It’s almost the last day of school, and you want to give special parting gifts to your students without breaking the bank. We pulled together some end-of-year student gifts that you can DIY for about a dollar each. These tokens give students something to remember this year, plus they’re a fun way to celebrate accomplishments.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
1. All smiles
Students are sure to love these emoji pins! Pair it with a note saying “I’m all smiles because we had a great year!”
Buy it: Emoji Pins at Amazon
Source: @msrachelvincent
2. Bookworms
How cute is this?! Pair some gummy worms with a cute note for a quick and easy DIY.
Buy it: Gummy Worms at Amazon
Source: @classroomhoopla
3. Send them off with a STEAM challenge
Assemble this rocket STEAM challenge in a baggie. All you need is one straw, two sticky notes, and a sheet of paper per bag. The challenge for students is to create an efficient rocket.
Buy it: Pipe cleaners at Amazon
Source: Simply STEAM
4. Let them know it’s been “dough-lightful”
Who doesn’t love their own tiny tub of Play-Doh? These sweet end-of-year student gifts will send them off with a smile.
Buy it: Play-Doh at Amazon
Source: Teach With Miss Molly
5. Parting is such sweet sorrow
Kids love candy, but not every teacher loves giving out candy, so if you’d like to substitute a healthier option like fruit chews or honey sticks, go for it!
Buy it: Skittles at Amazon
Source: Pocket of Preschool
6. Throw some shade (in a good way)
You can pick up inexpensive sunglasses at the dollar store. Plus this website has a free printable, making it a super-easy student gift.
Buy it: Kids Sunglasses at Dollar Tree, Adult Sunglasses at Dollar Tree, Neon Sunglasses at Amazon
Source: True Life I’m a Teacher
7. Give ’em s’more
This gift will definitely come in under $1 each when you buy the supplies in bulk. You can create your own printable or get one from Etsy.
Buy it: S’more Gift Tags at Etsy
Source: Lori Flaglor
8. “Owl” miss you
These super-cute owls will give your students a personalized treat. You can use any number of things for the body of the owl. Twix candy bars will help make this fun treat come to life!
Buy it: Twix at Amazon
Source: Mandy & Daniel
9. Wise little grab bag
Same idea as above but without the candy! You can fill this simple, inexpensive gift bag with pictures, stickers, popcorn—whatever you like!
Buy it: Brown paper bags at Amazon
Source: Stockpiling Moms
10. Time to get crazy
End-of-year student gifts should be put to good use, and you know your students will love these crazy straws! Create your own design or download it from this awesome Etsy store.
Buy it: Crazy Straw Printable Tags at Etsy, Loop Silly Straws at Amazon
Source: Daisy Lou Arts
11. Chalk it up
There are several ways you could give chalk as a DIY end-of-year student gift, and this is one of our favorites. Buy chalk in single packs or in bulk from the dollar store along with chalk bag toppers from Etsy.
Buy it: Chalk at Dollar Tree, Chalk Bag Note at Etsy
Source: Tidy Lady Printables
12. Ombre bookmark
This is a project you can hand out on the last day. Make a bookmark out of paint samples … so simple and so cute!
Source: Mrs. Olmsted
13. Freeze pop bouquets
These end-of-year student gifts come in as one of the cheapest gift options. Get a 100-pack of ice pops for under $10! They are a great gift that truly says “Enjoy your summer!”
Buy it: Freeze Pops at Amazon
Source: Trish Long-Keith
14. Celebrate your smart cookies
No doubt your students have put in a lot of hard work and grown as learners over the school year. This sweet end-of-year gift will show them how proud you are of them.
Buy it: Oreos at Amazon, Variety Cookie Packs at Amazon
Source: Caramel Potatoes
15. Get creative
Send your students off with love with these sweet personalized keepsakes. Collect your own rocks or buy them in bulk at the link below.
Buy it: Craft Rocks at Amazon
Source: Teachers Resource Force
16. Have a ball
You will be one of their favorite teachers EVER with this DIY idea! These beach balls come out to under $1 each.
Buy it: Beach Balls at Amazon
Source: Miss Irvine’s Class
17. Blow some bubbles
Nothing says summer like a fresh container of bubbles! You can get bubble wands at Dollar Tree at only $1 for two. This is an end-of-year student gift that’s hard to pass up!
Buy it: Bubble Wands at Dollar Tree, Bubble Wands at Target
Source: Sparkling in Second Grade
18. Sip a taste of summer
Inspire students to start a lemonade stand or make a cool drink to kick-start the summer. Use crazy straws from the dollar store and attach to Kool-Aid packets for a fun gift.
