As the end of the school year approaches, I am always looking for ways to keep my students engaged and learning right until the last day. This year I decided to create some activities featuring emojis to do just that. I was inspired by the idea after Scholastic sent me some emoji themed bookmarks with my last book order. The students loved them and were so excited because they contained those little smiley faces. So I decided to host an "Emoji Day" to hopefully capture some of their excitement and help with the countdown to summer break. Who knows, I may even stretch it out over two days!
To build some excitement about the upcoming emoji day, you can ask your students to dress all in yellow and black. Then decorate your class door to greet them as they arrive in the morning. During morning meeting show them some of the activities they will be completing during the day. I also bought some emoji themed props to help set the stage for the day. I found a kissing emoji at my local dollar store and I was lucky to grab these emoji themed buckets in the 50% off section of Walmart. They will be great for holding the materials for each center.
I find this time of year it is important to change things up and try adding something different from the usual routine. I am going to have students collect different emoji collector cards as they finish each activity. This will work great as a motivator for students to finish their work. These collector cards can then be kept in the student's wallet to take home at the end of the day. I may add string to each wallet and students would be able to wear them as a necklace during the day. I think it is important to let students be creative. Give them a blank t-shirt or iPhone sheet and let them create what they thing the next emoji should be.
I think it is important to also keep practising math, reading and writing skills right up to the end of the school year. My students slide back over the summer and I want to make sure I am doing my best to slow down this process. Having students roll an emoji dice to practise graphing skills and reading all about emojis is a great way to keep students learning. Did you know that there are 69 new emojis coming soon? Did you know that there will be a curling stone, T-REX, and gloves? I had no idea before doing a bit of research. I also want my students writing everyday and adding some emojis just seems to make reluctant writers want to pick up their pencil and get started.
Finally, this time of year is all about making memories. Students can make an emoji booklet which highlights some of their favorite things on one side and then collecting the autographs of their classmates on the other side. What a great keepsake to look back on in the future. If hosting an "Emoji Day" sounds like something you would like to try, you can find these activities here.
