with your school or district for recommended resources. 

Book: Sometimes You Fly by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Grades Pre-K–3

This picture book provides a sentimental way to wrap up the school year and celebrate students’ accomplishments, however big or small. The book encourages students to remember times when they both failed and soared while aiming to achieve their goals. After finishing Sometimes You Fly, students might reminisce about their journeys to the end of the school year.

Book: The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Leo Espinosa, Grades Pre-K–3

This picture book evokes the feelings summer brings, such as lightheartedness and fun. After reading about the book characters’ adventures in Brooklyn during the summer, students will be excited to end their last day of school and discover what’s in store for them.

5 last-day-of-school celebration ideas

Throw a celebration to give the school year one last hurrah and allow students to bid farewell to their classmates and teachers. Try the celebration suggestions below or some of our other end-of-school-year celebration ideas to make this time of the year memorable for everyone.

Idea 1: Throw an outdoor party

In most parts of the country, May and June bring warm weather, making this time of the year ideal for a last-day-of-school outdoor celebration. Students can enjoy a range of healthy and tasty snacks while playing fun games like freeze tag! During the celebration, consider giving cheap end-of-year gifts for students from teachers as a way to show your appreciation.

Idea 2: Host a game day

Allow students to bring their favorite board or card games, plus have some available. This math activities blog provides various card game options. Or before game day, consider having students create their own games, individually or in small groups. For example, have students create a board game based on a book they read during the year. Use the following steps as inspiration:

What you’ll need: 

• Materials for game board/playing cards: cardboard, construction paper, or index cards
• Art supplies for game pieces: modeling clay, plastic, paper clips, rocks, number cubes, or anything that might work
• Additional supplies: markers, crayons, paint, or other art supplies

What to do:

• Start by having students think of any book they read and loved during the school year and its themes and characters.
• After brainstorming ideas and before crafting the rules, have students decide on their game’s theme, mission, and number of players. Let their imaginations run wild! There aren’t any wrong answers. For example, a board game based on a sports-themed story might include a race or competition as the central goal, while a story that emphasizes cooperation could inspire a game where players work together to complete a shared mission.
• Afterward, have students write the rules. If they are in groups, students can collaborate on the rules together. Or, to make the process quicker, each group member can have a role while designing the game. For example, rule writer, game designer, or illustrator.
• If students feel stuck while designing the game, encourage them to model it after one they already know, such as Go Fish or Crazy Eights.

On game day, set up stations so that everyone can have a chance to play their designed games and the other board or card games.

Idea 3: Gallery walk of student growth

Celebrate the growth your students have made over the year with a classroom gallery walk. Similar to a museum or art gallery that thoughtfully displays artwork and artifacts for visitors to explore, this activity turns your classroom into a space where student work and learning are showcased.

You can invite students to help decide which work to display. They might choose projects they were proud of, activities they enjoyed, assignments that show how much they improved, or pieces that felt meaningful to them. You may also include highlights from the year, such as field trips, school events, special activities, and celebrations.

Once your gallery is set up, have students move around the room to explore displays, reflect on their learning, and reflect on their own growth and that of their peers. You could encourage students to leave positive notes for classmates or respond to a few guiding questions, such as: What is something you learned this year that you didn’t expect to learn? What is one piece of work here that shows growth over time? What changed from the beginning of the year?

Idea 4: Make signature books

Signature books are meaningful keepsakes that give students a lasting way to remember the school year and the relationships they built. To make the book, have students fold a small stack of paper in half and staple it at the center. Students can decorate the cover with their name and drawings. Once the books are ready, give students time to circulate, signing one another's pages and leaving short messages, drawings, or favorite memories from the year. 

Teachers can also participate by creating their own signature book. This provides students with the space to write farewell messages and thank-you notes. These books often become a special memento for teachers to remember the students they supported throughout the year. 

Idea 5: Celebrate the summer games

Every four years, athletes worldwide converge in one location to compete in the Summer Olympics. Throw a celebration to generate excitement about the upcoming games! Decorate the class with flags from around the world, images of inspirational athletes, or anything else that fits the theme.

Let students complete activities related to the Summer Games or hold an educational Olympics. You could set up stations inspired by major topics students learned throughout the year and have students test their knowledge. No matter what, students will certainly have fun!

Share your last-day-of-school ideas

What are some of your last-day-of-school celebration ideas and activities? Share your favorites with us via email at shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Instagram.

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Discover more science-themed last-day-of-school ideas here.

Find more lesson plans and classroom resources on Shaped.

This blog, originally published in 2024, has been updated for 2026.