End of the Year Survival Activities
Surviving the end of the school year can be a difficult task. I know I still have almost two months left in my school year. Some of you only have a few weeks. Regardless of how much time you have, left, I am sure it feels eternal. In this post, I want to share some tips, ideas, projects, and some end-of-the-year survival activities.
This time of year kids are feeling burned out and teachers aren’t far behind. Have you found yourself staring out the window planning your summer vacation? Picturing yourself on a lounge chair somewhere in the sand? Well, no worries I have you covered with some fun ideas that are low prep and student approved.
The best part of all of this is the students will still be learning and communicating.
Review for Finals
Throw out those old paper and pencil review packets. Ditch those digital documents. Whatever is your preferred method of review, try changing things up this year. Here is what you need to do.
For the students
- Assign students to groups
- Give each student a unit, a topic, theme, or concept that needs to be reviewed
- Have the group type up a page or two about the topic (or draw pictures, add images, give examples)
- Include any grammar or culture information
- Have the group prepare a review game that the class can play
Groups will review their topic and play their games during class in preparation for finals. If students use Google Docs, study material can easily be shared with other students in the class.
What the teacher will need to do…
The task is small and will take little time out of the classroom. Create a rubric if you don’t already have one. Check each group’s documents and correct errors. That’s it. I told you it would be easy.
If you don’t have a rubric, you might include thoroughness, accuracy, effort, review game (use of the target language, creativity, engagement).
Assign a Fairytale
The Once Upon a Sign series will help practice interpretive skills as well as tie all the learning from the year together in one neat project. Let students show you all that they have learned.
- Watch a story or two in ASL. Have students discuss what was being told. Have them analyze vocabulary, structures, use of space, expressions, etc.
- In small groups have students discuss elements of a good fairytale such as characters, plot, challenges and the moral of the story.
- Let students pick their partner or work in groups of 3 – 4. Students have busy schedules this time of year.
- Students prepare a fairytale and do peer feedback. As the teacher, you can check the content by looking over the script or have students create a storyboard.
- Have students create a rough draft signed video of their story. Look it over and correct any errors. This can also be done live in the class by allowing the teacher to watch the lines and provide feedback.
- Then have students create the final story using costumes and prompts. Watch the stories in class.
Food Friday
This is one that ALL students will love. Students sign up to bring food. The teacher can create a signup sheet and share with students in each class period. Keep the lists separate so each class knows what is being brought into their class period. Make sure someone brings napkins, plates, cups, and utensils.
- Start class by allowing students to grab food.
- Students sit in a circle so they can see everyone.
- Students will explain what is in the dish and how it is prepared. You can make Food Fridays themed by requiring students to bring a dish from a specific country to get extra “country” vocabulary practice.
- Then, the second part of Food Friday is to have students move into small groups.
- Give a conversation topic. This can be any topic that focuses on what you are working on or a review concept. So if you are working on classifiers, make sure your conversation prompt requires classifiers.
- Assign one member in the group to keep “score” of the conversation. Asking a questions gets the student 1 point and responding to a question will earn the student 2 points. This will motivate students to stay in the target language and participate.
I actually do this activity all year long. It is a classroom favorite.
Famous Deaf
Have students do a famous Deaf person project. This activity covers so much information students have completed. Every level will have something to offer. The higher the class level, the more information should be expected. Have students dress as a famous person and present the information in the first person. You can set up presentations like a living museum.
Games
Let’s face it, games are great. There are a variety of games and activities you can incorporate into your daily class as a warm-up or an all-day activity. As you already know, games banish the boredom of the day to day mundane that everyone has had enough of this time of the year. It doesn’t matter if you are playing dice games or board games, fun and engaging activity for students and minimal prep time for teachers.
Save yourself time by downloading a variety of review games here.
Why This All Works
At this point in the year, students may not listen to the teacher but they will listen to their peers. All of the above activities allow students to work together to show what they have learned during the school year and require little work from the teacher.
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