The Last Few Weeks of School

Posted by Beth Lynne May 17, 2007

The Last Few Weeks of School

Summer is almost here! However, it isn't over yet. The problem is,though,what do we do with the kids until the final day when we say, "See you in September"? Our finals are over and graded, and the grades are recorded in the electronic grade book. Now it is time to keep order.

Aside from showing movies, which I am planning to do, as long as they can be tied into the science standards--I am thinking "the Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13" for my sixth grade, and maybe "Madagascar" and "Happy Feet" for my seventh graders (weather and climate, and animal habitats)--there are some interesting take-away projects I would like to see my students complete before they leave for summer vacation.

One of my favorite end-of-the-year projects is the memory t-shirt. Students are encouraged to bring in plain white t-shirts (of course, I spring for a few). I supply the permanent markers, in different colors, that are not allowed to leave the room. This year, there will be a science theme, in which students choose a branch of scince and draw a background on the t-shirt that reflects it. For instance, for environmental science or Earth science, students might draw a mountain range or lake. For biology, students might draw a skeleton and label the bones. Then, the students have their classmates sign the t-shirts. The students stay very involved with this project. Make sure you put it in your plans! Have a fantastic summer!