What Can You Do During the Last Music Classes of the Year When Students Are Checked Out?

As the school year winds down, many elementary music teachers face the same challenge: students are mentally halfway to summer break, but you still want your final music classes to be joyful, meaningful, and musical. The good news? You do not need elaborate lesson plans or hours of prep to keep students engaged.

Here are five low-prep (or no-prep!) activities that help students end the year with creativity, laughter, and positive musical memories.

1. Host a Class Sing-Along with Student-Requested Songs

One of the easiest and most engaging end-of-year activities is a class karaoke day featuring student-approved, age-appropriate songs.

My fourth graders regularly tell me how much they love when I dedicate the day-before-break class to singing along with karaoke videos. It creates a relaxed atmosphere, encourages participation, and gives students a chance to celebrate music together.

If your school blocks YouTube karaoke videos, you can easily create your own using the free version of Clipchamp. There are also many free tutorials online, including on YouTube. I also include a tutorial inside the Elementary Tech Tutorials and Activities Pack for the That Music Teacher Community.

Quick Tips

• Have students submit song requests ahead of time.

• Preview all songs for school appropriateness.

• Let students vote on favorites.

• Add movement or simple percussion instruments to increase engagement.

2. Create an Informal Talent Day

Have your students spent the year asking:

• “Can I show you a dance?”

• “Can I play something I learned at home?”

• “Can I lip sync this song for the class?”

The end of the year is the perfect time for an informal talent day.

Students love having an opportunity to share their personal interests and talents in a low-pressure environment. You might see:

• dancing

• singing

• comedy

• piano performances

• cup routines

• magic tricks

• gymnastics

• lip syncing

• beatboxing

This type of activity helps students feel heard and valued while creating joyful classroom memories before summer break.

Why It Works

• No major prep required

• Encourages confidence and creativity

• Builds classroom community

• Gives students ownership of the experience

3. Create Light Routines to “A Sky Full of Stars”

If you have finger lights or flashlights, bring them out!

Divide students into small groups and challenge them to choreograph a simple light routine to portions of the song “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay.

Students can:

• create patterns

• move to the beat

• highlight musical form

• coordinate colors and movements

• respond to dynamic changes in the music

This activity feels magical for students while still reinforcing important musical concepts like form, steady beat, and expressive movement.

Teacher Tip

Turn off the classroom lights if possible. The atmosphere instantly becomes more engaging and memorable.

4. Explore Quick Composition Activities

Creative projects are a wonderful way to end the year because students can immediately jump in without needing extensive instruction.

Try using free online composition tools such as:

• Chrome Music Lab

• BeepBox

• Making Music Fun – Composing with Kids

Give students a simple challenge such as:

• compose an 8-beat melody

• create background music for a video game

• write a calming soundtrack

• create music for a superhero scene

• compose using only three notes

Set a clear timer so students know they will share only 5–10 seconds of their creation with the class. This can also be done as a large class project, as a center, in small groups, or 1:1.

Why Students Love It

Students enjoy the freedom to create while still working within manageable guidelines.

5. End the Year with Kahoot and Reflection Activities

Wrap up the year with a fun review game using platforms such as:

• Kahoot!

• Quizizz

• Blooket

Create questions that review:

• rhythms

• instruments

• composers

• classroom expectations

• favorite songs

• music vocabulary

Then follow the game with a reflective Google Forms survey asking students:

• What was your favorite music activity this year?

• What are you most proud of?

• What did you improve on musically?

• What would you like to do more of next year?

These reflections can provide meaningful feedback for future lesson planning while helping students recognize their own growth. They also can be used for comments for your end-of-the-year progress reports.

What About Play-Along Videos?

Don't forget a day of play-alongs. They can be boomwhacker, recorder, rhythm, body percussion, and more. Check out my https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/extras page to find many free manipulatives for the ones on my YouTube channel

Final Thoughts

The final music classes of the year do not need to be exhausting to be meaningful. Sometimes the activities students remember most are the ones that allow them to sing, create, laugh, collaborate, and simply enjoy making music together.

As elementary music teachers, we know that joyful musical experiences matter. Ending the year with connection and creativity can leave a lasting impact long after students head into summer vacation.