If you start the school year off with the read-aloud First Day Jitters, then you need to end the year with Julie Danneberg's Last Day Blues! At the beginning of the year, Mrs. Hartwell was nervous about teaching her class - but by the end of the year, she is sad to see her students go.
2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students will get a kick out of this end of year book that provides plenty of opportunities for students to do their own reflecting on the year.
Summary of the Read Aloud Last Day Blues
Before, During, and After Reading Questions for Last Day Blues
Before Reading Questions
- What clues does the title give you about the main idea of the book?
- Are you blue about the end of the school year? What will you miss most?
- Based on the illustration, what do you know about the main character of the book?
During Reading Questions
- How does Mrs. Hartwell's class remind you of our class?
- Who is Daisy? How do you know?
- What is the main problem in this story? What do you think the solution will be?
After Reading Questions
- What did the class think about Mrs. Hartwell and her summer vacation? Were they correct?
- What did you notice about how the author described the setting, specifically how time passed?
- How did the students feel about Mrs. Hartwell? How do you know?
End of Year Activity Ideas to Use In Your Last Day Blues Lesson Plans
End of Year Letter to Next Year's Class
Mrs. Hartwell's students reflected on the school year in their poem to Mrs. Hartwell. Have your students similarly reflect on the school year - the things they enjoyed, what they learned, what they will miss. Then, let them complete a fun end of year writing activity - writing a letter giving tips to next year's class. This activity allows students to write with a meaningful purpose, knowing that their tips will help other students.
This End of Year Letter Writing Template is scaffolded to help your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students write a letter that is thoughtful and will be useful to any future students who read it. It has students think about what they have learned and what future students should know about their teacher. Best of all, it's no prep!
End of Year Reflection Questions
Help your upper elementary students reflect thoughtfully on the school year with some end of year reflection questions. For example:
- What was your favorite book that you read this school year? What made this book so special?
- What accomplishment from this school year are you most proud of? Explain.
- What is one thing you wish your teacher had done differently this school year? Explain.
Reflection questions also make great end of year writing prompts - find more here!
Figurative Language Practice
The author of this book, Julie Danneberg, used both alliteration and onomatopoeia in the middle of the book - "And that's when an idea zipped, zapped, and zinged through Eddie's brain." Have your students use this as inspiration to write their own end of year sentences with figurative language.
For example:
- Have them come up with onomatopoeia that describes a field trip you took during the school year.
- Have them write an alliterative phrase that describes the school year.
- Have them write a simile about something that happened during the school year.
Best Memory Opinion Writing
You might also like some of these other end of year writing prompts.
Never Stress Over Sub Plans Again!
Make copies, find a fiction book, and you'll be ready for any emergency that comes your way!