Fun + Simple Last Day of School Party Ideas

Are you a teacher planning the last day of school with your students? Congrats -this means the finish line is in sight.

It’s time to celebrate the end of year with your students and send them off for a summer.

Below you will find several last day of school party ideas, as well as things to include during the last day or week of school.

I’ll be honest, when Googling this topic, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the ideas and suggestions out there for last day of school party ideas.

The sky is the limit in terms of fun things to do on the last day with your class, but here’s what I’m personally a fan of:

• keeping it SIMPLE and uncomplicated! (Teacher mental health is a big focus for me)
• keeping it somewhat waste-free
• staying within a budget

There are so many ideas out there, but some of them can get expensive, especially if you’re a new teacher.

So, let’s jump in – fun and simple last-day-of-school party ideas.

Fun and Simple Last Day of School Party Ideas

Here are some great ideas for ways to spend the last day of school with your students. You can choose any 1 party idea below, plus 1-2 activities (from the activities section underneath) to go with the party, or with the last week of school.

So basically, you are choosing:

• A party idea (theme) from below
• 1-2 special added activities, which are listed under the activities section. These can be done at the party itself, or during the last week of school

You will notice that a lot of these ideas are very simple. Mostly, kids are hoping that there’s no ‘work’ and simply want the last day of school to be fun and easy. And it should be for them – and you too.

These ideas below are crazy simple and easy, but will make your end-of-year party fun and touching for both you and the students.

Side note: Many of these ideas can be used as whole class rewards throughout the year, so you may want to choose something that you haven’t done as a class yet or that you know works well for your class.

5 SIMPLE and Minimalist End-of-Year Class Party Ideas to Choose From

1. Movie afternoon

Good for: Ages 4-13
Materials: Laptop + HDMI cord, or a movie projector to project a movie (+ a snack if you want to include one)

Ok, ok I know this isn’t exactly an original idea. It’s probably the first idea you thought of.

A movie afternoon can be a good idea, because its easy, the kids love it and it isn’t all that hard to plan.

When I asked my daughter for last day of school ideas for this blog, the first thing that popped out of her mouth was ‘movie.’ So, it doesn’t disappoint. Don’t feel bad if you choose to go the movie route.

You just need to figure out a movie appropriate for your age group, do a vote, and figure out how you will obtain the movie and project it in class. Throw in some popcorn to make it an even more special occasion.

2. Dance Party

Good for: Ages 4-9
Materials: some sort of speaker and a playlist, or a laptop to project Just Dance on YouTube

Turn on some appropriate music, put out some simple (allergen-free) snacks, and let the kids just chill and hang out.

This can be accompanied by snacks, or be as structured as you want. You can turn on your own music, or there are also some dance videos intended for kids on YouTube.

Most older kids will not feel comfortable getting up and dancing to the music, so that’s why I recommend this for younger age groups.

3. Music + Potluck Party

Good for: Ages 6-13
Materials: paper plates + cups

If you feel comfortable doing this, and if it works for your class, have each student bring in a dish or a treat.

I recommend this for kids who are old enough to hold a paper plate and put food on it without too much of a disaster, to keep things at a manageable level for you.

There may be rules you have to abide by, such as no homemade food (unfortunately) so find out what is allowed in your area.

4. Board Game Party

Good for: Ages 6-13
Materials: Board games that students bring in or make themselves

A board game party allows kids to get in groups and play the board game of their choice.

It can be done in one of two ways:

• Have students bring in board games.
• Use the weeks leading up to the last day for students to MAKE their own board games. This resource explains how you can use student-created board games in class

My daughter has been to many activities, Girl Guides and school, where she was asked to bring in a board game for a party. She usually brings a simple game that isn’t hard to explain, and it goes well. She plays her game with friends a few times, and also takes part in other people’s games.

5. Carnival Party

Good for: Ages 6+
Materials: Paper, scissors and something to write with, pairs of dice for some games + prizes if you want to include those

A Carnival Party is very simple to a board game party. Except students create games that will be ‘stations’ at the carnival.

