If you’re anything like me, you know exactly how many days remain in the school year. Or, how many days before the next long weekend. That is why I’m sharing 10 fun and engaging end of the year activities for middle school math.
1. Digital Maze
Digital mazes are great interactive Google Slides™ activities that students can complete in groups or individually. These are a fun way to keep students challenged and engaged in learning when the school year is coming to an end. Students get a series of questions or math problems to complete. Their goal is to find the correct path from the start to the end by solving problems.
2. Classroom Superlatives
Ever wonder who is most likely to be a financial expert or most likely to be a math teacher? I bet your students have an idea. Classroom superlatives are a fun way to celebrate students in math class. Have them think of categories, or you can create your own. Keep the superlatives positive and celebrate students’ unique differences. .
3. Spoons
Yes! Spoons! This game always has students laughing and practicing their math skills. When you need a day of purposeful fun, print out a set for a math concept your students have done well on. Spoons is a favorite activity for the end of the year.
4. Mystery Pictures
The best activities allow students to practice their math skills and check their work along the way. Mystery Pictures is a digital activity that includes a self-checking component. Mystery Pictures will keep students engaged when you need more time to move from group to group. Or when you need time to clear out the classroom at the end of the year.
5. Puzzles
Puzzles are a great activity if you have supplies left over and need to use them or lose them at the end of the year. It is no fun boxing up a bunch of glue or glue sticks because you never know how they will handle the time in storage. With this math activity, students cut out puzzle pieces. They complete the problems on each piece and match them to their corresponding answers. There is an optional placemat for students to lay out their puzzle pieces and glue them down. It also comes with an answer key on a separate page from the student handout. The doodle fonts in the middle of each puzzle piece make it easy for the teacher to check the student’s work quickly.
6. Scavenger Hunt
Students love the end of the year activities that let them get up and move around. Students get out of their seats, talk math, and solve math problems. Scavenger hunts are great when you need something to engage students after school ceremonies or celebrations. It keeps the momentum going and encourages them to use their math knowledge to figure things out.
7. Make a top 10 list
Top 10 lists are a popular way to end the school year. You can have them create a list around any school or subject-related topic. Some student favorites are: Top 10 moments in class, Top 10 things I’ve learned and used outside of school, and Top 10 things I have learned and have not used outside of school. This end of the year activity gives students a chance to reflect on the year and connect what they’ve learned. It also gives them an opportunity to show their personalities.
8. Board Games
Bring in the collection of board games that are collecting dust at home. Games like Monopoly, The Game of Life, and Ticket to Ride are great for practicing math skills. Board games are also very easy to set up and can be used in a math station if you are still having students engage in other types of practice at the same time.
9. Jenga
Modified Jenga makes a great end of the year activity for middle school math. The students will be engaged in the lesson and have fun with their classmates. This game requires Jenga blocks or any building blocks game)\. You will need to color both ends with colored markers. The blocks are also available to purchase in different colors.
10. “Sneak Peak” into Our Class
It is ok to write in math class. Especially when the students are writing letters to tell you about their experience in your classroom. I had students write a few sentences about what incoming students can expect when walking into this class. Then I had them color a sneaker that I just printed out from a quick internet search. They had fun personalizing their own sneaker and writing fun things about our class. Can’t wait to hang it up as a bulletin for the beginning of the year next year!
Through all my years of teaching, I can tell you that no two years are the same. As you approach the end of the school year, consider the impact you’ve had on your students. “As time goes on, you’ll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn’t, doesn’t. Time solves most things. And what time can’t solve, you’ll learn to solve yourself.” – Haruki Murakami
What end of year activities for middle school math do you use in your classroom to keep students engaged at the end of the year?
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