Spring break is on the horizon, and the energy in your classroom is shifting, so you know you need some solid day before spring break activities to make sure your students are engaged.. That last day before the break can feel like a challenge—students are eager, distracted, and counting down the minutes until their week of freedom begins. As a teacher, it’s easy to feel torn between wanting to embrace the excitement and ensuring your class time still has value. But here’s the good news: you can do both.
By incorporating engaging, purposeful activities that still tie into your English Language Arts curriculum, you can channel that pre-break energy into creativity and meaningful learning. Whether it’s sparking imagination through writing, diving into stories in unique ways, or blending fun with skills practice, there are plenty of options to keep students engaged while celebrating the season. In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite day before spring break activities for secondary ELA that will help you end the term on a high note.
1. Seasonal Close Reading with Baseball and Women’s History Month
Take advantage of the spring season to engage your students with meaningful close reading activities that tie into the excitement of this time of year. Incorporating nonfiction texts into your ELA classroom can sometimes feel overwhelming, but the right resources can make it simple and effective. These close reading activities are perfect for day before spring break activities, offering a flexible way to keep students focused while embracing the seasonal energy.
My spring-themed close reading bundles make planning easy and engaging. The baseball bundle brings the excitement of America’s favorite pastime into the classroom with passages about iconic players like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Lou Gehrig. It’s a great way to connect the season with reading practice. For a timely nod to Women’s History Month, the influential women bundle spotlights inspiring figures like Malala Yousafzai, Alice Walker, and Kamala Harris. (Taylor Swift’s resource even includes a fun “Create Your Own Era” project that would be perfect for days like these!) These texts encourage students to think critically while exploring the accomplishments of powerful leaders and change-makers.
2. Parts of Speech with a Spring Twist
Mad Libs are the perfect combination of fun and learning, making them an ideal choice for day before spring break activities. These fill-in-the-blank stories allow students to review parts of speech in a creative and engaging way, blending grammar practice with plenty of laughter. Plus, they’re a fantastic way to build classroom community as students share their wacky creations.
Celebrate the start of spring break by introducing spring-inspired Mad Libs with themes like blooming flowers, seasonal adventures, or even funny vacation mishaps. Whether you use them as a whole-class activity or let students work in small groups, Mad Libs are a lighthearted way to keep students focused and participating during an otherwise high-energy day.
If you’re looking for resources to enhance your class culture or simply want to infuse some seasonal cheer into your lesson plans, this activity is a must-try. Incorporating Mad Libs into your day before spring break activities ensures students leave your class smiling while still brushing up on key ELA skills like identifying nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Click here to check out my spring set!
3. Create a Spring Banner
Build class culture and brighten your classroom with a fun and festive banner activity that doubles as an easy decoration project. This no-prep activity is a budget-friendly way to add a touch of spring cheer to your space while engaging students in a creative task. It’s one of those perfect day before spring break activities that feels celebratory while keeping students focused on something productive.
The resource includes ready-made letters spelling “HELLO SPRING” in two beautiful floral designs to bring a seasonal pop to your classroom. For an added twist, the blank template allows students to design their own letters, incorporating your class theme or showcasing their individual creativity. Whether you hang it up for all to admire or send it home as a keepsake, this activity adds a festive and collaborative element to your spring break send-off. Click here to check out my done-for-you resource.
4. Play Word Games
Use the opportunity to play spring-themed word puzzles. Wordle is all the craze, and there are a few websites that are Wordle inspired for you to create your own words and lists. MyWordle.Me lets you make a custom Wordle which you then generate with a link for others to play. This would be great for those who have access to class technology. There’s also this resource in my shop pre-made with 4 printable word games to download and use immediately. Perfect to use alone or as an extension activity for fast finishers.
5. Roll a Spring Story Creative Writing Activity
Add excitement and creativity to your classroom with this unique writing activity that’s perfect for day before spring break activities. Students use a bit of luck to roll for their main story elements—such as characters, settings, and conflicts—before brainstorming and diving into their imaginative tales. This activity is as flexible as it is engaging, and it works beautifully in print or digital. My resource includes a convenient dice script for digital use and four beautifully designed writing pages ready for print.
Not only does this activity spark creative storytelling, but it also makes a great spring-themed bulletin board display. Showcase your students’ imaginative writing pieces to add a fresh and fun touch to your classroom décor while celebrating their efforts. Whether used as a standalone activity or part of a larger writing unit, this is an engaging way to keep students motivated and focused before heading into spring break.
6. Review Plot with Enola Holmes
The Enola Holmes movie is not only captivating but also an excellent companion to a mystery unit or a fun and meaningful way to review plot structure. My Enola Holmes Movie Activities resource is ready to use and guides students through identifying and detailing the major events of the film on an engaging, visually appealing plot diagram. As an added layer of critical thinking, students also analyze the movie and write their own starred reviews, blending creativity with evaluation skills.
