After state testing is done, the age-old question is "What do we do now?"
I have 3 tried and true ideas that have served me well with my middle schoolers year after year.
1. Conduct a Novel Study
This one is pretty easy to implement. Choose an engaging novel, determine the focus (for example, theme), choose activities that will develop that focus and then read with audio.
In my class, we have read The Outsiders. Our focus was theme. The activities revolved around charting character traits and events that contributed to the themes of the book. We kept chapter summaries along the way too.
Then after we finished reading the book, I hung up posters with the themes of the book. Students used their character charts, event charts, and summaries to find evidence to support the themes. Then each student completed a project based on one of the themes.
Then on the last few days before summer, we watched the movie and compared and contrasted it to the book.
2. Research Project
You might know about a famous book character known as Flat Stanley that many an elementary student made a version of and sent off to a faraway
I decided to build on this idea with Pine Cone Pets!
Students formed groups, chose a country to visit, and then received a Pine Cone Pet that they promptly named. Then they designed a trip for that pet!
Now don't think they could just go hog-wild with unrealistic ideas. They were given a budget (with a spreadsheet) and had to stick to it. They then had to research the country, find the best places to visit as well as account for hotel, food, and transportation.
At the end of their study, each group presented their project using Google Slides.
This was a HUGE hit with my students because they could be creative and maybe even a bit silly. :)
3. Group Short Story Study Project
This project is based on the multiple intelligences. Multiple intelligences is a concept created by Howard Gardner where he states that each person is smart in a certain way. So the first thing students do in this project, is take a multiple intelligences assessment.
Next, students are grouped by their strength. As a group they choose a story to study and a project to complete that is based on their strength.
Next, there is instruction using a PowerPoint and Notes on how to research, plot diagram, summarizing and more.
Finally, students complete the project and then present their projects in a Student Forum.
I have completed this project at 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels and it has been very powerful because some students didn't realize they had a special kind of intelligence inside of them.
This project takes about 4 weeks so while it could be a great end of year project, it can also be impactful for Summer School. Either way you use it, it is sure to produce some amazing results!
These 3 ideas are my top ways to end the school year. Your students will love having the opportunity to be creative and you will love having a plan to take you into summer with ease!
Thanks for stopping by!
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