How To Make the Last Days of Middle School Memorable
High school is a whole different ball game, and the changes in academics and social interactions can seem daunting to some students. Before they leave middle school, you’re still their teacher. Therefore, you should do your best to make the last days of middle school memorable and a time they’ll always remember fondly.
Personal Scrapbook
Pictures make the best memories. At the end of the year, students will leave with a school yearbook, but each student’s book is identical. They need their own personal book filled with pictures and memories.
To make the end of middle school special for your students, start a personal scrapbook project. Every student will create their own scrapbook filled with their favorite memories of middle school. Encourage them to dig deep and go all the way back to sixth grade. Some pictures and memories may come from previous teachers, and others may come from home. Each student’s scrapbook should be a representation of their years.
Superhero Day
High school is a new environment. While it’s exciting, your students will face many changes. You won’t know what all their fears are, but they do. Encourage them to come dressed up as their favorite superheroes or icons.
The goal is to find people they admire to help them feel brave. Whenever they’re faced with difficulty, they’ll try to emulate their heroes. Consider giving a report to their parents telling them what you think their child’s fears are. You might even provide them with creative ways to help their kids with future education.
Class Project
The school year needs to end with a bang. A big class project is fun for everyone—especially a project that ends in a blast. Ask your class what they might enjoy most and share some ideas of your own. There are some year-end rocket projects you might want them to try out.
The end of the year is not here yet, so you have plenty of time to tie a final project into one of your lesson plans. Plus, it will give them something to look forward to—high school promises some exciting and advanced experiments as well.
Memory Jar
A memory jar is the perfect way to make the last few days of middle school memorable. Spend a day sharing memories around the classroom. Have your students write down their favorite memories on a scrap of paper.
Collect the memories in a jar and start reading them the next day. Some will make you laugh, and some will make you cry. Either way, emotion is good. Encourage it because it’s a sure way to guarantee they will always associate the last few days with whatever emotion the memory jar evoked.
When you use these suggestions, your students will always remember you as the middle school teacher who prepared them for high school. They’ll remember you fondly for making the last days of middle school memorable.
