Here are some ideas you may have heard, but I have added some important details that may help STRETCH out those old ideas.
Autograph Book Part 1: 2 Hours
*Make an autograph book, but you need to make it super involved. Have kids make collage covers to their autograph books with clippings from old magazines. Make sure they spell their name on it with cut out magazine letters across the top.
Autograph Book Party Part 2: 45 minutes
*After autograph books are made, organize an Autograph Party with the other teachers in your grade level. Bring all the kids outside or wherever you go for this kind of noise, and have go at it... kids can sign each other books to their hearts content.*As teachers, we always sign each student's autograph book during the party with a stamp or sticker and our name... it's perfect. The kids love picking out the stamp or sticker we put in their book next to our name.
Application to the Next Grade: 2-3 Hours, maybe 4.
*Have students fill out an application to enter the next grade. This takes my kids at least and hour to fill out, and then if you have them complete the essay, another hour. Then you can have the students peer edit and have a final rewrite.
I have one at my TPT for purchase here (use for any grade), but this is something anyone can create! Plus it's great to send home with report cards as part of the self reflection process. You could even have the kids read them out loud to the class!
What to Expect next year letter, 1 Hour, maybe 2.
*Have your students write a letter to next year's class about what to expect in your class. There are many of these available for free here on TPT. Our class has made these in the past, some years we have posted it to a board and it was up for all to see at Back to School night and the first day of school! One less board to do before parents come to check you out! This year, I made a Flip Chart available for purchase, because that's my thing right now, flip charts. You can purchase it here on my TPT (use for any grade).
Play Rehearsal: HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS
For the last 3 weeks of school we spend at least 2 hours a day with singing, line practice and stage rehearsal. It is BRILLIANT! I don't know what we do if we didn't have a purpose those last few weeks. If you don't know about Bad Wolf Press, you know now. Those plays are great. I have done:
It is worth the $40.00, without a doubt!
And don't worry if you don't have time or the will for some big production with fancy costumes. I have done them without costumes and just some silly props I made. I have always done them on stage, but have seen them done in classroom. The publisher gives very good advice on how to produce the play for all levels of experience and places to perform. If you do any of the above 3 plays, I would happily give advice. In fact, the company, if they still do it, will have a conference call with you if needed!
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| Pirates from Grammar Island |
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| 13 Colonies |
Father's Day Magazine: 3 Hours or more
I bought this magazine on TPT last year, and it totally was $$ well spent.
It kept my kids occupied and also served a magnificent purpose, Father's Day gift!
Multicultural Week: HOURS and HOURS and HOURS
This is not my idea, but I love it and we do it at our school.
1. Each classroom selects a country of focus.
2. The classroom creates a informational presentation about that country.
This is just the way I approached it, some teachers have students put on a play or sing a song or learn a dance too!
3. On an assigned week, students travel to other classrooms (as a whole group with the teacher) and watch each other's presentations.
4. As they exit the classroom, they get their passports stamped! We bought some off of eBay here.
5. We made our own passports, but you can download some for free here on TPT.
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| Multicultural Prezi Presentation |
ABC Book of...: At least 3 hours if not more.
Download this ABC Book Template for Free on TPT. This can be used for a multitude of activities. This year I had my students select a grade level subject or topic within the subject. Then students found a word for each letter and defined it using their text book ONLY. Finally, they illustrated the word. I made it worth 20 points towards the subject of the book. I found that students who needed a boost in math, created an ABCs of 5th Grade Math, and likewise for other subjects. This activity really made them search out words from their text. It was secretly awesome, because students thought it would be so easy, but they really had to dig to find terminology to fit each letter. When they couldn't find a word to fit the letter at the beginning of the word, I allowed the students to find a word that had the letter within the word.
Part 2 of ABC Book: Hours of engagement are endless
After students completed a quality ABC from their grade level topic, I allowed them to create an ABC on any topic they wanted. This allowed all my budding artists to really focus on their art and personal interests.
Hopefully some of these ideas inspire you and help keep you and class busy until Summer starts!
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