As the end of the school year gets closer, it’s important to keep kids motivated and engaged in their learning. But with summer just around the corner, it can be challenging to maintain their focus. Truth be told, it’s even hard to maintain our own focus!
Beach, anyone?
No worries. We’ve got you covered with some fun ways to keep kids motivated until the very end!
IDEAS TO HELP KEEP KIDS MOTIVATED
- Create a Summer Bucket List: Start by brainstorming all the fun things your students want to do this summer. It can be anything from going to the beach, to camping, to even making homemade ice cream! Encourage them to write down their ideas and decorate their bucket list with a variety of arts and crafts supplies. Hang them up in the classroom and then send them home on the last day of school.
- Plan Theme Days: Plan special theme days to add an element of excitement to the classroom. For example, you could have a “Superhero Day,” where students come dressed as their favorite superhero and do superhero-themed activities related to the curriculum. You can also have a “Pajama Day,” where students come to school in their PJs and have a relaxed day of learning…maybe even with a favorite stuffed animal or pair of slippers. One of our favorite theme days is this END OF THE YEAR CLASSROOM CAMP OUT. It’s loaded with fun activities that are also standards-based… win-win!
- Go Outside: Take advantage of the warmer weather and take your lessons outdoors! Plan a nature walk or a field trip to a local park or garden where students can learn about plants, insects, and the environment. Incorporate hands-on activities like scavenger hunts, leaf rubbings, or planting seeds to make the learning experience interactive and memorable.
- Schedule Fun Fridays: Designate Fridays as “Fun Fridays” where students get to engage in a special activity of their choice. It could be a game day, art and craft session, or even a talent show! This will create a sense of anticipation, keeping the kids motivated throughout the week.
- Work on Collaborative Projects: Foster teamwork and collaboration by planning group projects for your students. It could be a science experiment, a group presentation, or a creative writing activity. Working together will not only keep them engaged, but it will also help develop important social skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Take Brain Breaks: We like using brain breaks throughout the year, but as we get closer to the end, they seem more and more necessary. Plan for shorter instructional intervals and pop in a few more energizing brain breaks to get kids up and moving. We like these FUN BRAIN BREAKS for young kids. Don’t forget to add in the occasional dance party and some of your favorite stretching exercises to keep kids physically active.
- Integrate Technology: Utilize technology to make learning fun and interactive. If you’re not already doing this, incorporate educational websites, apps, or online games that are aligned with your curriculum. For example, you can use websites like ABCya! or NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS to engage students in educational games and activities related to reading, math, science, and social studies.
- Collect Memories: Spend a few days collecting memories from the school year! This END OF THE YEAR MEMORY BOOK👇 is a great way for 1st and 2nd graders to reflect on the year while jotting down all those special moments they don’t want to forget. It’s a great keepsake and something families will treasure for a long time!
Hopefully, these fun ways to keep kids motivated will be just what you need to keep kids going! As a little bonus, we also like this SILLY SUMMER JOKE BOOK.👇 It’s a fun (an inexpensive) parting gift to share with kids at the end of the year.
Why joke books? Check out this related post:👉 5 REASONS JOKE BOOKS BELONG IN A CLASSROOM.
Happy teaching!
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