ABC Countdown to Summer Activity
Is there anything like the end of the school year excitement?!
I love seeing students getting pumped up for the end of another amazing year. As soon as the days start to get warmer and longer, we know that summer is around the corner!
Amidst all the excitement and anticipation of summer days to come, it can get difficult to keep students focused on their learning objectives. And who can blame them?
Once students’ focus begins to drop, teachers all over try to make classroom activities as engaging as possible. After all, that last month is still valuable time to drive home the year’s learning objectives, and no teacher wants to leave a student unprepared once the next school year rolls around!
To cure some of this end of the year lag in attention span, I always include a countdown activity of some kind into my daily curriculum. This way, students get to look forward to summer break and keep a mental note of the remaining school days ahead of them. And an extra fun activity is always a great way to celebrate how hard students have worked all year!
However, my countdowns aren’t just a way for my class to count the days until endless fun! I love working in an educational aspect to my end of the year countdowns so that they’re learning something while they dream of days at the beach and sleeping in.
This ABC Countdown to Summer Activity packs the best of both worlds into one easy resource. It helps keep the kids (and parents, and you!) motivated to finish the school year strong!
Plus, it’s also available in a digital form via Google Slides. There are also prompts included just for students in distance learning, so they can get in on the fun while they are at home!
How does the ABC Countdown to Summer Activity work?
This great activity is so simple and easy to use, and will last you for many days before school ends.
Since there are 26 letters in the alphabet, teachers should start their calendar 26 school days before the first day of summer break.
Each day, there will be a different themed activity or day on the calendar. The day’s theme will correspond with a letter of the alphabet! Easy, right?
For example, the day of the letter ‘A’ could be your ‘Art Day’ where you do an art project related to a current unit! ‘B’ Day can be ‘Bubbles Day’ where you go outside and blow bubbles!
You can send the calendar home with students so that they (and their parents) know what to expect, or you can keep a copy up on your smart board or bulletin board during those last days of school!
This ABC Countdown to Summer Activity is great for a wide range of ages, from pre-k to fifth grade. It’s just as amazing for younger students who are still practicing their ABC’s as it is for older students who just need an extra fun activity to keep them on track until the last day of school.
What’s included in the ABC Countdown to Summer Activity?
This resource is formatted in PowerPoint so that you can easily edit and print the activity to your liking. The resource comes with a sample printable version with my own activities that I’ve used and ideas for each day.
There is also an editable version so that you can customize each day’s activities to your own liking! It’s a great way to adjust the last days of school according to your school’s calendar as well, since many of us run on slightly different schedules.
If you’re using this ABC countdown calendar during distance learning, I’ve got you covered. I also included a distance learning sample calendar with activities that kids can easily do at home. The distance learning calendar is also accompanied by an editable version so you can tailor the schedule as needed for your class.
The last slide contains a link to a Google Slides version. Right click on the link, open the link, and you’ll find two versions: a Google Slides calendar that I’ve filled out for you, and a blank calendar that you can completely customize yourself!
The digital format is perfect for distance learning or for putting up on a smart board so that the whole class can see what you have planned for each day!
What other teachers are saying:
Download a copy:
End the year the fun way with this ABC Countdown to Summer Activity! Don’t let your students’ energy peter out once those last days come around. Every one of the last days of school is made exciting with special activities that correspond to each letter of the alphabet! This ABC Countdown Calendar is the best way to celebrate your class’s hard work at the end of the year. Enjoy!
Have you ever tried using a countdown calendar at the end of the school year? Share your experiences with us — I’d love to hear from you!