Before saying goodbye to school and hello to summer break, kick off the end of the year countdown to summer with this summer bucket list craft for kids! These end of the year activities are perfect for incorporating writing all the way up to the last day of school. Use these end of the year crafts to harness the excitement for summer, as students brainstorm summer bucket list ideas and plan the ultimate summer vacation. Plus, pair these summer crafts for kids with any of your favorite end of the year books!
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Summer Vacation Read Alouds
The end of the school year can be bittersweet for many students! To offset any end of the year jitters and get students excited about our summer bucket list craft, I read a variety of read alouds that focus on the joys of summer vacation.
Here are some of my favorite end of the year books about summer:
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“Summer Vacation, Here I Come” by D.J. Steinberg follows a young boy as he counts down the days until the last day of school, imagining all of the fun adventures he’ll have during summer break.
“And Then Comes Summer” by Tom Brenner is a perfect end of the year book that showcases all that summer has to offer, including camping, swimming, eating ice cream, and chasing fireflies.
“The Night Before Summer Vacation,” “Summer Days and Nights,” and “Summer Wonders,” are three additional books that would be great to read before beginning the summer bucket list craft.
Summer Bucket List Craft Prep
With three differentiated craft options, this customizable summer bucket list craft allows you to best fit the needs of your students, making it the perfect craft for preschool all the way through third grade!
Students can complete just one page as a single writing prompt.
They can also stack and staple the pages to create a book.
As a third option, the students can create a flip book with a book they want to read, a person they want to see, a place they want to go, and a thing they want to do.
No matter which option you choose for your students, prep is simple and quick!
Choose as many or as few writing prompts as you would like your students to complete. Then, print them on regular paper.
For the bucket craft pieces, print on colored paper or card stock. As an ode to summer, I like to use a variety of bright summer colors that students can mix and match when they assemble their bucket.
As an alternative, you can also just print on white paper and let the students design their bucket with markers and crayons.
Summer Bucket List Writing Activities
After reading one of the summer read alouds from above, it is time to start our summer bucket list craft.
For older students who will be completing multiple pages, I recommend working on a couple of pages a day.
Otherwise, I would have the students complete just a single writing prompt.
With the introduction of each new page, I have students orally share what they plan to write and draw for that specific page.
Sometimes, we share as a whole group. Other times, I pair the students with a partner.
I always model the page with my own example before sending the students off to work independently.
After all of the pages are finished, it is time to cut them out. I remind students to carefully cut along the thick, black line, using their best scissor cutting skills along the way.
Once all of the writing pages have been cut out, I save them for later!
Summer Bucket List Craft Directions
The next step is to put the bucket craft together!
First, I demonstrate how to glue the pieces together before letting the students do this independently. The assembly will depend on which craft option and writing pages you have selected.
For the individual writing piece, simply glue the page you have selected to the front.
For the book option, you will want to stack and staple the pages, along with the bucket cover placed on top.
With the flip book option, you will want to stack and staple the pages. Then, glue or staple the stack to the front of the bucket.
Don’t forget to carve out some time for students to share their completed summer bucket list craft with a buddy, before taking this adorable keepsake home!
Summer Bucket List Craft & Writing Activities
Grab this summer bucket list craft, including all three craft options here!
More End of the Year Crafts & Activities
Check out this complete list of End of the Year Read Alouds for more book options to pair with this craft!
Display this end of the year graduate craft at your Preschool or Kindergarten Graduation!
For a fun end of the year theme day, check out these Marshmallow Day activities!
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