by: Marianna Monheim Updated 3/24/2024
An End of the Year Activity for Upper Elementary Students
The end of the year is busy, busy, busy in the upper elementary classroom. With all the special events taking place as the school year comes to a close, it can be hard to know how much time you’ll have to work on things in the classroom.
Save yourself some planning stress by assigning an end of year choice board! This engaging activity is perfect for this time of year because students can work on it whenever they have a chance. Not to mention, it’s a great way for them to reflect on the past school year!
Guess what? I’ve taken all the activities I mentioned in this post and created a print-and-go resource just for busy teachers like you! Click the image or button below to see it in my TPT shop:
Table of Contents
What is a Choice Board?
A choice board is simply a collection of activities focused on a topic. Choice boards should have a variety of options that will appeal to the variety of learners you have in your classroom. Students can work on the activities independently, with a partner, or in small groups. They can work on as many activities as you decide. As the name implies, it’s all about choice!
Why Use a Choice Board at the End of the Year?
Think about all the things a teacher needs to do at the end of the year: final grades, conferences, packing up the classroom, meetings, meetings, and did I mention meetings? Not to mention all the times students may be in and out of your room for testing, field trips, special days, or EOY activities.
Assigning a choice board gives you and your students a little bit of flexibility during those last few chaotic weeks. Each activity is simple enough for students to complete on their own, yet will keep them engaged and busy for blocks of time. Also, students can work on these activities whenever they have time, which prevents you from having to come up with random ways to keep them busy while you’re trying to get your own stuff done.
Your students also need an outlet to reflect on all the memories they’ve made over the year. Even though they may not show it, upper elementary students have big feelings about the place they’ve called home for almost 200 days of the year, and it’s important to give them a chance to express those feelings. Why not do it with some fun, structured activities?
What Kind of Activities Should Be on An End of Year Choice Board?
You want activities that will inspire students to reflect on the past year in a positive and meaningful manner. To keep this activity effective, you’ll need to provide some guidance or scaffolding as students work on each activity.
Here’s a list of ideas that I’ve found to be successful with students in intermediate grades:
- Create a poster highlighting memories of the past year
- Write a podcast episode about a particular memory (if you have the capability, let students record their podcast)!
- Make a word search featuring vocabulary terms from one subject
- Create a book of advice for the students who will be in the class next year
- Make a board game using content from a favorite lesson
- Write an ode to the classroom
- Write and deliver thank you notes to school staff
- Compose a song or poem summarizing the best parts of the school year
If you’ve never used a choice board before, prepare to be amazed by what your students come up with! This is a really great opportunity to let your class’s creativity shine.
Can You Help Me Create an End of Year Choice Board?
That’s why I’m here! Do you think your students will love the activities listed above? Well, great news – I’ve compiled them into a done-for-you choice board, complete with activity sheets that correlate to each choice, a free choice option, and a rubric to make grading a snap! Click on the picture or button below to learn more:
Once students complete their activities, give them time to share out with their classmates so that everyone can reflect on what a great year they’ve had!
Questions? Email me at marianna@creativelycomprehensive.com!
