Achievable Lesson Plan for Last Week of Class with Kindergartners

The last week of class with kindergartners can be chaotic as they can feel the semester coming to an end. With Christmas or summer being around the corner, it can make it difficult to engage them and keep their attention. 

We get stuck wondering things like, “How can I keep their attention this last week” or “What’s most important for me to go over with them?”

When you’re unsure what to do, it’s hard to move forward. 

This time of year is the perfect time to celebrate the progress they've made throughout the semester, engage in fun and reflective activities, and provide closure.

In this post, I’ll define the end of semester success and provide 3 ideas for achievable lesson plans for the last week of class. I hope that this will give you a roadmap so you can get started with these lesson plans and feel confident moving into the last week of your class.

What is the perfect lesson plan for the last week of class with kindergartners?

Enjoying students to the fullest and keeping lessons and activities simple and open-ended is going to be key when creating your lesson plans for the last week of class. When we can remember that our time with one another is limited, and the holidays are a time to practice gratitude and remind one another of all the things we are grateful for, the time is less stressful and becomes more enjoyable for each individual. It is also important to keep things as routine and consistent as possible since many of our students count on that and it creates a sense of safety and security especially in busy seasons like the holidays. The key is keeping your daily routines as much as possible while also sprinkling holiday fun into the mix! 

In other words:

There are three ingredients to end of year lesson plans that will be beneficial for both you and your students.

The added benefit is that you will get a feel for how your students have grown this past year or semester and utilize that information for your future classes.

#1: Reflection and Memory Lane 

Your kindergartners have just completed a huge milestone in their little lives. As they come to the end of a semester, it is important to allow them to acknowledge how far they have come and walk through the year with them.

This is a crucial component because it will help students reflect on the school year and create a memory keepsake.

Many people who are new to teaching get stuck at this point of the year because they are almost done with their lessons and the kids become a little unsettled. Adding activities that allow your students to reflect on the year will help them stay focused and settled.

Here is an example of an activity to do with your students:

• Gather students in a circle and talk about their favorite memories from the school year so far.
• Provide each student with a simple template (draw a large heart on a sheet of paper) and ask them to draw or write their favorite memory inside the heart.

Activities like these are easy to do but are memorable for your students because they will be reminiscing on the memories they created in your classroom this year.

#2: Interactive and Collaborative Activities 

A great and easy way to engage your students at this point of the year is integrating hands-on activities into your lesson plans. Their attention is wearing thin with the excitement of the holidays around the corner so a great tool is to channel that energy into hands-on activities. 

If you’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to engage your class, but something still feels off, this is likely the piece that’s missing. 

Without this, you can feel like you’re doing all the right things and still not be engaging them and allowing them to have fun while also learning.​​ 

What can you do?

Holiday-themed Crafts:

• Set up different craft stations with materials for making holiday-themed decorations or cards. My freebie, Christmas-Themed Syllable Task Cards is a great way to incorporate the holidays with learning!
• Other Ideas: Decorate ornaments, create paper snowflakes, draw holiday cards, or other simple DIY gifts.

Giving your students fun, hands-on tasks and activities allows them to create memories around the holidays while also engaging them for a longer period of time. 

#3: Provide Closure and Celebrate 

This is such a fun and exciting time of year for your Kindergartners! Providing them with closure and celebration this holiday season will provide them with so many memories to take with them.

Of course, taking time to celebrate your students may not be the protocol in a typical lesson plan. Consider the joy that your kids will have when they get to celebrate their year of hard work and crucial character development. 

Here some more specific ideas to celebrate your students and close out the year strong:

• Memory Lane Collages: Have each child create a collage or scrapbook page featuring their favorite memories and activities throughout the school year. Provide materials like magazines, colored paper, and markers. Allow them to draw or cut out pictures that represent special moments in the classroom. Display these collages on a bulletin board during a class celebration where students can share and talk about their creations.
• End-of-Year Awards Ceremony: Organize a fun and lighthearted awards ceremony to celebrate each child's unique qualities and achievements. Create personalized certificates or small awards for categories such as "Most Curious Explorer," "Best Team Player," or "Super Storyteller." Present the awards in front of the class, and encourage classmates to cheer for each other. This ceremony not only provides closure but also reinforces positive behavior and accomplishments.
• Classroom Time Capsule: Have a closing activity where students contribute items to a time capsule that represents their kindergarten year. This could include drawings, letters to their future selves, or small mementos. Seal the time capsule and store it in the classroom. Discuss with the students that they will open it at a later date, such as when they're in a higher grade. This activity not only provides closure but also allows students to reflect on their growth and look forward to future milestones.

Once you’re done, your students will feel so excited for the holidays, celebrated in all of their achievements, and excited to come back after the break!

Putting it All Together for Your Perfect Lesson Plan

There you have it! The 3 components of your perfect [lesson plan for your last week of class]. 

It may sound like a lot, but these things will be so worth it at the end of the year. Just focus on getting to the end of the semester strong. Just enjoy these last moments with your kiddos before they head off winter break.

What’s next? Download [My Self Monitoring Checklist]

If you need help getting started, my Self Monitoring Checklist will help you give tools to your kindergarteners so they can check in with themselves daily and build self-control.

Click here to download Self Monitoring Checklist now >>