10 INEXPENSIVE EOY GIFTS FOR STUDENTS

I spy a teacher who is looking for an end of the year gift to send their students on their way for the summer.

Yep. I’m talking to you!

The beginning of May, for me, signals many end of the year activities like awards day and end of the year parties. I’m always trying to find something thoughtful and cute to send my students into the summer with. Of course, a teacher’s got a tight budget, so I am always keep the price in mind when purchasing things.

Trying to prepare gifts for 20-25 students can get pretty expensive, pretty fast. Some teachers may opt to buy a bulk amount of ready-made end of the year gifts for their students like student t-shirts or trophies and medals. I find that going this route sometimes results in spending more money than you’d like.

When I need to be extra mindful of the budget, I find that doing DIY projects helps tremendously. From DIY-ing my little boys first birthday party to DIY-ing most of my classroom décor each year, I have saved a lot of money by making things instead of buying them. The same applies when putting together end of the year gifts for my students.

You ask, “Why do I need end of the year gifts for my students? They had me all year and I didn’t lose my mind. That’s a gift in and of itself.”

And you are so right, teacher friend.

But you never know how your one little gift could impact a student for the rest of their lives. A little token of your appreciation might make a child’s day, week, month, year, or life. Just give from the heart and all else will fall into place.

I’m off my soapbox now. Summon the violins to stop playing.

I have 10, not-so-expensive items that would be perfect as end of the year gifts for your students. All of these end of the year student gift ideas can stand alone, meaning that you don’t have to add anything special to it before handing it out to your kids.  However, if you love a little bit of DIY and cute, printable, and FREE tags, you’ll also find some creative ideas to make your gifts even more special for your students.

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1. Crazy Straws

Crazy straws are always fun to sip out of. Just add a bottle of your students’ favorite pouch beverage to complete the deal.

DIY: Add this FREE ‘krazy kool” tag from A Cupcake for the Teacher to your crazy straws. 

2. Frisbees

Take it back to old school toys and give your students Frisbees. Kids get a kick out of playing with these.

DIY: Tell your students how fast the school year ‘flew by’ using these FREE labels from Create-Abilties.

3. Bubble Wands

These bubble wands remind me of light sabers! No one is ever too old to blow bubbles, so even your upper elementary students will love these.

DIY: Sparkling in Second and School Is a Happy Place both provided FREE labels to attach to your bubble wands.

 

4. Beachballs

I love the idea of using beach balls as an end of the year gift. This year, my coworker let her kids sign their classmates’ beach balls. Ah, so many memories!

DIY: Swimming Into Second provides a FREE tag that you can add to a beach ball. If your beach ball comes in a small package, it would be best to paste or tape this label on top. Of course your students will rip it right off so they can blow their beach ball up, but at least you give it to them cutely.

5. Neon Sunglasses

Send your students on to the next grade in style with these neon sunglasses.

DIY: There is too much cuteness with these FREE labels from True Life I’m A Teacher and Smart School.

6. Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk great gift for all of yours students, especially for your budding artists…and your hopscotch square drawers.

DIY: Divide your sidewalk chalk up among your students and add this FREE creative tag from Eighteen25.

7. Watercolor Paint

This colorful gift of watercolor paint for your students is sure to be a hit. I don’t know one single kid that wouldn’t want paint!

DIY: Glued to My Crafts has a FREE tag that you can tie to your watercolor paint as a colorful addition.

8. Drink Tumblers

This is probably the priciest gift on the list, but your students will use the drink tumblers while on summer vacation for sure.

DIY: If you’re fancy and know how to apply vinyl, you could really turn these tumblers into something amazing! If you have no absolute idea how to do that (like me), you could fill these tumblers with candy and paper confetti. Another option that I love is Be Sew Crafty’s idea to use the FREE tags from Nothing But Country and fill the tumblers with Starbursts.

9. Slap Bracelets

Give your students something to wear with these fun slap bracelets.

DIY: One Sharp Bunch has FREE, colorful labels to “slap” onto your slap bracelets.

10. Bouncy Balls

Bouncy balls are sure to be an awesome gift for your students.

DIY: This FREE label from Literacy Loves Company is a fun addition to your bouncy balls.

What gift ideas are your favorite from above? Have you used any of these before? Share with me in the comments below or talk to me about it in the Tame the Classroom Facebook Community.