When testing is over for the year . . . most teachers and students are ready to start their summer break. However, most school districts have 3 to 4 weeks left of school. That leads to many teachers searching for engaging end-of-the-year reading activities for their upper elementary students.
Students who are busy and engaged in activities are less likely to have behavior issues in the classroom.
Additionally, teachers want their students to leave their classroom with positive reading and writing experiences.
Check out seven reading and writing focused end-of-the-year activities for your upper elementary students.
Student of the Day
Each day, select a student’s name to be your class student of the day. In my 4th grade classroom, I put balloons with each student’s name on my bulletin board. Every day one balloon is popped.
The student receives many privileges. For instance, students can select their seats, pick the Go Noodle for the day, pick a friend to eat lunch in the classroom, etc.
Most importantly, all the students will write a special message about the student of the day.
The teacher will hang a piece of paper (or it can be done on a slide) with the student’s name in the middle of the room. Every student writes a nice message about that student on the paper.
Author Study
Students have read many books throughout the year. Now, they can hone in on one of their favorite authors.
They can research and write a paper about that author. Plus, they can create a slideshow on the author’s life.
Additionally, students can write a letter to the author. Many authors will even write students back.
If you’re looking for more details about author study, check out my blog post: Author Study for Elementary Students
Mother’s Day/Father’s Day Activities
Creating a special gift for their guardians is a great way for students to end their year.
For example, in my classroom I have students create a book for their parents. We include a variety of different Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Activities.
Then we invite their parents to school for a picnic, and the students share their creations with their families.
Book Clubs
Setting up book clubs is a great way to keep students interested in reading for the rest of the school year and into the summer.
First, gather a variety of novels and have students take a book through them.
Next, students select their top 3 books. Then the teacher will create the book club. I suggest no more than 6 students in each group.
Every day dedicate 20 to 30 minutes for students to meet with their book club. They can read when together when they meet or just assign pages.
A book club resource will is a low-prep way to ensure that your students are staying on topic when meeting with their groups.
Review Games
Teachers have taught MANY skills throughout the year. Reviewing these skills is important, so students will remember them for the next grade level.
An easy way to review these skills is to have students create review lessons or games for their classmates.
To begin, assign students a particular skill. This activity can be done independently or in a small group.
Then students will create a fun lesson or review game for their classmates.
Students will need about a week to work on their activity. Sharing their games or lessons at the end of the week will be a highlight for your students.
How To Lessons
Many students have unique hobbies or skills. A how-to lesson gives students a chance to share their knowledge with their classmates.
Students can create a slideshow or poster explaining how to do something.
Examples include how to play baseball, how to make cookies, how to build a doghouse, how to draw a tree, how to do a front flip and so many more.
Once again sharing with other students whether in small groups or with the whole class will be exciting for the students.
Challenges
A challenge is another engaging way to have students review what they have learned this year.
For instance, a grammar challenge reviews different grammar skills.
As you can see, there are multiple end of the year reading activities that your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will enjoy after the STAAR Reading Test.
