Last day of school games: end the term on a high

The last day of term has its own rules. Half the class is already on holiday in their heads, the textbook is finished, and nobody wants a test. But a day of films and free time can drag, and the mood can slide from happy to chaotic by lunch.

The best last days have a shape: something that looks back at what the class learned, something the class does together, and a calm goodbye. Here are games and activities for each part, most of them on one screen with no student devices, and a few with just paper.

Part 1: Look back at the year

The best-of review game

Make one game from the whole term: the words or facts students should remember. In Oly, open My games to see the sets you played this term, and paste the key words from each unit into one list on the Make a game page. For a quiz subject, paste your own question | answer | wrong, wrong lines instead.

Then play it in a game with big swings, so every team stays in it to the end:

• Tile Grab: a right answer opens a mystery box with points, a star, a bomb or a magnet that steals from the leader.
• Lucky Wheel: a right answer spins for points, a double or a swap with the leader.

Mark two or three questions as double or triple in the editor: "the most important words of the year".

Students write the questions

Give each team five minutes to write three questions about the term on paper: one easy, one medium, one hard. Collect them, type them in as your own lines (question | answer), choose Other as the subject, and play. If a team's own question comes up on its turn, skip it from your phone or let another team answer it.

Students love seeing their own questions on the big screen, and the questions tell you a lot about what they remember.

Hot Seat with the year's words

In Hot Seat, one student sits with their back to the screen and the team describes the words for 60 seconds. With the whole year's vocabulary, it becomes a test of memory and speaking at once (English sets only).

Part 2: Do something together

The class against the sea

On the last day, a game where the whole class wins together beats one where most teams lose. In High Water, the class builds one tower while the sea rises. Every right answer adds floors; every wrong answer lets the sea rise faster. At the end, the summary says whether the class stayed dry. Nobody loses alone, and the class cheers for every team's answer.

A tug of war tournament

Tug of War is perfect for a final showdown: two teams, one rope, every right answer pulls it a step, five steps wins the round. Play a few short rounds with different teams each time, or with three or more teams, everyone pulls against Oly.

Sporty finals

Finish with a game that has a moment of action after each right answer: Hoop Shot, Penalty Kick, Bowling or Mini Golf. The whole class watches the shot fly.

Let a student host

Hand your phone to a student for a game. They see the answer first, tap Correct or Not yet, and pick for the teams. On the last day, being the host is the best prize you can give.

Part 3: A calm goodbye

Class awards

Prepare a list of fun, kind awards: "Best question asker", "Most helpful teammate", "Best laugh", "Never gave up". Let the class vote on some and choose others yourself. Make sure every student gets one.

Memory line

Stand in a line or a circle. Each student says one sentence: "My favourite moment this year was…" or "This year I learned…". For language classes, it's a last speaking practice; for everyone, it's a nice way to remember the year.

Letter to next year's class

Each student writes a short letter to a student who will sit in their chair next year: one tip, one thing to look forward to, one warning. "Learn the times tables early!" Keep the best ones to read to your new class.

One calm game to finish

End with a game that slows the room down, like Memory Match or Fishing Pond, with the effects set to calm. When it's over, look at the podium on the summary together and give a last round of applause to every team.

A last-day plan

Tips for the last day

• Plan more than you need. A last day with too little planned gets loud. Keep one extra game ready.
• Keep the routines. Whisper rule, rotating speakers and a timer still work on the last day, and they keep the energy happy rather than chaotic. See how to keep a class calm during classroom games.
• Hide the score if the class gets too competitive. The shots, spins and towers are fun on their own.
• Ready-made sets help. If you have no time to prepare, press Play now on a set in the library, like Summer holidays for the end of the school year.
• Students need no devices. The whole class plays in teams on one projector, TV or interactive display, and you run it from your phone.

More ideas: brain break games and Fun Friday ideas, rewards without prizes and, for a December term end, Christmas classroom games. For the whole toolkit, see classroom management games.