Making a classroom yearbook is an activity that combines a review of the major units studied throughout the year, journaling, arts and crafts and sequencing events. If you have photos of field trips, assemblies, holidays and other projects that took place throughout the school year saved to a file, this can be a great classroom activity to end the year.
This activity takes about four to five days to complete. Items needed include digital photos, a printer and printer paper, glue, pencils, rulers, scissors, and craft supplies you may have on hand like stickers, crayons, markers, colored pencils and construction paper. A binding machine is optional, but is a nice finishing touch if you have access to one.
As a class, have students come up with a list of their favorite events and projects that took place throughout the year. Record these so the students can see them and refer to it later. After this group activity, have each student create her own Top-10 list of favorites.
Using the classroom computers containing a file with digital photographs from the school year, have each student find one or two photos that relate to each of their Top-10 lists they created. Save these photos to a document and print out. When students have all of their photos printed, they can then place them in chronological order.
Next comes the creative part. Bring out the art supplies for students to cut out their pictures and glue each one to a page. Under each photo, students can write a caption describing the event. On the back of these pages, encourage students to journal other memories throughout the year, their favorite book they read, the best day they had, funny moments, etc.
When the pages are complete, students can create their own cover, either on the computer or on their own. If you have a class photo, print one off for each student to use on the cover page. Make sure this page includes the student's name, teacher's name and year of school.
If you have access to a laminating or binding machine, this will help with durability and keep the pages all together. If not, use a stapler.
If you do not have the time to devote to a project like the yearbook, try these other end-of-year classroom activities
Have students write a letter to their future teacher. Each student can introduce himself and write about his likes and dislikes, as well as his favorite subjects.
Another writing activity is for students to write a letter to next year's class explaining all that they can expect to learn and other advice.