As it gets closer to the end of the year, the energy of the class goes up and mine goes down 😆😓 All I want are easy, low-prep activities while I daydream of camping and cold beverages…

LOL but seriously, I find hands-on experiences are the way to go. And if we can do them OUTSIDE, even better! So here are three super simple ideas that you can slip into any day that combine learning and FUN all in one 🥳

1. STEM: Lego Bridge Building Challenge

Whip out that Lego bin and let the kids learn without even realizing it. This classic challenge can be done in the classroom BUT, like I said, outside is where it’s at!

If you’re inside, you can make a paper river☝️ but for outside, I suggest having students draw a chalk river!💦 You can extend the activity even further by having them draw objects that would be in that specific biome (eg. a forest with a river running through might have different species of trees, bushes/shrubs, and creatures, too!).

I love Lego’s variation of this activity where students work in partners to create an independent yet also collaborative bridge: Start by sitting back-to-back, or somewhere you can’t see what your partner is building, and construct your own section of a bridge.

Then, reveal your project to your partner and work together to connect the bridge parts into one big (hopefully strong) bridge! 🏗️ Extend the activity by letting students “play” around with load-bearing by adding items they find around the school yard, from pebbles to pinecones!

2. ART & LITERACY Connection: Favourite Season Writing Craft

Whether you choose to do this outside on picnic benches, blankets, or back in the classroom, your kiddos will love getting to write and show all about their favorite season, and YOU will love how easy it is to prep!

Extend the activity by introducing it with a read aloud! These three are always a hit👇 Younger students love Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson as just a super simple, interactive way to casually review the four seasons. Green on Green by Dianne White is SO pretty and rhythmic to read. The colourful vocabulary and illustrations really give a nice snapshot of each season & its activities. And, if you’re reviewing Daily & Seasonal Changes, then A Stroll Through the Seasons by Kay Barnham is my hands-down favourite choice. I love the concrete scientific connection integrated with the ease of a fictional storyline and paired with vivid illustrations. It also provides kiddos with lots of inspiration for this activity!

After students have completed their trees, written their opinions, and added their icons, I like to designate some time for each kiddo to share their work (yay for informal oral language practice via low-pressure public speaking & self-regulation as respectful audience members listening & waiting their turn 🙌 BAM. It’s not “just a cute craftivity” after all 😝).

PLUS this also makes a fast & simple bulletin board display. Win. Win. Win. You can grab the activity HERE.

3. Exploring the Properties of Materials: Shaving Cream Sensory Play

I saved the best for last. This one sounds like a messy disaster but…it’s NOT! Hold tight. I’ll explain in a minute.

First of all, good scientists are able to make 👀observations in order to learn more about whatever it is they are studying. Understanding and being able to describe the properties of our observations are skills that we have developed throughout the school year and are ready to put those skills to the test with some very serious shaving cream exploration 🧬🦠🧫🧪👩‍🔬

Okay. Just had to give you that admin-approving explanation before moving to the real purpose of this activity. It’s FUN! And it let’s kids explore, get creative, and get “messy” as they write their names, spell heart words, and draw.

But, like the good scientists we are, there will be lots of descriptive vocabulary being used to share about the look, smell, texture and feel of this substance! Extend the activity by recording all the descriptive adjectives you hear throughout the activity on the white board/chart paper. And because we all know how unstructured time can lead to classroom management nightmares, I’ve made this quick freebie for you to assign to students as you finish the clean up:

I originally mentioned that this activity isn’t the messy disaster you think it is, and that’s because shaving cream is a great agent to remove stubborn sticky residue leftover from a year of taping and writing and erasing and..existing! Plus, it starts to evaporate the longer you play. So really all you’ll need is a cloth to wipe the leftover off.

This is where that extension activity☝️ comes in because, after students have washed their hands (and helped with cleanup depending on your classroom expectations), they can grab a page and lie on the floors to complete it as you fine-tune the tidy and prepare for whatever is next 💃

What are some of YOUR go-to end-of-the-year activities?