End of the School Year Books to Read Aloud to Upper Elementary

As we get ready to end the school year, reading a book on the last day of school is a great way to leave students with a positive thought and a wonderful memory.

As my fifth graders get ready to leave our school and start their new ventures as middle school students, I like to share stories with them that include messages of hope and self-love.

Here are a few end of the school year books that you can share with your upper elementary students as you say farewell to them this year.

Teachers Pay Teachers Promo Codes Not Needed to Save Money, Here's How

Are you looking for ways to save money on Teachers Pay Teachers with more than just the occasional promo code sent out during sales? Well, you're in luck. Although Teachers Pay Teachers promo codes are a nice way to occasionally save some money, there are more than a handful of more effective ways to get some great resources at deep discounts, helping you be the most effective, engaging, and efficient teacher you can be without breaking the bank. 

Earth Day Projects for Older Kids

Earth Day is the perfect time to show older kids how they can reuse scraps, junk mail, and other materials to make fun and useful items. It's one of my favorite holidays because incorporating Earth Day projects allows students to do what they do best, be inquisitive and creative. Below, I share with you several themes you can introduce to your upper elementary students to help inspire them to make something new out of reusable resources. 

Free Online Books for Kids

As educators, we know that the best way to improve or sustain students' reading skills and comprehension is to have students read regularly or listen to books being read. Unfortunately, when students are out of school whether due to breaks in the school year or due to unexpected natural disasters, they don't always have access to books nor opportunities to participate in read alouds. Fortunately, if students have access to the internet, there are some websites that offer free online books for kids. These resources make reading accessible for many of these upper elementary students who otherwise might not get the opportunity to read when school is not in session.

Fun Test Prep Games Your Students Can Play Today

Gamifying, a recently coined term meaning the act of adding games or game-like elements to an activity to encourage participation, is a great technique to use with your upper elementary students during any type of test prep, especially with fifth grade students during state testing prep season. Test prep games and activities bring out the natural competitiveness in students and helps them get excited about an otherwise monotonous task.

There are quite a few easy to implement games that you can you use on the spot to engage your students during test prep, no expensive games nor fancy boards needed, unless of course you'd like to include them. 😉

A Creative Women's History Month Research Activity for Elementary Students

March is Women's History Month. A month to recognize and celebrate all the influential women from the past and in the present. A month to focus on these remarkable female leaders and to share the importance of their accomplishments with our students. 

In the upper elementary grades, reading books about influential women and having students complete research projects to share with their classmates are great ways to highlight these important women and their contributions to our society.

One of my favorite activities to assign to my students is the "Purse" research project. It not only gives students the opportunity to research an influential woman, but it encourages them to think a little further and allows them to get creative which most of them really enjoy.

Women's History Month Picture Books for Upper Elementary Students

March is Women's History Month and a perfect time to highlight the accomplishments of influential women with picture books in the classroom. Picture books are a great way to give access to students to historical events and influential women of the past and the present. They are also a great way to spark conversations about the pioneers in different industries and the challenges they had to overcome to reach their dreams, in turn helping students develop an appreciation for how far women have come throughout history.

This post highlights different picture books you can read to your upper elementary students to expose them to a variety of influential women.