The end of the school year is upon us! From our littlest learners to our to our school staff, everyone is excited for some fun end of the year activities to celebrate our successes after a long year. Celebrating with fun and creative end of year awards for students is a great way to recognize them for everything they have accomplished. These end of the year award ideas are sure to be sweet and clever, and they won’t break the bank.
End of the Year Awards for Students
The end of the school year is a great time to celebrate students’ accomplishments. As teachers, we know that not all students get recognized for grades, perfect attendance, or for having good character. But that doesn’t make their effort during the year any less important.
While we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our students at the end of the school year, sometimes giving out a certificate of achievement just doesn’t cut it. We want to be sure the end of the year awards we give our students are meaningful and memorable.
One of the things that makes the deepest impact on our students is when they realize they were seen – truly seen and understood. While giving academic awards is important, it is also very important to recognize students’ talents, abilities, character, and uniqueness. Those are the awards your students will remember for years to come.
Here are three fun End of the Year Award ideas that are sure to make your students feel special and to help you wrap-up another amazing year!
1. Editable Class Superlative Awards
Sometimes traditional awards just don’t acknowledge the achievements of every student. Many of our students shine in unique ways, and we want to celebrate those special qualities. With these fun End of the Year Superlative Awards, each student will have a moment to shine!
The Superlative Awards Packet includes:
- All-Star
- Biggest Bookworm
- Computer Wiz
- Terrific Team Member
- Future Scientist
- Rapid Reader
- Homework Hero
- Heading for Hollywood
And many, many more! With over 100 student award options to choose from, you are sure to find just the right award for each and every student.
2. Candy Bar Awards
Some students are bubbly, some are a joy, and some are as sweet as honey. We know every student is special. Celebrate their uniqueness with some sweet treats. These Candy Bar Awards are a huge hit with teachers, students, and parents!
Using a candy bar themed award is the “sweetest” way to show your students how much you have enjoyed their uniqueness throughout the school year. These fun end of year awards allows you to recognize things like great attitudes, extra fast problem solving skills, good behavior, being helpful and so much more!
For that special student who has been able to keep the peace by getting along with everyone this year, give them the Dove Award for being the class peacemaker. This could be a Dove bar or a baggie with some Dove chocolate pieces inside.
Do you have a student who always makes others laugh? The Laffy Taffy Award is the perfect choice to celebrate their ability to share laughter with the class. Grab some colorful Laffy Taffy and tape it all over the border of the award for a colorful and tasty certificate.
We all know how much kids love sweets and getting them as a form or recognition is ever sweeter. For years to come, students will remember what special candy they received.
3. Ideas for End of the Year Awards Celebrations
On the last day of school, or during those last few days, create a special time for your awards day celebration. You can make it part of the school day or do it as a special evening event. You know your students and their families best, so do what works best for them.
Here are some easy ideas to make your awards ceremony extra special:
a) A Red Carpet Event
Make your own version of a red carpet for your special day. Run to the supply room to grab a “red carpet” butcher paper pathway or use something a little more durable like this! In fact, a quick Amazon search will provide you everything you need to transform your classroom into a Hollywood-style red carpet awards ceremony!
If parents are invited to attend, label their seating area for the paparazzi and let them go crazy with those cameras. Put on some inspiring music and decorate desks or tables with butcher paper. You can even cut out big Hollywood Walk Of Fame style stars and write student names on them.
Handing out awards can feel like a Hollywood awards ceremony, too! Consider calling up the students for their awards and presenting their certificates and goodies while their classmates clap. You can even give them a minute or two (depending on how much time you want to set aside for your celebration) to say a little something about what made their year so special, or what they are looking forward to for next year.
Your students are sure to feel like celebrities on this special red carpet day!
b) An Outdoor Celebration
As teachers we all know that when spring is in the air, students are just itching to get outside. Why not plan an outside celebration for your end of year awards party? Invite parents to join you for a picnic and then end with awards.
c) An Online Awards Party
It’s not always easy for everyone to gather at the end of the year. Consider having an online Zoom awards party for students, parents, even grandparents! With a little planning, it could become a special memory for all.
Create a slide presentation using digital awards or even a PowerPoint slideshow of the awards. During the awards party you can share your screen as your give each student their award. Let your students feel free to cheer and clap for their friends and classmates!
Consider sending home some fun party blowers and hats to make this the most festive online event of the year.
d) Sweet Success
If you are using the candy bar awards, or if you just want to celebrate the sweetness of success, go all in with a candy theme! Create a backdrop with giant butcher paper candies. Or let Amazon help out with some inexpensive candy land decor ideas.
Some ideas for candy-themed decor include:
- Giant lollipops made of butcher paper and pool noodles
- Enlarged and printed colorful candy pieces to hang from the ceiling in your classroom
- An inexpensive Candyland backdrop for a candy-themed photo booth.
e) School’s Out for Summer
Since summer is what will be on everyone’s mind, have a summer-themed awards party. This really works great on the last day of school!
No summer awards party would be complete without some brightly colored sun glasses. And if you are having a snack or refreshments, consider a summer favorite – popsicles!
No matter how you choose to recognize your incredible students for their efforts and talents, it will be a special day for everyone involved. Students often say they remember how a teacher made them feel more than anything else. With a little bit of imagination and creativity, you can bring your year to a spectacular end!
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