Dream Big with This End-of-Year Activity: Plan a Dream Summer Vacation
Wrapping Up the School Year with Joy and Creativity
If you're like me—and many of the teachers I coach—you're probably knee-deep in end-of-the-year planning mode. The final week of school is exciting, chaotic, and honestly… a little bit feral. Between assemblies, field days, and packing up your classroom, it’s easy to feel like you're in survival mode. That’s why I love pulling out activities that are both meaningful and fun, like this one: Plan Your Dream Summer Vacation.
This upper elementary activity is always a hit. It’s low-prep, student-centered, and a perfect blend of creativity and structure that fills those awkward end-of-year pockets of time. Even better? It’s a beautiful opportunity for every student to imagine, plan, and share—even if their real summer plans look a lot more like backyard sprinklers than Bora Bora.
Let’s dive into how to make this one work!
What Is the “Dream Summer Vacation” Activity?
This activity gives students permission to dream big. It asks them to imagine what they’d do if they had an unlimited summer vacation budget—and then plan the whole trip. It’s part creative writing, part social studies, and a whole lot of fun.
Students are invited to build a fantasy trip from scratch and then present it in a way that taps into key skills like organization, sequencing, and even persuasive language (hello, ELA standards!). And the best part? They’ll be engaged the whole time.
How to Introduce the Activity
Set the Scene
Start by grabbing their attention with a simple question:
“If you could go anywhere in the world this summer—with unlimited money—where would you go?”
Let them shout out a few wild ideas. Paris. Japan. Disney World. The beach. Somewhere snowy (yes, even in June—there’s always that one kid who wants to ski). Let the dreaming begin.
Then introduce the activity:
“You’re going to plan your own dream summer vacation. You’ll choose the location, the activities, the people you bring, the places you stay—and tell me all about it!”
What Students Should Include in Their Vacation Plan
To help students stay on track, I always give them a list of questions to guide their planning. You can write this on the board or provide a simple template (which I’ve already made—link below!).
Here are the guiding questions:
Where are you going?
How long will you stay?
Who will go with you?
What will you pack?
Where will you stay?
Hotel? Airbnb? Tent? Cruise ship?
What activities will you do?
What will you eat?
What makes this your dream trip?
These questions prompt students to think deeply while still having tons of fun.
How to Differentiate the Assignment
For early finishers or advanced writers:
Have them create a travel itinerary with dates and times.
Ask them to research real prices for flights, lodging, and excursions.
Let them design a digital travel brochure using Canva or Google Slides.
For students who need more support:
Provide sentence stems or visual icons for each question.
Offer a graphic organizer that breaks the task into small steps.
Allow students to work in partners or small groups to brainstorm.
Turn It Into a Presentation or Gallery Walk
I love when students get to share their work, and this activity creates the perfect setup for a fun and relaxed classroom presentation.
Two options for sharing:
Partner Presentations:
Have students share their dream vacation plan with a partner. This keeps it low-stakes while still encouraging speaking and listening skills.Gallery Walk:
Display student vacation posters or slides around the classroom. Give students sticky notes and have them leave compliments or “likes” on each other’s ideas.
Why It’s Perfect for the End of the Year
1. It’s Low-Prep for You
Let’s be real—you’re tired. This time of year is bananas. The “Dream Summer Vacation” activity gives your students a structured task, but one that doesn’t require a ton of grading, managing, or scaffolding.
2. It Builds Positive Vibes
Students are naturally looking ahead to summer. This activity leans into that excitement while still keeping them focused and productive. It’s also great for classroom community, as students learn about each other’s hopes and interests.
3. It Levels the Playing Field
Some students may not get to travel over summer break—and this activity creates a space for imagination, not comparison. It’s all about what could be if money and time weren’t a factor.
4. It Taps Into Real-World Skills
Planning and organizing
Writing for an audience
Oral communication
Creative thinking
Even at the end of the year, you’re still hitting the standards—without the stress of formal assessment.
Make It Easy On Yourself
Want this activity done for you? I already created a print-and-go version with guided prompts, a presentation layout, and everything your students need to get started.
Dream Summer Vacation | End Of The Year Activity!
Google Slides template with guided prompts for students to brainstorm and plan their dream vacation.
Printable version of the dream summer vacation activity for offline use.
Quiz to get students in the summer vacation mood and spark excitement for the upcoming break.
Try It With Your Students!
If you’re looking for one more end-of-year win—something that feels fun but still hits the learning goals—this is it. “Dream Summer Vacation” is creative, student-driven, and always a crowd-pleaser. It gives students the chance to reflect, imagine, and connect as the school year wraps up.
Let me know if you try it! I’d love to hear about the wild destinations your students choose and how it goes in your classroom.
Need more end-of-year ideas like this? Follow me for more classroom tips, easy games, and creative ways to keep upper elementary students engaged till the very last bell.