Buy it: Krazy Straws at Dollar Tree, Kool-Aid at Amazon
Source: The Crafted Sparrow
19. Jump into summer
Encourage healthy habits and challenge them to jump rope every day! Tell them that you’ll do it too. (Now you have to actually follow through!) Jump ropes from Amazon or Dollar Tree come out to a dollar or less each.
Buy it: Colorful Jump Ropes at Amazon, Foil Jump Ropes at Dollar Tree
Source: Our Thrifty Ideas
20. Add some bounce
You can buy bouncy balls in bulk, making this option an easy and inexpensive gift for a large classroom.
Buy it: Bouncy Balls at Amazon
Source: Literacy Loves Company
21. Stay hydrated
These make a really special DIY end-of-year student gift you can create with $1 water bottles and a little creative customization with an acrylic pen.
Buy it: Water Bottles at Dollar Tree, Acrylic Pens at Amazon
Source: Hanging With Mrs. Hulsey
22. Fun in the sun
These DIY dollar sponge balls are genius. Kids will have so much fun with them this summer. Better yet, show your students how to make them themselves so they have a fun craft to do this summer.
Buy it: Sponges at Amazon
Source: A Place Called Joy
23. Adorn them with a sparkly gem
Make your students feel as special as they are with a little candy bling at your end-of-the-school-year party.
Buy it: Ring Pops at Amazon
Source: Simply STEAM
24. Encourage them to keep writing over the summer with pencils …
The quintessential teacher gift. Your students will think of you every time they use these cute pencils.
Buy it: Pencils at Amazon
Source: Pocket of Preschool
25. … and a journal
Encourage your students to keep track of their summer adventures. Some teachers even offer a prize if students bring back completed journals at the beginning of the next school year.
Buy it: Journals at Amazon
26. All aglow
Did you know you can get up to 25 glow sticks in one package from Walmart? This gift is too inexpensive to pass up!
Buy it: Glow Sticks at Walmart
Source: The Bubbly Blonde Teacher
27. Poppin’ summer
Just popping in with a quick note! You can buy popcorn packages in bulk, making this a DIY project for less than 50 cents each.
Buy it: Popcorn at Amazon
Source: Bren Did
28. Send them off with a “pop”!
Fidget poppers are all the rage with students and make a great end-of-the-year gift. They come in a variety of different shapes and sizes—even bracelets and key chains! Definitely look for the smaller sizes that come in multipacks to keep the gift affordable.
Buy it: Fidget Poppers at Amazon
Source: Tejeda’s Tots
29. Slime ’til the end
Did slime drive you bananas this year? Probably. But now you can give students a gift they’re going to LOVE. DIY this slime along with your students then add some mini plastic fish for just a few cents more per student.
Buy it: Plastic Fish at Amazon
Source: My Frugal Adventures
30. This year was buckets of fun
Your students will “dig” this sweet end-of-year gift from you. Tip: Buy buckets and shovels in bulk for the best price.
Buy it: Buckets and Shovels at Amazon
Source: Pocket of Preschool
31. We built a great year
Students can build STEM skills and create at home with these adorable $1 block sets. Print off a quick note and these are ready to go.
Buy it: Building Blocks at Amazon
Source: @dalyessentialsofteaching
32. Because this year flew by
Feed into some summer fun with a Frisbee!
Buy it: Frisbees at Dollar Tree
Source: Teach Me T
33. A bunch of smarties
Something sweet for the end of the year!
Buy it: Smarties at Amazon, Clear Gift Bags at Amazon
Source: @teaching.with.miss.milo
34. Let’s color
Send your students off with an activity they can do this summer. Many assorted coloring books can be found at the dollar store. Plus, get this gift tag for free.
Buy it: Coloring Books at Dollar Tree
Source: Pocketful of PreK
35. Class friendship bracelets
What a sweet way to remember the year! Four friendship bracelets to remind your students that they are smart, you believe in them, you all are family, and you love them.
Buy it: Woven Bracelets at Amazon
Source: @stylishin2nd
36. Have a rockin’ summer
Start the summer with a rockin’ treat.
Buy it: Pop Rocks at Amazon
Source: @rootedinresource
37. Encourage a summer reading habit
Set your students up for summer reading success with a fun bookmark or two!
Buy it: Scratch-and-Sniff Bookmarks at Amazon
Source: Tejeda’s Tots
38. Send home a little book for them to start their summer reading
Buy it: Check out our comprehensive list of source for inexpensive books.
Source: Simply STEAM
