The countdown to summer vacation is in full swing. Students are eagerly anticipating the break and their engagement (or lack of) is weaning. Teachers are battling this dwindling focus and rise of energy and the looming threat of the summer slide. These last weeks do not have to be a fight, they can be filled with purpose and fun.
My fresh take, instead of coasting to the end of the school year, use this time to try a unique and high impact classroom activity. Motivate your students while working to reduce the summer learning loss. In this blog we will share creative, research-backed, and classroom tested ways to maintain the end-of-year motivation and keep learning alive.
1. Turn the Classroom Into a Creator Studio
Creativity is one of the most impactful ways you can grab students’ attention. Let your students create things like tutorials, podcasts, or their own digital portfolio showcasing what they learned this year. Ditch those old review packets and let students lead the summary of the year on their own.
Why it works: Creating things requires synthesizing information, one of the highest levels of blooms taxonomy. This gives students learning a purpose while deepening their understanding by reproducing their understanding. Even better is the ability to share their work creating a long lasting archive that families can engage with.
Try using a tool like Seesaw and let students record themselves answering questions like “what I learned this year was…” or “My favorite thing about this year was…”. Build strong reflection skills along with presentation and tech abilities in one sweep.
2. Launch a Student-Led Week
Pass the baton to students in the final days with their very own learning expo! Host a mini conference where students lead a mini lesson for classmates or simply facilitate their own station based on the learning target. Students will buy back into class when they feel they are a part of the teaching.
Why it works: Students will feel ownership of their learning and in turn, re-engage in it. They will also gain critical skills such as presentation skills, collaboration abilities and planning tools. This also encourages them to invent their own learning related games at home leading to incidental learning.
Bonus tip: Invite families to be a part of this via live stream or recordings to showcase these skills at a deeper level and continue the learning at home.
3. Design Summer Passion Projects
Sparking passion projects is a fantastic way to lead into summer. Invite students to explore various topics and come up with a summer passion project that will take them all the way through to the next year. Provide frameworks to success such as weekly update ideas, journaling skills, or simply check in moments to ensure these projects make it all the way.
Why it works: Students who practice self-directed learning will become intrinsically motivated to finish their projects. Sparking students’ interest sends them into summer on a high note while providing sound frameworks will keep the excitement going and accountability in place. Passion projects also help prevent the cognitive backslide that often happens in summer leading to a stronger start next year.
4. Gamify the Final Weeks
Turn your classroom into a challenge based adventure zone. Fill the final days with quests that students need to accomplish. Each day presents a new task, riddle, or problem that is aligned with academic skills they have learned. Build in other elements such as location, teamwork, or even movement. Create an escape room where the exit is summer vacation.
Why it works: Playing games builds motivation to win or complete the next task. When attention is scarce, lean into dynamics your students love (games). Transform reviews into exciting experiences that keep students focused until the finish line.
Setup tips: Break students into teams, houses, or squads. Give points for completed challenges, creativity, and collaboration. Use themes like “Survivor” or “Mission Impossible” to keep things exciting.
Final Thought: End Strong with Purpose
Making the final days of school special not only helps you to last the engagement slump, but also gives students a launch into summer. Motivate your students while working to reduce the summer learning loss. Reimagining the classroom keeps students motivated while ensuring you are building one last memory before you graduate students upwards. Remember, a strong ending should not be about cramming in the final moments of the curriculum. It should be about connection, creativity, and celebration.
