15 Enjoyable and Interactive May Activities for Upper Elementary Teachers

As the school year winds down, are you finding yourself scratching your head, wondering how to keep your upper elementary students engaged and learning? Especially in May, when everyone can almost taste summer? 🌞 If that sounds like you, you’ve hit the jackpot with this blog post! We’re diving into some super fun May activities for upper elementary students that not only keep the energy high but also reinforce important concepts learned throughout the year. 🎉

This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the full disclosure here.

The Importance of Engaging Activities in the Final Months

The last weeks of school are crucial. This time can set the tone for students’ long-term educational journey, reinforcing their love for learning or leaving them counting down the days.

Engaging activities do more than just fill time; they cement knowledge, boost confidence, and keep the classroom energy positive. They ensure that students remain motivated and are a perfect way to round off the school year on a high note.

Planning for May in Your Upper Elementary Class

May in an upper elementary class should be lively and filled with activities that review and celebrate the year’s learning. Whether you’re reinforcing math skills, diving into new books, or exploring science outdoors, each activity should serve a dual purpose: solidify educational concepts and make learning irresistible.

Keep May Calm with Purposeful Early Finisher Activities

Let’s be real—May can feel like organized chaos. Between testing wrap-up, field trips, awards day, and trying to pack up your classroom without losing your mind, your early finishers can throw your whole flow off if you’re not prepared.

That’s exactly why I always keep May Early Finisher Activities in my back pocket. 🙌 These are my go-to May activities for upper elementary when I need something that’s engaging, academic, and most importantly—independent!

This no-prep packet is packed with a fun mix of Math, ELA, and enrichment pages that your students can do quietly and on their own. It includes:

• May-themed word puzzles, mazes, and coloring sheets
  
• Creative writing prompts (my kiddos love the comic strip one!)
  
• Skills review in disguise with things like math mazes and secret code word problems
  
• Answer keys and cover pages to make it a full-blown activity book
  

Here’s how to use these May worksheets in Your Class

• During morning work and transition times
  
• On those half-day schedules or unexpected indoor recess blocks
  
• As quiet time busy work during class parties or field trip recovery days
  
• And of course—for those early finishers who need something meaningful but low-maintenance
  

Honestly, these May early finisher worksheets help me save my energy for everything else going on. My scholars stay engaged, I get some breathing room, and it helps us finish the year strong instead of frazzled.

🦋 You can grab this May packet and cruise through the rest of May with one less thing on your to-do list!

15 May Activities for Upper Elementary

As the school year winds down and excitement for summer grows, keeping students engaged in learning becomes a challenge. To help, I’ve gathered 15 fun May activities to channel that energy into meaningful learning experiences. From arts to science, these ideas will make the last weeks of school engaging and memorable. 🎉

🌿 Nature Scavenger Hunt

Take your students on a nature scavenger hunt to explore the local ecosystem. Provide them with a list of items to find and a worksheet to jot down observations. This activity enhances their observational skills and teaches them about local ecosystems. It’s a fantastic way to combine science learning with outdoor fun!

🌞 Summer Reading Comprehension Passages

Engage your students with Summer Reading Comprehension Passages that celebrate important holidays like Father’s Day and Juneteenth. These passages help maintain reading skills over the summer and provide a platform for discussing significant cultural and historical events.

🌺 Garden Math

Involve your students in a hands-on garden project where they apply their math skills to real-life situations. Students can calculate the amount of soil needed for planting, determine the perimeter of the garden, or track plant growth rates using graphs. This project not only teaches practical math skills but also instills a sense of responsibility and teamwork.

🎨 Art Gallery Exhibition

Transform your classroom into an art gallery where students can exhibit their artwork. Invite them to create pieces based on themes like spring, summer, or abstract concepts learned in class. This activity not only boosts creativity but also gives students a sense of pride in showcasing their work to their peers, teachers, and parents.

🖍️ Color by Code Math Worksheets

Review essential math skills in a fun, engaging way with 4th Grade Multiplication & Division Color by Code Worksheets. These worksheets use puzzles and coloring activities to reinforce math concepts, making review sessions exciting and visually appealing for students.

🧩 STEM Challenge

Another one of the May activities for upper elementary is to create a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) challenge where students have to design and build a solution to a problem using limited resources. This could involve constructing a bridge with straws, building a balloon-powered car, or creating a simple coding project. These activities help foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.

