Are you looking for some fun and guilt free classroom parties? Well, look no further because I’ve got you covered. These are my top ten favorite classroom party ideas.
Classroom parties are great ways to get students excited about learning and having fun at the same time. They also give teachers a chance to reward their students for good behavior or academic achievement.
Classroom parties don’t have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, they can be as simple or elaborate as you want them to be. Keep on reading to find out more!
Things To Consider Before Planning A Classroom Party
Just keep in mind that it’s important to make sure that all of these activities are age appropriate. Don’t just give the kids free rein to create whatever they want.
Instead, help them by giving them guidelines for what types of projects they should work
Decide what kind of party you would like to host. Do you want it to be small and intimate or large and extravagant? Would you prefer something that is more educational or just plain fun?
Determine how many people will attend your party. This should include both students and adults. If there are going to be children present, make sure they know how to behave appropriately.
Also, think about whether, or not, you’d like to invite parents or other adult guests.
Choose an appropriate theme for your party. You can select from any number of themes. Some popular ones include:
Movies (Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc.)
Music (classical, rock, jazz, hip hop, etc.)
Food (cookies, cupcakes, pizza, ice cream, etc.)
Games (pinball, pool, darts, etc.)
Crafts (gift wrapping, origami, painting, etc.)
Art (paintings, sculptures, drawings, etc.)
Books (fairy tales, poems, novels, etc.)
Select a venue for your party. Remember that if you’re planning on inviting kids, you’ll need to find somewhere safe for them to play.
It’s best to plan ahead so that you won’t have to worry about this when you’re trying to set up everything else.
If you’re planning on having a food-related party, then you’ll probably need to purchase some supplies. Here are some things you might consider buying:
Paper plates
Cups
Napkins
Plastic utensils
Disposable cups
Bags and boxes to store leftovers
Ice trays
Plates
Bowls
Tables and chairs
You may also want to buy decorations for your party. There are a lot of different options available.
For example, you could use balloons, streamers, confetti, tablecloths, candles, glitter, paper lanterns, Christmas lights, ribbons, banners, and flags.
Be creative! There are lots of things you can do with inexpensive decorations that will add pizzazz to any classroom party.
Play music. Music helps kids focus better and makes them less likely to talk during class.
Be prepared for accidents. It happens! So, don’t panic. Just clean up quickly and move on.
Party Ideas
Arts And Crafts
Art projects are always a hit with kids. All you really need to do is pick out a few art supplies and let the kids go crazy! Here are some arts and crafts activities that you can try to include in your party:
Make a book cover using construction paper.
Paint a picture frame and take a bunch of Polaroid photos to print out and put in the frame.
Make a chalkboard poster.
Create a collage.
Draw a picture.
Cut out shapes from construction paper and glue them onto a piece of cardboard.
Make a scrapbook page in a book and then everyone will get given a copy to commemorate the year.
Make a greeting card.
Design a T-shirt.
Use stickers to decorate a gift bag.
Make a wreath if it is around Christmastime.
Make a pinwheel.
Make a bookmark and laminate it- this is something easy that your kids can take with them and use for years to come
Learn to make a balloon animal.
You could even get your kids to bring a white t-shirt from home and teach them how to tie-die their shirts a week before school ends.
On the last day, they can have each other sign the shirts and draw pictures on the shirts and they take them home to wear.
Instead of an ice cream bar, serve yogurt with all kinds of fruit and cereal toppings- you can even make a lesson out of the nutrition of the toppings and talk about what makes up a balanced diet.
You can even talk about how yogurt is made.
Movie Day
A similar concept to the yogurt bar, get some popcorn with different flavor sprinkles and seasonings and have the kids mix and match and pop the popcorn into brown paper bags.
You could even give a demonstration on how to pop popcorn. Once that is done, grab some comfy cushions and blankets in front of a TV and settle down for a movie or two.
Food Party
Before the closing of the year, get your kids to brainstorm the colors of the rainbow with fruit and vegetable and then when the end of the year party comes, ask them to bring an assigned fruit or veg representing a specific color in the rainbow and set up a table to make a rainbow using the fruit and vegetables.
Alternatively, you can make rainbows through another medium like paper or painting them on paper for the kids to take home with them.
Another great idea is to create clouds to stick on the rainbows they have painted with motivational statements or quotes.
Picnic On The School Yard
Here is a good opportunity for kids to bring food from their homes and showcase traditional meals from their individual cultures.
Everyone can try the dishes and celebrate diversity. All you need are a few picnic blankets, some cups for juice and paper plates and utensils.
Outdoor Party
This is a fun idea which can incorporate a picnic and various arts and crafts and science-based activities. You could set up a treasure hunt to find particular items in nature such as a forked stick or an oak leaf.
Whoever wins gets a token or reward of some kind. You could also grab some chalk and get your kids to draw all over the school yard while having snacks and drinks.
Mustache Party
A mustache party can take many forms.
You could use the mustache to play disguise games or even a murder-mystery type game with the children or perhaps play a variation of pin the tail on the donkey except with the mustache on a picture of you as their teacher.
