4 Ways to Celebrate the End of the Year on Zoom

It’s almost here – the end of the year! I know you’re probably more sad about the end of this year than others. You might even be more tired this year. Your students might be, too! What better way to end the school year than to do something fun and “normal” for the end of the year! Not only do your students need some closure, but I’m sure you do too. One way to do that is to have an end of the year celebration on Zoom.

I know it won’t look or feel the same, but you can still celebrate students’ progress and have a little fun one last time with this special bunch of students. Presenting your students with awards and having an end of the year celebration on Zoom would really wrap up the year nicely for everyone.

I’ve been brainstorming some fun, easy ideas for you to try out with your class. Remember when planning your celebration, choose activities that work best for your class and age group. They’re sure to love one last big meeting and connecting with everyone.

Host a Scavenger Hunt

One super fun activity for Zoom is a scavenger hunt. I’ve been hearing about them from a few friends, and my own children just did one, too! You could get as creative as you want or just keep it simple.

When students arrive to the meeting, you ask them to find one thing at a time and set a timer for them to come back to the computer. It could be academic or just fun. For example, find something that…

• Rhymes with blue.
• Starts with the letter A.
• Reminds you of school.
• Is one of your favorite things to do at home.
• Smells good.
• Is bigger than your shoe and smaller than you.

After each student finds an item (or time runs out), have them hold up what they found and let a few students share. Then, start the timer and send them off to find something else.

Share Favorite Memories From the Year

In the classroom at the end of the year, I always had students work on a memory book to help wrap up the year. I loved seeing what students thought of their learning, their friends, and their time at school. You could share a memory book with students to work on and have them share it at your Zoom end of the year celebration. I have several you could choose from:

• End of Year Memory Book
• End of Year Flip Up Book
• End of Year #Selfie

Then, your students would still have a keepsake to remember this crazy year. Personally, I think the End of Year Memory Book or #Selfie book would be the easiest for students to make and assemble themselves.

Minute to Win It Games

Normally at end of the year parties, I love some good minute to win it games. Kids do, too! They are always a hit and easily keep students’ attention. Try to think of some fun, simple minute to win it games to play at your end of the year celebration on Zoom. If you choose one with supplies, try to make them things kids might have around the house. You could try:

• A physical challenge like one minute of balancing on one foot and progressively making it harder (add hopping, spinning and hopping, etc.).
• Play the Cookie Face game. If students don’t have a cookie, they could use almost anything: large pretzel, cracker, goldfish, etc.
• Play Pencil Flip: Hold your hand out and place a pencil on the back of your hand. Quickly flip your hand over and catch the pencil. Add a pencil each time you flip and catch. Whoever has the most after a minute wins.

Play Simple Games

Another easy, fun way to celebrate the end of the year on Zoom is to play some games with your students. Choose ones that require little to no supplies for the students. These are a few classics my own kids love to play:

• Would You Rather: I found some lists with questions for kids HERE and HERE. Make a list of kid-friendly questions to ask your class. You could ask each student a different one to keep it engaging.
• Charades
• Race to Name It: Give students a letter. They have to write a person, place, or thing that starts with that letter and hold it up. If you have older students, they can race to type in the Zoom chatbox. The goal is to not be the last one.

I know this has all been new and unchartered territory for all of us. But as teachers, adapting and changing is not! Even though this won’t be the usual end of the year celebration with food, fun, and hugs, we can still make the most out of it.

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I would love to hear if you have any other ideas for a Zoom end of the year celebration. We are all in this together – let’s collaborate! Share your ideas in the comments or in my Facebook Group.