End-of-the-Year Gifts for Students
I’m back share some ideas with you about end-of-the-year gifts! It’s hard to believe that it’s already time to be thinking about the end-of-year! I used to get so sad thinking about my students leaving and not seeing them every day. I was also extra-bummed as a 5th grade teacher not getting to see my students around the building the following year. Before sending my 5th graders off for the summer, I always tried to give them a small gift to thank them for a great school year! Over the years, I did a lot different gifts, but some really stood out as student favorites. Check out some of my ideas for different end-of-the-year gifts below!
1. Snack Gifts
Keep it sweet and simple with snacks. Be sure to triple check allergies from your student info and it never hurts to check with parents before handing out food. This is a really easy gift idea because snacks are usually pretty cheap to get in bulk online or wholesale food centers.
It is o-fish-ally summer – Goldfish crackers
You really blew me away this year – bubblegum
Thanks for making this year so sweet – candy
2. Academic Gifts
Keep the learning going with supplies that might come in handy next year or help keep their reading sharp over the summer. If your students had a favorite class book, get them their own copies. Or buy silly pens or order customized pencils. Even a pack of crayons for students to use on rainy summer days is a sweet and thoughtful gift.
This year was one for the books – book
This year was just “write” – pencils or pens
3. Play Gifts
Encourage students to be active over break with toys they can play with outside. Most kids can use a frisbee, or you can usually find a plethora of beach ball designs that can be used at the pool or in backyards all summer long. If you live near any type of beach or sandbar, find sand buckets or sand toys.
This year flew by – frisbees
Have a ball this summer – beach ball or bouncy ball
This year was buckets of fun – sand bucket
4. Summer Gifts
Give students a fun gift to beat the heat. Sunglasses come in a variety of colors. Water bottles are super handy over the summer, and they can be personalized with stickers and permanent markers. You might even have students sign each other’s bottles for a keepsake or consider writing a personalized message to each student. Another fun idea is popsicle holders that students can reuse as the months get hotter.
You really blew me away this year – bubbles
Your future is bright – sunglasses
I wish we could bottle up all the fun – water bottles
Have a cool summer – popsicle holders, kool-aide packs, etc.
5. Other Ideas
Think about what your students really enjoyed this year, as well as what you have access to. Dollar stores or dollar sections of major retailers usually have inexpensive options for student gifts. I can almost always find the small containers of Play-Doh for pretty cheap, but you might also consider things like glow-sticks, notebooks, keychains, or pop-its. It truly is the thought that counts and most of your students will just be thrilled you thought of them.
This year was “chalkful” of fun – sidewalk chalk
I loved watching you grow – flower seed packet
Thank you for an amazing year – any gift
Still need some creative ideas and inspiration? I have an amazing gift tag resource with over 15 unique messages that with work for any student gift gift. Everything is editable and set up for you to use with ease. You can find all the themes I listed here, as well as a few other gift ideas. Each tag is decorated and comes in color and black and white, and is available in 3 shapes and sizes. Print, cut the tags, and attach to your gifts or clip to a baggie to pass out to students. You can reuse this resource every year and not repeat your end-of-the-year gifts for many years to come.
What has been your favorite end-of-the-year gifts to students to help make the year memorable?
Check out my list of Amazon store for more end-of-the-year gifts.