Musical Chairs
Music chairs are a great way to get everyone involved and keep things moving. It’s a really simple idea that takes less than 15 minutes to set up. I used these music chairs from Amazon.
End of Year Memory Book
Create a memory book for your class using photos, journaling, and art projects. This is something that I always wanted to do but never had time. Now I make sure to include it in our end of year celebration.
Science-Based Activities
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly? Well, now you can experience it firsthand at your next classroom party!
All that needs to be done here is to make a parachute out of material and tie it to an object to anchor it. Go to the tallest place on the school yard and have the kids drop them down.
This will teach them about aerodynamics and gravity at the same time as having loads of fun.
Another thing you could do is make kinetic sand or bubble paint and let them play to their heart’s content. This combines a bit of arts and crafts with the science of chemical reactions.
A Note On Sugar
I know that sugar is bad for your health but it’s not always easy to avoid when planning a classroom party. However, there are plenty of alternatives to sugar that will still taste delicious.
Here are some tips on how to make sure that your classroom party doesn’t turn into an all-sugar fest:
Use fruit instead of candy. Fruit has natural sugars in it, so kids won’t feel like they’re eating too much sugar.
Have healthy snacks available such as nuts, popcorn, pretzels, granola bars, etc.
Make sure that you provide enough water throughout the day. This way, kids won’t be drinking too many sugary drinks.
Provide non-candy treats such as cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc.
Serve small portions of food. Kids tend to eat more if they see large amounts of food on their plates.
Keep sweets out of sight. If you keep the sweets in a cabinet away from where kids can reach them, then they’ll think twice before grabbing one.
Don’t forget to offer a variety of foods. You may want to include pizza, chicken fingers, hot dogs, hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, etc.
Occasions For Classroom Parties
Teacher Appreciation Day
This is a perfect opportunity to thank your awesome teachers. Students love coming to school on this special day. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to show appreciation for the hard work that teachers put in every single day.
Birthday Parties
Birthdays are a big deal for kids. They usually spend hours thinking about what kind of cake they want, which presents they want, who they want to invite, etc.
So why not celebrate birthdays by inviting classmates over to your house and making birthday cakes together?
Halloween
This is another holiday that kids absolutely love. Not only does it allow them to dress up and play pretend but it’s also a great excuse to go trick-or-treating.
Winter Wonderland
Bring in snowflakes, reindeer, and other wintry items to decorate your classroom. The kids will love seeing all the different colors and textures.
Valentine’s Day
This is a great time to bring in heart-shaped candies, chocolate kisses, and stuffed animals.
Ice Cream Social
Invite parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and neighbors over to your classroom for ice cream socials.
Spring Fling
This is a fun idea for springtime celebrations. Invite students’ families over to watch movies or have games.
Easter Egg Hunt
This is a classic classroom party activity. Kids love hunting for eggs filled with jelly beans or mini marshmallows.
Back To School Night
This is a great night to introduce new books, activities, and projects for the year ahead.
Graduation
This is an exciting occasion for both students and parents. Have a graduation party at your house, so students can wear caps and gowns and receive their diplomas.
Christmas Tree Decoration
This is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. All you need is some red and green construction paper, glue sticks, scissors, tape, and glitter.
Some Guilt Is Ok
Although you will want to keep it healthy 99% of the time, sometimes a treat is deserved for the children in your class.
What is important to remember is portion control and to consider any allergies of students in your classroom-it is important to ask parents for this information beforehand so that nothing bad happens.
When you feel like your class deserves a treat, here are some good ideas to use:
Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
Homemade ice cream sandwiches are one of my absolute favorites! You could make these with any flavor of ice cream that your kids like. If you’re feeling adventurous, try making different flavors of cookies too.
Cupcake Decorating Contest
Cupcakes are always a hit in my class. This is a great way to teach young children how to decorate cupcakes. It’s also a lot of fun!
Homemade Pizza
This is another easy and delicious idea. Kids love pizza, so this would be a perfect activity for younger elementary aged students.
Candy Bar
A candy bar is another classic classroom party idea. Kids absolutely love candy bars but need to be limited to a set amount per child so that they do not get carried away.
Homemade Popcorn Balls
Popcorn balls are a fun and healthy snack. Try making them yourself or buy them from the store.
Homemade Lemonade
Lemonade is a refreshing drink that everyone loves. Making it yourself is inexpensive and very easy.
Cookie Decorating
Cookies are such a classic treat. This is an easy and fun activity for older elementary students. They can decorate the cookies with all colors of icing that are pre-made up along with the cookies.
It is messy, but it can be fun and is a great creative outlet.
Conclusion
There you have it! There are a ton of fun ways to celebrate the holidays or the end of the school year without using a bunch of sugary food which can incorporate all kinds of fun and learning-based activities too.
If you are planning to celebrate the end of the year (or even the holidays!) with a party, be sure you have your Classroom Management plan in control. Fun day – behavior management plan = disaster!
Controlled fun is so much better for everyone involved and so be sure to plan your party as much as you can to avoid any disasters from occurring.
However, be sure to enjoy the time with your students too- it is not everyday you get to cut loose and enjoy each other’s company in a more relaxed setting.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
