Let’s be honest. Those last few weeks of school are wild. Kids are buzzing with excitement, routines are breaking down, and you’re trying to pack up your room while somehow still teaching. 😅

It’s a weird, wonderful season… and if you’re anything like me, you want to enjoy it with your students, not just survive it.

So I’ve rounded up 10 of my favorite end-of-year activities that are both fun for kids and easy on you. These are tried-and-true activities that review academic skills, create lasting memories, and help wrap up the year with meaning (and minimal chaos!). Click each title to shop, if one of these ideas jumps out at you!

1. ✏️ Last Day Letter to Myself

Let students reflect on how far they’ve come with a sweet and thoughtful letter-writing project. They’ll brainstorm memories, write about things they’re proud of, and encourage their “future self.” It's a heartfelt keepsake that families will treasure.

📌 Bonus: You can mail them later—or let kids take them home as a celebration of growth.

2. 🌎 World’s Greatest Vacation Writing Project

Students choose their dream vacation destination, research it, and write a persuasive essay to convince their classmates to take that trip. It’s the perfect combo of writing, creativity, and research... and your room becomes a travel agency for a week!

3. 🔤 The ABCs of 2nd Grade (or 3rd!)

Celebrate everything your students have learned from A to Z with this academic review book! Each letter focuses on a different skill—from geometry and grammar to fluency and fractions. It’s great for morning work, early finishers, or small group review.

4. 🧳 Story Genre Passport

End the year with a reading challenge that feels like an adventure! Students “travel” through different genres (realistic fiction, mystery, fantasy, nonfiction, and more), completing hands-on, creative response tasks for each. It’s fun, meaningful, and keeps readers engaged until the very end.

5. 🖍 Classroom Clean-Up Cards

I’ve written about this before, but it’s worth repeating: don’t clean your room alone. These End of Year Clean-Up Cards let your students take ownership of packing and tidying—testing markers, sorting supplies, wiping desks—and they love it. You’ll walk out with a clean room without staying until 7 PM.

6. 🖼 Memory Quilt Craft

Give each student a “quilt square” to draw and write about their favorite memory from the year. Then piece them together into a giant class quilt! It's an easy way to showcase special moments and makes a sweet hallway or bulletin board display.

7. 📬 Guess Who? Classmate Game

This game is always a hit! Students draw a self-portrait and write their name on a card. Then one student becomes the guesser, asking yes/no questions to figure out which classmate’s card they picked. It’s silly, social, and surprisingly heartwarming.

8. 🍦 Second Grade (or Third Grade) Was Sweet Ice Cream Craft

Celebrate the sweetness of the school year with this adorable writing craft. Each “scoop” of ice cream features a memory or reflection from the year. It makes a fun display and a cute take-home keepsake for families.

9. 🕵️ Classroom Scavenger Hunt

End the year with a little mystery! Students solve a series of classroom clues that lead to a final prize or treat. It's active, cooperative, and just structured enough to keep the chaos fun instead of overwhelming.

10. 🧠 Math Masters Project

Let your students become the teachers! In this project, each child chooses a math skill from the year and designs a mini-lesson to teach incoming students. They plan activities, create sample problems, and reflect on how they learned best. (You’ll be amazed at the insight they share.)

Wrap It Up With Joy

The end of the year doesn’t have to be a countdown full of chaos. With the right mix of meaningful reflection and low-prep fun, you can send your students off feeling proud, celebrated, and ready for what’s next.

💛 You’ve made it, teacher friend. Let’s end the year with joy.

10 Low-Prep, High-Fun End of Year Activities for 2nd & 3rd Graders