As the school year draws to a close, it’s time to start thinking about end of year gifts for your students. But with tight budgets and time running out, finding affordable and easy options can be challenging. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! This post will give you 20 end of year student gift ideas that are budget-friendly and easy to put together. π«Ά
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Preparing For The End of The School Year
Planning and preparing the perfect end of year celebration can be challenging. But with the right set of engaging activities and memorable gifts, your students will have the perfect end to their year. Personally, I like to prepare for the end of the year by laying out my end-of-the-year teacher shirts; I have one for each day for the final two weeks of school! π
Check out these blog posts for more end-of-the-year inspiration:
20 End of Year Student Gift Ideas
There are endless options for preparing easy and cheap end of year student gifts! This comprehensive list will help you make the end of the school year memorable for your students. But remember, personalization and creativity are the keys to making these gifts special. With a little effort and imagination, you can give your students a meaningful and memorable end of year gift without breaking the bank. I have also included some cute messages you can print out for each option to include with these end of year student gift ideas. π
#1 Personalized Bookmarks
Bookmarks are always a great gift idea for students who love to read. You can create personalized bookmarks using colorful paper, stickers, and ribbon. Add your students’ names or a message of encouragement to make them feel special. You could also purchase these cheap and colorful bookmarks!
Messages you could write:
- You’re a bookmark-able student!
- You’ve left your mark on our class!
- You’re a true bookworm!
#2 DIY Photo Frames
Head to your local dollar store or dollar tree and grab some cheap picture frames. Decorate them with paint, glitter, or stickers, and add a class photo or a picture of each student.
Messages you could write:
- Picture yourself having a great summer!
- From our class to your home, enjoy creating memories.
- You’re picture-perfect!
#3 Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Create a fun end of year activity by creating a scavenger hunt for your students. Hide small items around the classroom and let your students search for them. Then, students can take turns selecting one gift they get to take home as a gift from you! If you want more fun end of the year activities, check out this blog post.
Messages you could write:
- Hunt for some fun this summer!
- You’re a true adventurer!
#4 Personalized Pencils
Purchase a bulk pack of pencils and use a permanent marker to add your students’ names or a message of encouragement. Your students will love these colorful, bendy pencils!
Messages you could write:
- You’re write on track!
- Keep on writing your way to success.
- You’re one sharp student!
#5 Classroom Memory Book
Have each student write a page about their favorite memory from the school year. Compile the pages into a memory book and hand them out on the last day of school.
Messages you could write:
- Keep the memories alive, and have a great summer!
- Enjoy looking back on the special memories we made this year.
- You’re unforgettable!
#6 Food Package
There are so many fun food options that you can prepare for your students as a fun end of the year gift. For example, you could give them a bag of popcorn, hot chocolate, or chips. Alternatively, you can assemble a simple s’mores kit using graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. Wrap them in a clear bag with a ribbon and a note thanking your students for a sweet year.
Messages you could write:
- Popcorn: Have a poppin’ summer!
- Smore’s Kit: You’re one sweet student!
#7 Colorful Water Bottles
Buy some inexpensive water bottles and add colorful vinyl decals with your students’ names or a message of appreciation. These colorful water bottles will help send your students home happy and ready for the summer!
Messages you could write:
- Stay hydrated this summer!
- You’re one cool drink of water!
#8 DIY Stress Balls
Make stress balls using balloons and flour. Then, let your students customize their own stress ball with markers and stickers. Or, you could purchase a bulk pack of stress balls, like these cute stress balls from Amazon.
Messages you could write:
- Relax and unwind this summer.
- You’re stress-free and ready for summer!
- Keep calm and carry on.
#9 Personalized Keychains
Purchase keychain rings and add small trinkets that represent your classroom or school. Add a name or message to make them unique for each student.
Messages you could write:
- You hold the key to a great summer!
- You’re one key-tastic student!
#10 DIY Friendship Bracelets
Create personalized friendship bracelets for each of your students using embroidery floss and beads. Alternatively, you could purchase a bracelet-making kit.
Messages you could write:
- Keep on spreading friendship.
- You’re one cool friend!
#11 Customized Mugs
Buy plain white mugs and use permanent markers or paint pens to write each student’s name or a message of appreciation.
Messages you could write:
- Sip, sip, hooray!
- Keep cozy this summer.
- Let’s raise a mug to a great school year!
#12 Personalized Certificates
Print out personalized certificates for each student, highlighting their achievements and progress throughout the year. Another option is my student medallions that your students can take home to remember their school year. This blog post will give you more details about how you can make them for your class this year!
Messages you could write:
- You’re a shining star!
- Keep shining bright!
- You’re a true winner!
#13 Small Potted Plants
Buy small potted plants like succulents or herbs and decorate the pots with colorful paint or markers. Alternatively, you could buy all the materials and have your students plant and decorate their small pots. This could be a fun end of the year activity to pair with a special gift they can take home.
Messages you could write:
- You’re one plant-tastic student!
- Keep growing and learning this summer.
- Let’s plant the seed for a great summer!
#14 Personalized Tote Bags
Buy inexpensive canvas tote bags and use fabric paint or markers to personalize each one with your students’ names or initials. Or your students could decorate their own bags as a fun end of the year activity to do during the last week of school.
Messages you could write:
- Tote-ally ready for summer!
- You’re one cool tote bag!
#15 Customized Notebooks
Buy inexpensive notebooks and use tape, stickers, or markers to decorate the covers with each student’s name or favorite color. You could pair these notebooks with cute writing pens or pencils to encourage journal writing during the summer.
Messages you could write:
- Keep on writing your story.
- You’re a true wordsmith!
- Let your creativity flow this summer!
#16 Personalized Rulers
Rulers are another useful and affordable gift idea for students. You can buy plain wooden rulers and use paint or markers to personalize them with each student’s name or a message of appreciation.
Messages you could write:
- You rule!
- Measure up to success.
- Keep on ruling the school!
#17 Pop-it Keychains
Pop-it toys are all the rage right now, so why not turn them into a fun and practical gift? You can buy small pop-it toys and attach them to keychains or lanyards, adding a personalized message to each one. This will get students excited for the next school year so they can add their new pop-it keychains to their backpacks!
Messages you could write:
- Pop into summer!
- You’re one poppin’ student!
- Keep on popping and have a fantastic summer!
#18 Candy with a Motivational Message
If you’re short on time or budget, you can still show your students you care by giving them a small gift with a motivational message. This could be something like a small bag of candy or a cookie with an uplifting message.
Messages you could write:
- Fuel up for success.
- You’re one smart cookie!
- Keep on snacking your way to success!
#19 Small Toy with Motivational Message
Similar to the candy idea above, you could purchase a bulk order of toys and attach a cute, motivational message to each to hand out to students on the last day of school.
Messages you could write:
- Keep on playing your way to success.
- You’re one playful student!
- Let’s play our way to success this summer.
#20 Books
While this is a little more expensive, books are always an excellent student gift! This is a gift that they’ll treasure for years to come and may even inspire a love of reading! Plus, it will encourage summer reading. Try reading one of these end of the year read alouds before you hand out the books to your students.
Messages you could write:
- Dive into summer reading!
- You’re a bookworm!
- Let’s open the book to a great summer!
You don’t have to spend much to show your students you appreciate them. These 20 affordable and easy end of year student gift ideas will surely put a smile on your students’ faces and make the last day of school memorable. Don’t forget to personalize each gift with a message of appreciation or a student’s name. Happy gifting! π
