The final week before winter break can feel like a strange mix of excitement and exhaustion. Students are buzzing, routines are fraying, and starting something brand new often feels like an uphill battle.

The good news? This is actually a perfect time for engagement — just not the kind that requires heavy prep, strict quiet, or lots of grading.

If you’re looking for an activity that keeps students focused, honors the learning you’ve already done, and lets everyone end the year on a positive note, try this:

The Year-in-Review Remix

Instead of pushing new content, invite students to remix what they’ve learned so far this year into a creative format of their choice.

Why This Works (Especially in December)

During the last week before break, students crave:

• Choice

• Creativity

• Social interaction

• Closure

The Year-in-Review Remix taps into all four. Reflection feels meaningful, creativity boosts motivation, and reviewing content happens naturally — without the pressure of a test or formal assignment.

Best of all, students stay engaged because they’re making something, not just completing another worksheet.

How It Works

Start with one simple prompt:

“Show what we’ve learned this year — but remix it.”

Then offer a short menu of format options, such as:

• A playlist where each song represents a key concept

• A comic strip retelling major learning moments

• A mini-game or quiz for classmates

• A news broadcast reporting on “breaking academic events”

• A Top 10 list of things we learned (or struggled with!)

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Set a few clear expectations:

• Include 3–5 key concepts, skills, or themes from the course

• Be ready to explain why you chose them

• Focus on clarity over perfection

Keep the Sharing Light

This isn’t presentation week — keep it low-pressure:

• Gallery walks

• Pair-and-share

• Quick volunteer highlights

• Peer voting for fun categories

You’ll be surprised how much academic language shows up when students explain their choices.

What You Can Do Tomorrow

This activity is intentionally low-prep:

• Put the format options on one slide

• Let students work solo or with a partner

• Limit work time to one class period

• Use a completion check or single-point rubric

No stacks of grading. No elaborate materials. Just meaningful learning.

Making It Work for All Learners

To support different needs:

• Provide templates or sentence starters

• Allow audio or visual submissions instead of writing

• Offer private sharing options

• Encourage students to brainstorm ideas in their home language before translating

Flexibility keeps engagement high — especially during a high-energy week.

If Things Go Sideways…

• Too silly? Add a short content checklist.

• Low effort? Require a brief reflection explaining choices.

• Extra energy? Use timed work blocks with a visible countdown.

How You’ll Know It’s Working

You’ll notice:

• Students talking about content without prompting

• Laughter and academic vocabulary happening together

• Fewer behavior redirects than usual

That’s the sweet spot.

The last week before winter break doesn’t have to be survival mode. With the right kind of activity, it can be reflective, joyful, and surprisingly productive — for both you and your students.

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