Eight End of the School Year Ideas for Middle School ELA

It's that time! ⏰

The end of the school year is quickly approaching. If you are anything like me, you are exhausted and D-U-N done! If you are on final fumes, be sure to check out my blog post of low-prep ideas to get you through those last few weeks (coming soon!).

If you have some gas left in the tank and are looking to end the year with some final fun (more involved) activities, here are some ideas for you!

1. Literary Reflections: Have students reflect on the books they've read throughout the year. They can write letters to future students recommending their favorite books, create posters summarizing key themes and characters, or even create book trailers or podcasts discussing their favorite reads. This is especially fun if you've been having students read self-selected novels!

2. Creative Writing Showcase: Host a creative writing showcase where students can share their best pieces from the year. Encourage them to read aloud their stories, poems, or personal essays, or create a digital gallery to showcase their work. If you have students who really don't like getting up in front of the class, encourage them to make a video of themselves sharing and play it!

3. Literary Magazine: Collaborate with students to create a literary magazine featuring their original writing, artwork, and book reviews. This could be printed or published digitally for the school community to enjoy. I've done this as an elective class, but it would also be really fun as a class project. Just be warned: this one could take a lot of work on your part, depending on how you set it up.

4. Author Study: Allow students to choose an author they've studied throughout the year and conduct research to create presentations or posters about the author's life, works, and impact on literature. I'm a Poe-head, so this one is definitely up my alley! This could also help students find more books they may enjoy reading by their favorite authors.

5. Poetry Slam: Organize a poetry slam where students can perform their favorite poems from the year, whether they're classics studied in class or original compositions. Encourage creativity and expression through performance. 

6. End of Year Book Awards: Have students vote on various book awards such as "Most Memorable Character," "Best Plot Twist," or "Book That Made Me Cry the Most." Discuss the winners and why they were chosen.

7. Digital Storytelling: Utilize technology by having students create digital stories or presentations about a book they've read, incorporating multimedia elements such as images, music, and video clips.

8. Student Reflections: Have students reflect where they can respond to prompts about their growth as readers and writers throughout the year, their favorite assignments, and goals for future reading and writing endeavors.

BONUS: Writing prompts!!! Writing prompts are always a go-to activity for me in ELA classes. You can pull one out of your ass at a moment’s notice and run with it, or you can plan out topics. I ALWAYS recommend giving students choices so having a couple in your back pocket can save you in a pinch.

You cannot go wrong with getting students to write scary stories. It’s a fun activity, no matter what time of year you’re in. If you want some fun summer theming, have students share their stories around a “campfire” in your classroom!

Check out my resource Middle School ELA Writing Prompt & Writing Activity: Scary Stories for everything you need for your students to follow the writing process and write a scary story!

Photo by Mesh on Unsplash