End of the year activities

[MsCoffeeLover]

We are fixing to embark on standardized testing in the next two weeks. I think we get out of school on June 2. Still, we try to have activities and assignments for the kids to expend energy they kept bottled up while testing. We just discovered that teams can rearrange their schedules, with the new testing. Now we have that group we spend the morning with, lunch, recess, and 45 minute classes. It is a nice schedule.

I have fourth quarter projects due, so that can be part of the activities, but I wanted to think of a few more. This ecology unit is the best, and I may work on sculptures of recycled materials.

Many teachers have requested movies to watch, and the principal got a little irritated at them because there were so many requests for movies.

I want to do something different. One student suggested a chess tournament, and I really like the idea. I also have games involving strategy for the kids to play.

It would be nice to have science challenges or challenge activities. You give a kid a word search, and I can't get over how the entire room shuts up, but I want to give like Mensa challenges to see if the kids can get it.

I have a SMART board, so we can play interactive games as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions, activities, links, lessons, for the end of the year? Some of the students will need to be working because they have a great deal of missing assignments. Some students will not get to play at all.

HELP!

[Boxcar]

What about time outside? You can do some really awesome science things outdoors. I hate being inside when the wheather is nice, and it was even harder as a kid.

[Addict]

End of the Year Activities (http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/end-of-year/index.htm)

I've got a few new brain teasers (http://www.theteacherscorner.net/printable-worksheets/make-your-own/brain-teasers/) in the printable worksheets too. :rolleyes:

[Chef Dave]

Our high school set up several plastic water slides on our athletic field. Kids also brought water guns. During lunch, our coach grilled hundreds of hamburgers on a charcoal grill. Members of the student council served up the burgers with chips and soda. We also had baskets of condiments: 1.5 oz. packages of ketchup, relish, mayonnaise, and mustard along with bowls of lettuce and pickles.

[jsfowler]

This is the link to create classroom Jeopardy games...I love it and the kids do too.

http://www.jmu.edu/madison/teacher/jeopardy/jeopardy.htm

[MsCoffeeLover]

This school has baffled me. Grades were supposed to be in our system last week Wednesday, and here we have another week with the kids. What purpose does that serve?

Now, I do know we are going to have award ceremonies and fourth quarter incentives. With the positive behavior incentive program, the grade level with the most number of tickets should get an end of the year BBQ. If the last count is pretty accurate, that should be the 7th grade team (that's my team!). I also thought about and end of the year party for kids and parents on individual team with a little help from my partner. What do you think of that idea? Could something like that go along with the BBQ?

I also thought about individual and super creative awards aside from the standard most improved or highest average. Does anyone have any ideas on awards? Can you do thinks like "The award for the most excuses" or is that rewarding the wrong thing entirely?

Any reward ideas come to mind? We had races one day and discovered the quietest girls were the fastest runners. One of my girls writes the best thank you cards. Her word choice is incredible, and it doesn't matter who the thank you card is for. She is just gifted in that.

We have been making thank you cards for the custodial staff, cafeteria staff, other teachers, and we are writing thank you letters to parents, and I will mail them out for the kids.

We may bring out the side walk chalk.

Whatever. I forgot what I was originally asking.

[jsfowler]

http://www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/CandyBarAwards.htm

This website has some cute award ideas...they are for the girl scouts but can easily be adapted to fit your classroom. My son's class did this and he was awarded the Snickers bar because he received "Best Personality" by making everyone "snicker". I think these kinds of awards are great and thought about incorporating them into my team next year...that's how I ran across the site.

[Boxcar]

Aww... cute and funny. Great awards!