If you’re looking to elevate “movie day” beyond simple entertainment, this activity ensures your students stay actively engaged while reinforcing key ELA concepts. It’s an ideal option for keeping students focused and productive, especially as part of your day before spring break activities, offering a mix of learning and fun they’ll appreciate.
7. Create a Character Autopsy Outside with Sidewalk Chalk
Spring weather and the excitement of an upcoming break make it the perfect time to take learning outdoors. One of my favorite day before spring break activities is a Character Autopsy—a creative way for students to analyze literary characters—done outside using sidewalk chalk. This activity is engaging, hands-on, and gives students a much-needed opportunity to enjoy the fresh air while staying focused on ELA skills.
Here’s how it works: Assign each student (or small group) a character from a book you’ve been reading in class. On the sidewalk, students draw a large outline of a person and then fill the “body” with their analysis. For example, they can write the character’s traits in the arms, motivations in the heart, and key decisions in the hands. Around the figure, they can include symbols, quotes, or connections to the plot. The combination of drawing, writing, and collaboration brings character analysis to life in a way that’s both memorable and fun.
This outdoor twist on a classic activity is perfect for spring and helps students channel their excitement into meaningful work. As an added bonus, the visual and collaborative nature of the task ensures all learners are actively involved, making it a win for your classroom culture. You can even grab my done-for-you resource here to save you time and energy. So grab some chalk and let your students show off their literary skills in a fresh and creative way.
8. Create a Mood Board with Spring Elements
Bring creativity and critical thinking together by having students create a mood board for a text they’re studying, incorporating spring-inspired elements. This activity is a fantastic way to blend literary analysis with artistic expression, making it an ideal addition to your day before spring break activities. Plus, the spring theme adds a refreshing twist that students will love.
To get started, students can focus on a theme, tone, or mood from the text they’ve been analyzing. Using materials like magazines, printed images, colorful paper, or even digital tools like Canva or Google Slides, they’ll design a mood board that visually captures the essence of the text. Challenge them to include spring elements—such as blooming flowers, pastel colors, or symbols of renewal—that connect with the text’s ideas or amplify its emotional impact.
Not only does this activity deepen their understanding of the text, but it also gives students an outlet to showcase their interpretation in a creative, nontraditional format. Whether you display the mood boards in your classroom or let students share their work with peers, this activity is a great way to channel their pre-spring break energy into something meaningful and memorable. It’s a lighthearted yet impactful way to combine analysis and artistry. You can see my done-for-you resource to make this project even easier right here.
9. Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts are a dynamic way to bring fresh voices and perspectives into your classroom while engaging students in critical listening and analysis. Whether you’re sparking discussions, diving into themes, or exploring storytelling techniques, podcasts offer endless possibilities for meaningful lessons. The flexibility of this medium allows you to tailor the experience to fit your current unit, class goals, or even seasonal themes, making it an excellent choice for day before spring break activities.
If you’re unsure where to start, I’ve got you covered! This blog post features a list of twenty podcast ideas perfect for ELA classrooms, ranging from true crime to interviews with authors and even episodes that explore the craft of writing. To ensure students stay focused, you can incorporate active listening strategies by having them take notes or complete reflection prompts.
For added structure, my Podcast Listening Resource includes three printable podcast worksheet options, a Google Slides companion for digital classrooms, a curated list of 20 podcast recommendations, and five creative assessment ideas. Whether your students are analyzing tone, dissecting themes, or simply practicing active listening, this resource makes it easy to hold them accountable while keeping the activity engaging.
10. Read Novels in Verse for National Poetry Month
As spring break approaches, it’s the perfect time to introduce your students to novels in verse. These beautifully written texts blend storytelling with poetry, making them a captivating and accessible option for secondary ELA students. Since novels in verse are typically shorter and faster to read, they’re an ideal choice for the day before spring break activities when attention spans may be shorter but the desire for engaging content is high.
Reading novels in verse not only introduces students to poetic techniques like rhythm, imagery, and line breaks but also allows them to explore powerful narratives in a condensed format. These texts often deal with deep, relatable themes, making them an excellent way to spark meaningful conversations in your classroom.
If you’re looking for a resource to help guide your class, my Novels in Verse Resource is the perfect companion. It’s designed to support students as they analyze these unique texts, offering tools to explore themes, character development, and poetic structure. Whether you use it for a whole-class study, small group discussions, or independent reading, it’s a flexible resource that works for a variety of classroom needs.
As spring break approaches, I’m definitely ready for a well-deserved pause—and I’m sure you are too! Finding ways to channel your students’ excitement into meaningful and enjoyable activities can make all the difference in creating a positive send-off for the break. I hope these ideas have inspired you to try something new or put a fun twist on a tried-and-true favorite in your classroom.
Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear about the pre-break activities that work best for you and your students. What’s a go-to lesson or creative idea that’s become a class favorite over the years? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tag me—I always enjoy seeing the incredible ideas teachers bring to life in their classrooms! Let’s inspire each other to make the day before spring break as engaging and memorable as possible.
Happy teaching!
