The end of the school year always comes with a mix of excitement and chaos. Between field trips, assemblies, and all the last-minute to-dos, it’s easy for routines to slip. When I was in the classroom, I still wanted my students to stay sharp and feel confident about everything they’d learned. That’s why I leaned into fun, low-prep activities that kept our momentum going without adding more stress to my plate. If you’re looking for meaningful ways to wrap up your math block while still having a little fun, these five ideas for end of the year review are just what you need!
Why an End of the Year Review Matters
Even with summer just around the corner, I always saw the end of the year as a chance to bring everything full circle. Taking time for review wasn’t just about test prep. It was about giving my students a chance to look back and realize just how much they had learned. After months of working through challenging concepts, it felt so rewarding to watch them breeze through problems they once struggled with.
End of the year review activities help boost student confidence and reinforce key skills in a relaxed, low-pressure way. Instead of rushing to squeeze in “one more new thing,” you can shift the focus to solidifying what has already been covered. That intentional review helps students retain more over the summer and walk into the next grade feeling ready.
Plus, review activities are the perfect opportunity to have a little fun while still learning. By playing a game, working with a partner, or solving a colorful math puzzle, students stay engaged and learning right up to the end. And. . . I got to enjoy the final days of school without scrambling for last-minute plans. It is a win-win for everyone.
End of the Year Review with Math Mazes
When it came time for an end of the year review, I loved using math mazes to keep my students engaged. These interactive mazes gave students 8 to 12 problems to solve to make it through the maze. It feels like a game, but secretly, it’s a year of math review!
The built-in differentiation made these math mazes a go-to for me. Each maze has its own level, so I could easily tailor the activity to fit different students’ needs. Some of my kids thrived with the more advanced mazes, while others built confidence working through the simpler ones. No matter what level they worked on, they were reviewing key concepts from the year in a low-stress way.
There are many different ways these maze review activities can be used at the end of the year. These mazes work beautifully as independent work, partner tasks, or even as a fun option for fast finishers. I used them during math rotations, left them for sub plans, and even sent a few home as review practice. There’s even an option to print them out or assign digitally. They added just the right amount of fun to our end of the year review routine, and I know they will in your classroom, too.
End of the Year Review with Color by Number Worksheets
Another one of my favorite ways to wrap up the year was with color by number math review pages. These activities brought a quiet buzz of excitement to my classroom as students solved problems and revealed colorful mystery pictures. It was such a simple way to mix math with creativity, and my kiddos absolutely loved it!
For an end of the year review, these pages work wonders. Each one focuses on a single skill, like multiplication, division, fractions, or multi-digit addition and subtraction. Every page comes with four levels of difficulty, so it is easy to differentiate. This means every student can work at their just right level to get the most out of the activity.
These color by code activities are perfect to use during independent work time, in math centers, and even as morning work. No matter when you use them, you can be confident knowing that your students have the chance to practice essential skills. It also helps them stay focused and calm during those high-energy final weeks of school. It is the perfect balance of fun and function for an end of the year review.
Daily Spiral Bell Ringers
During my time in the classroom, I leaned heavily on a daily spiral review to keep math skills fresh. When we hit the final stretch of the year, I loved using daily bell ringers to guide our end of the year review. These short but meaningful tasks gave my students the chance to revisit standards without feeling overwhelmed.
Each daily page has a quick mix of problems that touch on key concepts, like fractions, geometry, place value, and multi-digit operations. The format stays consistent, which helps students build confidence and get right to work. Whether you use them as morning work, a math warm-up, or even for homework, they will definitely add value to our day.
What really makes these bell ringers shine for end of the year review is the variety. You didn’t have to worry about creating something new each day because the spiral format naturally cycles through all the skills. That consistency, paired with the range of topics, makes this resource a solid way to prep students for year-end assessments or help them feel good about how far they’d come.
Task Cards for End of the Year Review
Task cards are another fun activity I used during my end of the year review. I loved how versatile they are, and having them on hand allowed me to fill a couple of minutes, set up a math center, or turn them into questions for a class game.
Since division was a skill we worked on, these spring-themed division task cards were perfect. They were just the right mix of challenge and engagement for those final weeks. With 3-digit by 1-digit division problems (many with remainders), these cards gave my students the chance to practice a tough skill in a fresh and approachable format.
For our end of the year review, I loved that these task cards came pre-leveled for differentiation. Each card was marked with seasonal symbols such as birds, watering cans, rainbows, or butterflies. This way, I could easily assign just-right problems to each student. That made it super simple to meet everyone where they were without prepping multiple activities.
Task cards can be used in various ways. You can play a game of Scoot, use them for Quiz-Quiz-Trade, add them to your math centers, or turn them into games. Having a versatile resource, like task cards, on hand gives you lots of flexibility to keep your end of the year review fresh and fun. Use the spring division task cards that my students loved, or grab a set on a skill that your students need practice on. It can really be that easy!
Collaborative Review Activities
When I planned for an end of the year review, I knew tapping into collaborative activities would be a win. By the end of the year, it’s easier to tap into the kids’ need for movement and their desire to chat than it is to try to avoid it. I created a set of activities that is focused on review, but also helped me tap into collaboration.
Each of these review packs for 2nd through 5th grade includes a variety of collaborative activities that are perfect for the end of the year review. Each pack includes standards-aligned task cards and a “Find a Friend” activity that made the last weeks of school feel both productive and fun.
The math task cards cover essential skills and can be used in so many ways. Just like I mentioned above, they add a great collaborative element using them in centers, partner work, small group rotations, or whole-class games. The variety of questions helps students revisit key concepts while keeping things fresh. With answer keys ready to go, you can support students instead of being tied down with grading.
Each pack also includes a movement-based “Find Someone Who” activity, which kids love. It gave my students a chance to connect, reflect, and laugh together while still practicing math. I used these to start our day with energy or to break up longer chunks of academic review. Having that built-in combination of academic review and community building can be a game changer in those final weeks of the year.
How to Differentiate During an End of the Year Review
One of the best things about using these resources for an end of the year review was how easy it was to differentiate. Between the leveled task cards and color by number worksheets with multiple versions, I could quickly match activities to each student’s needs without creating anything extra. They allowed me to support each student without adding more to my already busy schedule.
The math mazes also make differentiation simple. Each one is labeled with its level using a symbol. You, as the teacher, can decipher the code, but your students don’t need to know there is a difference. Even the color by number sheets come with four versions per skill. This makes it so easy to give each student a little challenge while still reviewing at their best level.
Since these activities come ready to go with built-in levels, you won’t have to spend hours modifying content. Instead, you will be able to focus on helping your students wrap up the year feeling successful at their own pace and on their own level. That is what makes the end of the year review such a success for each student.
Make Your End of the Year Review Fun, Meaningful, and Stress-Free
Looking back, the end of the year was one of my favorite times in the classroom, and not because summer was coming. It was a chance to celebrate growth, boost confidence, and give my students the space to shine with everything they’d learned. You can have this in your classroom too! Using engaging and differentiated resources makes all the difference. With so much going on during those last weeks, having a plan will help you stay focused on what matters most, your students. These review activities give structure to the chaos while still keeping learning fun and purposeful.
Save for Later
Remember to save this post to your favorite math Pinterest board to access these five end of the year review activities!
