How to Keep Students Engaged the Last Week of School

The last week of school is one of the year’s most exciting and chaotic times. Students are buzzing with energy, summer is approaching, and routines seem to fly out the window. For upper elementary teachers, this stretch can be especially challenging. You want to maintain order, make memories, and keep everyone focused just enough to make it to the finish line. But how?

In this post, we’ll break down common end-of-year pain points and give you realistic, teacher-tested ideas for how to keep students engaged in the last week of school. Whether navigating state testing fatigue, packing up your classroom, or just trying to survive the countdown, you’ll walk away with ideas you can use right away and a helpful resource to make it even easier.

The Struggles of the Final Week

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already felt the shift in your classroom. That last week of school brings its own unique set of challenges:

• Students are mentally checked out. Summer vacation is so close they can practically taste it, which makes it harder for them to focus, follow directions, or stay on task.
• Classroom routines fall apart. Field trips, assemblies, yearbook signings, and award ceremonies disrupt the regular schedule.
• You’re packing, planning, and emotionally exhausted. Teachers are closing out grades, organizing their classrooms, and trying to ensure everything is ready for summer, and it’s a lot.
• Behavior issues tend to spike. As the structure disappears, so can the good behavior. Even your best-behaved students might start testing boundaries.

So, how do you survive the last week of school without losing your sanity?

Innovative Strategies to Keep Students Engaged

Here’s how to keep students engaged in the last week of school without sacrificing your well-being:

1. Make Learning Feel Like Fun

You can still keep learning; it doesn’t have to feel like a regular lesson. Try turning review content into a game, using trivia, or assigning creative projects that give students more ownership. Anything that breaks from the routine while offering structure will go a long way.

2. Use Theme Days or Countdowns

Theme days give students something to look forward to each day. Think: “Beach Day,” “STEM Challenge Day,” or “Game Day.” An A to Z Countdown to Summer works beautifully if you want an easy-to-implement system. It gives you 26 days of themed activities, but you can easily jump mid-way or use a few that work for your class.

This is included in my End-of-the-Year Activities Bundle. There are Awards, Countdown, Trivia, and Classroom Packing. The editable A to Z Countdown makes planning effortless while keeping students excited until the very last day.

3. Let Students Help with Classroom Tasks

Students love feeling helpful, and many are eager to do something hands-on. Instead of packing your room alone, get students involved! Assign small jobs using Classroom Packing Task Cards (also part of the bundle). They make it feel like a game while getting real work done.

This will lighten your load and help students stay focused and feel a sense of responsibility and pride.

4. Celebrate Your Students with Awards

Celebrating what made your class special is a great way to wrap up the year. End-of-year awards don’t have to be time-consuming or cheesy. With Editable End of the Year Awards, you can recognize students in meaningful (and funny!) ways. These are fully editable in PDF and Google Slides, making them simple to customize for your class.

Whether it’s “Future Author Award” or “Most Likely to Brighten Your Day,” these awards make your students feel seen and give you all a reason to smile on the last day.

5. Incorporate Daily Trivia or Morning Routines

If you usually do morning work or bell ringers, swap it for a light, fun activity like End of the Year Trivia. It’s a small way to keep routines going without too much effort. Trivia is a great way to settle the class, get their brains working, and sneak in some learning. It’s included in the End of the Year Activities Bundle in print and digital formats.

Make the Last Week of School Feel Less Stressful

Here’s the thing: the last week of school doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. A few well-placed, engaging activities can make a huge difference. The key is to balance fun and structure, give students a role in the process, and create opportunities for connection and celebration.

If you’re looking for a way to streamline your planning and stay sane, the End of the Year Activities Bundle might be precisely what you need. It includes:

• Editable End of the Year Awards
• A to Z Countdown to Summer
• End of the Year Trivia (Print & Digital)
• Classroom Packing Task Cards

This easy-to-use bundle includes everything you need to keep kids engaged, help with classroom clean-up, and celebrate your year together.

The end of the school year brings mixed emotions. You’re excited. You’re tired. And you’re probably feeling ready to shut the classroom door and head into a well-earned break. But know this: the work you’ve done all year matters, and so does how you wrap it up.

With the right tools and some planning, you can make the final week fun, meaningful, and memorable for your students and yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep students engaged in the last week of school, remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just consistent, creative, and filled with the joy of finishing well.

For more fun posts to help in the classroom, check these out:

10 Exciting and Meaningful End-of-Year Activities for Upper Elementary

Setting Up Literacy Centers in Upper Elementary Without the Stress

10 End-of-Year Classroom Games to Keep Upper Elementary Students Excited to Learn