📜 Poetry in the Park

Organize a poetry writing session in a local park. Encourage students to write poems inspired by their surroundings, focusing on using vivid language and sensory details. This activity not only fosters creativity but also helps students appreciate the beauty of nature and develop their descriptive writing skills. If you need inspiration for teaching poetry, you can check out my poetry bundle!

🎉 Field Day Fun for Everyone

When the sun’s out and your students are buzzing with energy, Field Day is a must! It’s the perfect way to let your scholars burn off steam while still building teamwork and sportsmanship.

You don’t need fancy equipment either! Try mixing traditional games with creative twists:

• Outdoor games like a potato sack race
  
• Tug-of-war by homeroom or grade level
  
• Obstacle courses with cones, jump ropes, and pool noodles
  
• Minute-to-Win-It style challenges—super simple and always a hit
  

Let your students rotate through stations, and be sure to have a cool-down area with popsicles or frozen juice boxes. 🍧 It’s one of those May activities for upper elementary that they’ll remember long after the school year ends!

📖 Summer Reading Challenges

Kick off a summer filled with reading with 35 Reading Activities for the Summer. This resource provides a variety of fun and educational reading tasks, helping students explore new genres and themes while maintaining their reading skills during the break.

📚 Book Carnival

Create a book-themed carnival where students can set up booths based on their favorite books. They might include games, character dress-up, and quizzes about the book’s content. This fun and interactive setting encourages deep engagement with reading and helps students express their understanding in creative ways.

🌍 Community Clean-Up

Plan a community clean-up day to teach students about environmental conservation. Discuss the impact of littering and pollution on local ecosystems before heading out to clean a nearby park or schoolyard. This activity reinforces environmental science concepts and promotes civic responsibility.

🏅 End-of-the-Year Student Awards

Celebrate each student’s achievements with personalized End-of-Year Student Awards. This customizable set allows you to highlight your students’ unique strengths, providing a meaningful and memorable end to the school year. Check out this helpful tutorial video for tips on creating and presenting the awards.

🎭 Drama Day

Reader’s theater is a must for one of your May activities for upper elementary! Organize a drama day where students can perform short plays or skits that they’ve written themselves or adapted from classic stories. This activity allows students to explore different characters and settings while developing their public speaking and teamwork skills. It’s a fantastic way to bring literature to life and give students a chance to shine on stage!

🏃‍♀️ Field Day Fun—Rain or Shine!

Earlier I mentioned Field Day as one of the May activities for upper elementary, but we all know how quickly weather (or schedule changes!) can flip our plans upside down. That’s why I keep this Field Day Activity Packet on standby. It’s full of no-prep worksheets like mazes, coloring pages, word searches, and even a reflection sheet for after the big day.

Perfect for:

• Rainy day backups 🌧️
  
• Pre-Field Day excitement
  
• Post-Field Day wind-down
  
• Or just keeping transitions calm and smooth
  

Your students stay engaged—and you stay stress-free! You can grab the packet [right here on TPT] and be ready for whatever May throws your way.

📅 Historical Timeline Projects

Have students create timelines of historical events they’ve studied this year or explore a new era or theme. They can use a mix of creative materials and digital tools to showcase their timelines. This helps students understand the sequence of events and their impacts, enhancing their historical awareness.

Wrapping Up May with Purpose (and Sanity!)

As you work through your May activities for upper elementary, don’t forget to give yourself some grace too.

This time of year is exciting—but also exhausting. Whether it’s Field Day, fun packets, or classroom celebrations, these moments don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

One of my favorite low-key wrap-ups? Let students share their favorite memory from the year or one thing they learned that surprised them. You can turn it into a class book, a bulletin board, or just a quick exit slip. It’s simple, but it gives closure and helps them reflect without the pressure of a formal assessment.

Let your May be fun, a little messy, and full of joy. You’ve earned it, teacher friend! 💛

Feeling ready for an enjoyable month in your classroom?

These enjoyable and interactive May activities for upper elementary are more than just end-of-year fun; they are vital tools in your teaching arsenal that help keep students engaged and reinforce their learning. If you need more ideas, check out this other post with more fun end-of-the-year activities!

As you plan out your last month of the school year, remember that the best learning happens when students don’t even realize they’re learning because they’re having too much fun! 🚀

Ready to put these ideas into action? Which activity are you most excited to try out? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Happy Teaching! The Butterfly Teacher 🦋