Student-Favorite End of the School Year Experiential Learning Activities

End of the School Year Experiential Learning Activities

The end of the school year is among us, and everyone is tired. You're tired, your students are tired. Testing season is wrapping up, some students are studying for finals or wrapping up big projects. Others are helping prepare for end of the school year events such as prom or graduation. Let's face it. It's a lot. Implementing experiential learning activities in your classroom may be the answer you're looking for.

So why not let down your hair a bit and let your students have some fun and learn something at the same time? I've compiled a list of my student's favorite experiential learning activities to do at the end of the year.  

The experiential learning activities listed in this post are not necessarily easy. They are interesting, fun, hands-on, reflective, powerful, interest-led, personalized, relevant, and all of the other characteristics of experiential learning. They are meaningful ways to exit the school year with a bang. 

For a reminder of what experiential learning is exactly, head back and look over my experiential learning blog series.

I also encourage you to join our experiential learning Facebook community for support and  encouragement from a fabulous group of innovative educators AND a FREE experiential learning training only accessible to members inside the group. The training includes a how to guide with experiential learning activity examples. 

1. Self-Directed Project-Based Learning Activities 
(Similar to a Passion Project)

Giving students the chance to explore topics and questions of interest is a great way to move away from end of the school year stressors such as testing. Presenting their final products to friends, family, and community members at an in-person or virtual exhibition night is a fun way for students to celebrate the year.

Relevant Blog Post:

• How to Plan Self-Directed Project-Based Learning Activities

Resource Suggestion:  

• Self-Directed Project-Based Learning Activities Design Workbook and Tool Kit
• Free Sample Project-Based Learning Digital Planner

2. Citizen Science

I like to get my students outside at the end of the year. In temperate regions it is finally getting warm enough to do so, it helps students relax from a stressful season. Citizen science is a great way to do this. 

Citizen science projects get students involved in gathering data for scientists on a variety of research studies. The experiences integrate disciplines to include math, mapping, economics, literacy, writing, science and so much more. I like to have my students choose a citizen science project that interests them and design a self-directed PBL activity around that interest, as mentioned in #1. 

​Relevant Blog Post:

• 20 Citizen Science Project Ideas for Students of All Ages 

Resource Suggestion:  

• Scientific Open-Inquiry Experimentation Tool Kit ​

3. Community Action Projects

My community action projects are similar to self-directed project-based learning activities, but there is an additional community and problem-solving element. It's a cool mix of project-based learning, problem-based learning, and service-learning. Students choose a community issue of interest, explore that issue, brainstorm solutions, develop an action plan, and take action. 

This particular experience is great for the end of the school year because it's a really profound learning experience for students to go out with a bang. This is especially true for seniors who could benefit from this resume-building activity. It promotes citizenship, leadership skills, organizational skills, community collaboration and more, all essential job ready career skills.

Relevant Blog Post:

• 10 Community Action Projects to Wrap Up the School Year

Resource Suggestion:  

• Community Action Project Tool Kits

4. Heritage Project-Based Learning Activity

My students love to study heritage, whether it be their own or a heritage of interest. I say this is a great end of the school year project because its fun, and that is not a personal feeling, it is the sentiment that I get from my students. 

Students study heritage looking at ancestry, traditions, language, and so much more. They then develop an exhibit with information about their heritage and artifacts, food samples, recipes, performances, etc. to share. We then host an exhibition night for students to share their projects with friends and family. It is always a lively event to help celebrate the end of the year. 

For future reference, I have also done this as a back-to-school project, which helps kids get excited for the school year.

Relevant Blog Post:

• 100 End Product Ideas for School Projects

Resource Suggestion:  

• Project-Based Learning Templates: Heritage Project

 5. Plan a Trip Around the World Project

I add this to the list of great experiential learning activities to end the year because it's fun and it's personalized. My students love doing this and it's one of my most popular resources. I have my students approach this experience from a project-based learning angle because that's what we do, but you could go about this anyway that you would like. The point is that for whatever reason, it interests the kids. 

I also like this one because it is crosses subjects and it incorporates opportunities to build many 21st-century competencies. Students budget, plan, organize, practice research skills, learn geography, and so much more. 

​Relevant Blog Post:

• Key Components of Self-Directed Project-Based Learning

Resource Suggestion:  

• Plan a Trip Around the World Project

6. Learn a New Skill

This is another great personalized project-based learning experience. I like this one because it helps students that have never done project-based learning before ease into it. Rather than dump an advanced PBL activity on students at the end of the year, this is a good way to test the waters. It is also personalized and very interest-led so students find it fun and entertaining. 

I also like this one for the end of the year because it inspires older students to start looking at resume builders and planning for some resume building over summer break. Giving students the nudge to develop new skills will get them on track to start thinking and getting serious about college and career readiness. 

Relevant Blog Post:

• 10 Ways for Students to Build Their Resumes This Summer

Resource Suggestion:  

• Learn a New Skills Project-Based Learning Activity
• College and Career Readiness: Student Resume-Builders

7. Hometown Tour

My students create their own hometown tours every year. I like to do this at the end of the school year for a couple of reasons. One is that it is a fun and casual experience that is badly needed after the chaos that is this time of year.

I also like to do it this time of year because where I live the weather is better. I have the flexibility to allow my students to check out some of the stops before they add them to their tours, and if any of the stops are nearby, such as an overlook or mural, we will walk to some of their tour spots. 

P.S. We often use Google Maps to create final products. This is a great way to promote tech literacy skills.

​Relevant Blog Post:

• How to Use Google Maps to Make Final Products for Projects

Resource Suggestion:  

• Hometown Tour Project-Based Learning

All of the themed project-based learning activities mentioned in this post can all be found together in one mega bundle. This is great for those of you looking for a variety of PBL learning experiences that are all set and ready to go.
Project-Based Learning Activities Mega Bundle

8. End of the School Year Learning Reflection Slideshow

An important characteristic of experiential learning is reflection. After every learning activity my students either answer learning reflection questions or write a learning reflection essay.

At the end of the school year I have my students do a more comprehensive reflection by looking back over the entire year or semester and creating a reflection slideshow. Students answer writing prompts, insert videos and/or images, share quotes representative of their experiences over the course of the year and more.

When they have completed their slideshows they share them with the class or school depending on the situation. 

Relevant Blog Post:

• How to Enhance Learning Through Reflection

Resource Suggestion:  

• Learning Reflection Template: Editable and Digital Google Slides
• ​Free Project-Based Learning Assessment Portfolio - Note that this is not a formal assessment as the title makes it sound. An assessment portfolio is a place for students to showcase their experiences with videos, photos, evidence of 21st-century competencies, reflections, rubrics and more. Grab yours for free.

What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate and wrap up the school year in your classroom or home learning environment? Throw your ideas in the comments! 

Good luck to you all and have a fabulous last few weeks of school.

Follow Experiential Learning Depot on Pinterest, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram for more on experiential education, and check out my TpT store for experiential learning resources. 

Did you know there is an experiential learning Facebook group? Check that out - Experiential Learning Community for K12 Teachers - and join in the discussion about experiential learning ideas!

Relevant Experiential Learning Blog Posts: