5 Fun Last Week of School Social Studies Activity Ideas
By Kirsten Hammond
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The last week of school is here…cue the countdown! Students are restless, the schedule is unpredictable, and let’s be honest, you’re just trying to make it to summer. But instead of letting the final days fizzle out, why not wrap up your social studies instruction with something fun, meaningful, and low prep?
In this post, I’m sharing five easy and engaging social studies activities that are perfect for the last week of school. These ideas reinforce key geography, history, and critical thinking skills without requiring a ton of time or energy to prepare.
Let’s make the final days of school both educational and enjoyable!
1. Where Do You Live?
This activity is a practical and eye-opening way to review basic geography during the last week of school. Believe it or not, many upper elementary students don’t fully know their own address or where they are located within their state or country.
Here’s how it works:
- Give students a worksheet or chart to fill in details like their street address, city, county, state, zip code, and country.
- Have them find their location on a map use an atlas, map, or Google Maps.
- Take it a step further by comparing locations across the class. Who shares the same city or zip code? Who lives farthest from the school?
This real-world connection helps students anchor their learning in something personal while reviewing core geography skills.
2. Classroom Time Capsule
Let your students be historians by documenting their school year in a time capsule. This end-of-year tradition is perfect for the last week of school and blends reflection, writing, and historical thinking.
How it works:
- Provide students with prompts like:
“My favorite memory from this school year was…”
“The most important thing I learned in social studies was…”
“One event from this year that future students should know about is…” - Encourage them to include drawings, classroom photos, or headlines from the year.
- Seal everything in an envelope or container labeled “Do Not Open Until (list the next year)”. Alternatively, you can have them wait until the year they graduate elementary school!.
You can either pass it on to next year’s teacher or open it in future years as a class tradition.
3. Historical Figure Headbands Game
Make reviewing historical figures fun and interactive with this twist on the classic headbands game. This is an awesome way to keep students focused during the last week of school.
How it works:
- Write the names of well-known figures (like Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., etc.) on sticky notes or index cards.
- Students can either place cards on their forehead and guess who they are based on classmates’ clues OR wear the card on their back and walk around asking yes/no questions like, “Was I a president?” or “Did I help during the Civil War?”
It’s low prep, highly engaging, and a memorable way to review key figures from your curriculum.
4. Plan a Summer Road Trip
Even if students aren’t traveling this summer, they’ll love planning a pretend road trip! This project lets them apply map skills, budgeting, and geography knowledge all in one.
How it works:
- Students pick a U.S. destination they’d love to visit.
- They map out their starting point and route, calculating mileage and noting which states they’ll pass through.
- Add a budgeting challenge: give them a pretend travel budget to “spend” on gas, food, hotels, and activities.
- Bonus: Let them research fun landmarks and local cuisine along the way!
This hands-on activity is a great way to wrap up geography in a creative, real-world way during the last week of school.
5. Interview a Classmate or Family Member
Bring storytelling and history together with this thoughtful interview activity that connects social studies to real life.
How it works:
- Students can interview a classmate about their favorite school memories OR a family member about their past experiences.
- Sample questions include:
“What was school like when you were my age?”
“What’s one important historical event you remember?”
“How has life changed from then to now?” - Let students record responses in a journal, write a report, or even record a short video or audio clip.
Wrap up with a storytelling showcase where each student shares one fun or surprising fact they learned during their interview.
Make the Last Week of School Count!
These five social studies activities will help you wrap up the year on a high note. Whether students are reflecting on their address, planning road trips, or guessing who they are in a fun history game, they’ll stay engaged without adding chaos to your already full plate.
If you’re thinking ahead to the beginning of the next school year, I’ve got you covered! Check out my articles on activity ideas on the first week of school AND the second week of school.
kirsten hammond
Kirsten is a former 3rd and 5th grade teacher who loves helping upper elementary teachers by creating resources and sharing ideas that are engaging, research-based, and TEKS-aligned. She is a work-from-home mama of 3 rambunctious little ones and loves running, true crime, and lots of coffee.
