One fun end-of-year activity is creative writing. The teacher can bring in five to 10 objects that have to do with summer. Lay them out in front of the students and have the students write short stories that incorporate the items. This is a great way for them to look forward to summer, use their imaginations, and practice writing, grammar and punctuation skills. To make it more exciting, have the students read their stories aloud.
Using three-ring binders, students can create a memory book of work and projects they have done throughout fifth grade. They can include their favorite activities, or samples of writing which they are proud of. Students should be instructed to include at least seven items over the course of the year in their memory books. They can decorate the cover and pages as well. This is a great way for them to reflect on the year and take pride in all they have accomplished.
This activity can be done individually or as a whole class project. Students can create a "How to Survive Fifth grade" booklet for the incoming class. This project can be done in a variety of ways. They can make the survival kit in ABC order, or create "recipes" of ways to tackle fifth-grade challenges. Either way, this is a fun, creative activity that has the students reflecting on the year and thinking about ways to improve what they experienced.
A great end-of-year activity is to have each fifth-grader become the teacher for a period. Students can choose to review a concept taught that year or can teach the class about a subject they are well versed in. This is really exciting for students, as they get a chance to stand out and take control. Also, it is a creative way to have the students either review a topic or learn about a new one.