Each station is a simple game of chance. Such as, spinning a wheel, a coin toss, or guessing something

During the carnival party, students walk around to each station and play the games of chance.

My daughter’s class (Grade 5 – 10 years old) did this Carnival Party on the last day of school.

The station she made was the very simple game, pictured above. If you want, students can win tickets that they can use to buy candy – from you.

Pro Tip: The Carnival party can just be called a carnival and can be done on the last week of school rather than specifically on the last day.

Last Week of School Activities (To Do During the Last Week or Day of School)

The party ideas above are good and simple ideas, but these added touches below will make the last day or week even more special, for you and your students. By the way, these are also very easy, and don’t try to do all of them – I’m very focused on avoiding burnout as a teacher and you should only take on things you really want to do.

1. Collect signatures!

Good for: Ages 6+
Materials: Paper, and something to write with

Collecting signatures and notes from each other is a great idea, especially if not all your students have yearbooks (or if your school doesn’t do yeartbooks.)

Give each student a piece of paper.

Then, they use whatever writing material of your choice (my daughter’s teacher in the example above let them use paint) but it could also be markers, crayon, pencils or pens.

They go around and write their signatures or notes on each other’s piece of paper. It’s a simple activity that builds good community.

2. Write a little note to each student

Good for: Ages 6-13

I suggest bringing some thank-you cards to hand out to students who bring you teacher gifts.

But some teachers hand out a little card to teach student. (I couldn’t do this as I was a rotary teacher and had over 200 students.)

But if you have a smaller class, it’s a nice touch. You can pre-write really simply messages in advance and even just add a “PS: Thank you very much for the chocolates” if they end up bringing you a gift that you didn’t know about at the time of writing.

If writing a little note to each student feels overwhelming, there’s nothing wrong with just giving a thank you note to anyone who brings you something. I’ve seen teachers do it both ways. They will not think you have favourites if you only give notes to those who brought you a gift – you can even do it very discretely so it’s hardly noticeable.

3. Trip to a Nearby Playground or Splashpad

Good for: Ages 6-13

Is there a playground or splashpad within walking distance of your school? Get permission from parents and walk there for an afternoon with your students.

You could even team up with another teacher and have both classes walk there together.

Pro Tip: My 12-year-old daughter shared that a trip to the playground or splash pad is a good idea during the last WEEK or school, but not necessarily during the last day. The kids are in lazy mode on the last day and would rather just be relaxing than doing anything major.

4. The Memory Bag

Good for: Ages 6-8+ (need to be able to write independently)
Cost: $5-10
Materials: paper bags, scissors, and paper

This is an activity that you should start in the weeks leading up to the last day of school.

First, have students decorate a paper bag with their name on it, and hang the paper bags up in the class somewhere, or at the students’ desks.

Each day, hand out 2 or 3 names of students in the class to each student. They write a simple note to the students whose names they receive which can contain:

• memories they shared with them over the school year
• compliments
• thank yous

After writing the note, the students put them into that student’s paper bag. Then, by the end of the day, they have a paper bag full of wonderful warm fuzzies to take home with them.

Depending on the age group and writing level, you could do some pre-teaching leading up to it about what a kind message looks like including how to write one.

This is sure to be a memorable and meaningful activity that will promote kindness and community.

Even though it’s the last day of school, it will help the students look back on the year fondly and even reassure them returning to school after the summer.

5. Give them back a photo from the first day of school

Good for: Ages 6-8+
Cost: Free

One of my daughter’s teachers’ did something really cute and thoughtful. On the first day of school, she took a photo of each student.

Then, during the last week of school she took a picture of them. She printed off both pictures and gave them to each student so that they could see how much they’d grown!

