5 Ways to Engage Students at the End of the Year

The end of the school year is upon us! I always found the last few weeks a challenging time to keep students engaged in meaningful activities until the very end of the year. I fully believe that creative/interactive/highly-engaging learning tasks need to be a mainstay throughout every teachers' curriculum. However, I totally understand that May and June are great months for teachers to take some more steps out of their comfort zone and try out some crazy ideas. Let's face it - the same old stuff gets stale at the end of the year as weather gets nicer and the countdown until summer starts.

Here are 5 ways to captivate students with highly-engaging and meaningful learning tasks:

1. Make Movies!

Want to breathe fresh life and creative energy into students' movies? Try out iOS apps like Clips, PuppetPals, or VideoScribe Anywhere.

Also, before you start or if you need inspiration, check out an amazing database of example videos at Nextvista.org - a website by the fabulous Rushton Hurley.

Insider Tips: Set limits. Think about time limits, what student videos need to contain/convey, and what props/sets students can and can't use. If students are speaking or there is narration, make sure scripts are properly vetted before filming begins!

2. Go on Academic Scavenger Hunts Using Goosechase

Goosechase is a digital scavenger hunt platform where students need to find photographic/video evidence that they have completed certain "missions" created by the teacher. Teachers can create games for teams or individuals, set up how long a game will last, and accept or deny student submissions. I love Goosechase because it uses technology to get students up and moving around a classroom or school campus.

3. Use the Quiz Site Kahoot! for Homework

Check out this video from Common Sense Media that explains how to use the very popular education quiz game platform, Kahoot, as a homework option.

4. Try a BreakoutEDU Game

BreakoutEDU is a platform that lets teachers turn their classrooms into "academically focused escape rooms." There are physical and digital components. You can purchase BreakoutEDU boxes, locks, and other gear from their site, as well as access to their digital lessons library.

5. Explore in Virtual Reality with Google Expeditions

Google Expeditions is an iOS and Android app that lets students embark on field trips across the globe - all from the comfort of their own classrooms. Teachers can customize Virtual Reality experiences for their students and immerse students in worlds they otherwise wouldn't get to experience.

Use these tech tools to help end your school year with a bang! Have another exciting EOY suggestion? Write in the comments below!