Teaching in a departmentalized setting for most of my teaching career I’ve faced some unique challenges. I realized that this setting doesn’t leave much wiggle room – every minute counts. Still, it’s important to plan time for students to relax and enjoy. Doing so builds a love for school, learning, and strengthens classroom community. Incorporating Fun Friday Activities for your 4th and 5th grader allows them to unwind while staying engaged, balancing fun with meaningful learning at the end of the week.
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ELA-Themed Fun Friday Activities
Fun Friday activities can play double duty. They don’t just have to provide a break – they can also reinforce important ELA skills. The following engaging ideas will help your students unwind while still support their reading, vocabulary, and comprehension development.
Flashlight Friday
This was definitely one of my students’ favorite activities and so easy to implement. Create a cozy reading environment by letting students read with flashlights. This simple activity makes reading feel special and encourages a focus on independent or shared reading time. Dim or turn off the lights, hand out flashlights, and watch students engage with their books in a fun, memorable way.
First Chapter Friday
Introduce new literature by reading the first chapter or two of a book to your class. All you need are a few novels and a few minutes to read aloud. This activity is a great way to get students interested in new book or authors. It also starts building anticipation for future reading.
After reading the first chapter or two to your students, you can write down all the names of the students interested in the book. Then, raffle off who gets to read it first.
Need a few suggestions of novels with interesting first chapters?
Here are a few:
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio : The first chapter, “Ordinary,” immediately draws students in by introducing Auggie’s unique perspective and sets the tone for deeper empathy and acceptance.
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: The first two chapters are extremely short. However, they offer a glimpse into Ivan’s world as a gorilla in captivity.
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown: The first chapter sets a unique and intriguing introduction to Roz, the robot. It starts off in the midst of a suspenseful hurricane where Roz is the sole surviving robot.
Book Buddy Friday
Pair your upper elementary students with younger students for a collaborative reading experience. This activity fosters leadership and enhances comprehension skills in your older students while giving students a reading mentor.
The interaction between the two groups helps:
- build confidence,
- supports comprehension,
- and encourages a love of reading in both age groups.
How to implement:
- Reach out to a kindergarten or first grade teacher in your school and organize a reading session.
- Have your older students choose a book to share with younger students. Another option is to have the younger students bring a book they would like the older student to read to them.
- Pair up your older students with younger students to guide them through books.
Form-a-Word Friday
Turn vocabulary building into a fun, competitive game with Form-a-word Friday. Students use prefixes, suffixes, and root words to create as many words as they can. Using a Morphology Boggle resource, students can play while reinforcing their understanding of morphemes.
Points can be awarded for more complex words or those that use multiple parts. Not only will students enjoy the challenge, but they will also strengthen their vocabulary and word-building skills in the process.
Critical Thinking Activities
Fun Friday activities like puzzles and problem-solving challenges engage students’ critical thinking skills. They also keep learning fun and interactive.
Figure It Out Friday
This activity challenges students to solve puzzles that require logic and problem-solving. Use word searches, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or unscrambles to keep students engaged. Rotate different types of puzzles each week or themes to maintain excitement. These activities provide mental stimulation and help improve focus, perseverance, and problem-solving skills in a fun way.
Just for Fun – Fun Friday Activities
While sneaking in academics is great, sometimes students just need time to relax and recharge. These fun activities provide a break from structured learning, foster a positive environment, and give students a chance to unwind.
Extra Recess
For some reason, Fridays are usually filled with a few tests. Help students decompress with the gift of extra playtime outside. It’s an easy, stress-free reward that encourages physical activity and allows students to socialize. You can use it as a whole-class reward or as an incentive for individual students who meet goals throughout the week.
Lunch Outside
Switch up the routine by taking lunch outdoors. This activity gives students a change of scenery and a fun way to enjoy their midday break.
My co-teacher and I loved incorporating this every other week, and it quickly became a class favorite. Students would grab their lunch and meet us by the playground, where we’d sit on the ground or at picnic tables. It was a great stress reliever for everyone and gave us a chance to get to know our students on a more personal level. Without the usual cafeteria noise, students enjoyed talking and connecting with each other. They truly loved this special time outside!
Brain Break Activities
While having specific Fun Friday activities lined up is great, sometimes time is limited. In those moments, you can easily select from a variety of Brain Break Activities to give your students a quick, energizing break without the need for extensive planning.
The Value of Fun Friday Activities
Incorporating Fun Friday Activities for your 4th & 5th graders creates a perfect balance between learning and fun. With these engaging activities, students can relax and recharge while still staying on track. It also builds a positive classroom environment where students look forward to the end of the week.