Pro Tip: To be honest, my daughter only told me about cute this after the fact. She ripped up the photos and threw them in the garbage because she didn’t like how she looked in them (this was in Grade 6 – 11 years old.) So, for that reason I’d recommend this idea to younger students who are more likely to bring these photos home to their parents – especially when you’re putting in that kind of effort!

6. Book exchange

Good for: Ages 4+
Cost: Free

Have each student bring in a book that they no longer want. (Of course you’ll need to send home communication with parents and get them involved.)

Then, set up a little library with all the used books. Have students choose a book they didn’t have to go home with.

You could organize the actual choosing of books how you wish, and what makes sense for the age of your students.

I think it would be fun for students to have some time to just sit down, and look at the different books together, before making any choice as to what to bring home. A big part of this is appreciating books 🙂

7. Take a group photo

Good for: Ages 6-8+
Cost: Free

Have another staff member, or even an older student to come into your class and take a group photo of all of you.

You don’t have to be in the photo if you don’t want to. You can also take the photo yourself of the class.

You can then send the photo out to parents on an app that you use, or post it on Google classroom. Just make sure that all students’ faces being shown in the photo are allowed to appear in photos.

8. Games

Good for: Ages 6-8+
Cost: Mostly free (with a few exceptions)

Spend the last day of school party, (or the last week of school) playing some fun and simple games with your class.

You can choose games they’re already very familiar with and like, plus introduce a new game. (I just wouldn’t introduce too many new games in the last week of school.)

Here are some game ideas:

• A Minute To Win It
  • Stack attack
  • Dice balance
  • Crossstick challenge
• Night at the museum
• Heads Up Seven Up
• Capture the Flag (best done outdoors, when weather cooperates)

What You Need to Know About the Last Day of School (If You’re a First-Year Teacher)

✅ The kids will be excited and hyper and not super up to doing anything too complicated. (According to my Gr. 7 daughter, all they want to do is relax, and be couch potatoes.) You want to plan a day that gives you a chance to bond and spend time with them, but isn’t too structured and requires too much attention from them (or you)

 ✅ Some of the kids may bring in gifts for you. I would say don’t expect gifts, but at the same time you should expect them and be ready for them, especially if you live in an area where teacher gifts are common. (Canada, US, Europe.)

I recommend bringing a stack of thank-you cards, and make sure there is time in the day for you to write quick thank-yous (especially to the kids who brought you gifts)

What You Need to Know About The Last WEEK of School

Sometimes, it isn’t just about the last day of school. Often, the last WEEK of school is a series of celebrations and activities that are organized to celebrate the end of the year.

The extent of this may vary from place to place, so you should double-check what the norm is where you live.

My recommendation: Choose one fun activity per day to plan a fun last week of school with your class. Here’s an example that I would use in my classroom:

• Day 1: Writing notes for memory bags + trip to a park or splashpad
• Day 2: Classroom games or carnival
• Day 3: Movie, potluck and bring home memory bages

Of course, motify this and play around with options to suit your class, their ages and temperaments

Last Day of School FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the last day of school, and how to celebrate the end of the school year with students

How do you celebrate the end of school?

The end of school can be celebrated with some fun, special but simple end of school year party ideas, games and activities. Give students to create a souvenir for the end of this year, such as getting signatures or making memory bags, or a class group photo

How do you make an end-of-year party fun?

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make the end-of-year party fun. What your students want most is to bond, chill and spend time with each other and you. There are plenty last day of school party ideas that won’t stress you out or break the bank.

How to have a fun last day of school?

To plan a fun last day of school, choose from a few different last day of school party ideas, and add 1-2 activities to compliment that party idea. In addition, you may want to consider what other fun or different things can be done during the last week of school.

Final Thoughts on the Last Day of School Parties

I hope that this resource has given you lots of ideas on how you can spend your last day with your students. The end of the year is definitely bittersweet; you’re relieved to be done, but

Whether you’re spending the summer travelling, working at a summer job, or with your kids – take the time to disconnect from school so that you can come back refreshed when school starts back up.