Are you struggling to come up with end of year high school English activities for your students to complete in a short amount of time? Whether you’re looking to make the most of your last few weeks of the school year, planning for a summer session, or just need something fresh and flexible to keep students engaged, I’ve got you covered. These creative unit ideas are classroom-tested, student-approved, and designed to be both meaningful and fun.
From genre-based literature circles that give students voice and choice, to gripping novels-in-verse like Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, each option in this post is crafted to help students stay motivated and make authentic connections to reading. You’ll also find ideas for hosting a classroom book carnival, launching a true crime mini-unit, and even building a spooky haunted places project—because let’s be honest, ghost stories and mystery never go out of season!
Each unit idea is flexible enough to adapt to your students’ needs and interests while still hitting those essential ELA standards. Whether you’re looking for a full mini-unit or just a few activities to build engagement, there’s something here that will work for your classroom. Plus, I’ve linked to tons of done-for-you resources you can grab today so you don’t have to spend your evenings reinventing the wheel.
Ready to shake things up and end your term on a high note with high interest end of year high school English activities? Keep reading for all the inspiration you need to build your next short-but-impactful ELA unit.
#1: Genre-Based Literature Circles
If you’re looking for a high-interest, low-stress way to boost engagement and spark meaningful discussions, genre-based literature circles might just be your new favorite strategy for end of year high school English activities.
We all know that choice reading is one of the most effective ways to get students invested from day one. But sometimes, giving students free rein without structure can lead to a lot of floundering. That’s where genre-based literature circles shine—they combine the power of student choice with the support of genre exploration, peer discussion, and purposeful activities that make every reading experience richer.
Instead of everyone reading the same novel, students explore different books within the same genre, building background knowledge, learning key literary elements, and comparing themes and tropes across their book choices. Whether they’re diving into the twists and turns of a good mystery or unraveling the emotional layers of a powerful historical fiction, students are reading, analyzing, and talking about what they actually want to read.
I’ve created a comprehensive bundle of genre-based units that you can use for literature circles, book clubs, independent reading, or even to build an ELA elective. This resource includes full units for mystery, historical fiction, romance, contemporary, and speculative fiction (with mini-units for fantasy, science fiction, and dystopia). These aren’t just basic reading guides – each unit includes genre-specific activities, thoughtful discussion prompts, engaging projects, and everything you need to lead students through a meaningful literary experience.
What’s Included in the Bundle:
- Complete unit plans for each genre
- Genre introduction activities to help students understand literary elements
- Book selection guides to help students find the right fit
- Literature circle discussion guides with meaningful prompts
- Creative end-of-unit projects for every genre
- Lifetime updates with new genres and additions
Whether you’re wrapping up the year with something fresh, planning a summer elective, or just looking for a flexible way to bring more joy into your reading instruction, this genre-based literature circle bundle has everything you need to make it happen. It’s all about giving students ownership, sparking curiosity, and helping them fall in love with books – one genre at a time.
Click here to explore the full bundle and grab everything you need to get started.
#2: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down is a remarkable young adult novel that teachers should not hesitate to add to their curriculum. The novel tells the story of a teenage boy named Will who sets out to avenge his brother’s death by taking the elevator down to the lobby of his building and shooting the person who he believes responsible. Although the premise might sound straightforward, what sets the novel apart is how it is written in poetic verse, which makes reading it a true literary experience. Teaching Long Way Down to students will not only help them appreciate the power of poetry, but also give them a chance to discuss important themes such as gun violence, trauma, and the cycle of revenge. With its raw and gripping portrayal of a young man’s personal journey, Long Way Down is a book that can impact students long after they have turned its last page.
Click here to read about more of my end of year high school English activities for the novel or click here to grab the full unit bundle to use with your own students.
#3: Book Carnival
Hosting a book carnival in your school or classroom is an exciting way to create a love for reading, leaving a lasting impact on students. As a teacher, it is essential to encourage reading beyond the required curriculum, and there is no better way to do this than to add authentic learning experiences. These events can include a range of activities that make reading fun, including hands-on activities, crafts, games, and and more.
A book carnival can transform a dull reading lesson into a stimulating, interactive learning experience that students can enjoy. It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate books, authors, and the joy of reading, creating an environment where students can learn and grow their love for books.
By hosting a book carnival, you can introduce your students to books they might never have read before, ensuring they have a well-rounded experience.
For fun end of year high school English activities for your own book carnival, click here.
If you’d like to turn your book carnival into a full-blown choice reading unit, click here to check out my pre-made activities.
#4: True Crime
True crime is a fascinating and chilling genre that has captivated audiences for decades. It delves into the darkest depths of humanity and raises questions about the true nature of mankind. It’s the perfect subject matter for teachers to use in their classrooms because it can easily spark a sense of intrigue and curiosity in students. This type of curriculum encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy. It allows students to examine real-life scenarios and see the connection from the classroom to the real world. True crime is fascinating, engaging, and educational subject matter that has the potential to reinvigorate the classroom and inspire students to pursue further knowledge about the world they live in.
To see exactly how I’d plan a true crime unit, click here to read the full blog post.
For a set of true crime readings perfect to use for end of year high school English activities, click here.
#5: Haunted Places
Let’s be honest – students are always up for a good ghost story. And while October might be the obvious time to break out the spooky stuff, who says we have to wait for Halloween? Whether you’re teaching during summer school, planning an end-of-year mini-unit, or just looking to shake things up, a haunted places theme is the perfect way to keep your students hooked.
From whispered legends to historical mysteries, spooky stories tap into student curiosity and imagination in ways few other topics can. So why not turn that natural interest into a full-blown ELA experience?
If you’re looking for an easy way to make that happen, my U.S. Haunted Places Close Reading Activities are a ready-to-use resource that blends eerie legends with rigorous literacy instruction. These high-interest nonfiction passages take students on a spine-tingling tour of real haunted locations across the United States while secretly reinforcing key skills like summarizing, vocabulary development, and text analysis. These are the perfect end of year high school English activities for students who need a final engaging push.
Planning end of year high school English activities doesn’t have to feel like a scramble to keep students busy. With a little creativity and the right resources, you can end your school year with intention—sparking student engagement, reinforcing essential skills, and maybe even reigniting a love for reading in the process.
Whether you’re diving into genre-based literature circles, introducing your students to the powerful verse of Long Way Down, hosting a festive book carnival, or leaning into the intrigue of true crime and haunted places, each of these unit ideas offers something special. They’re meaningful, standards-aligned, and most importantly—fun. Because let’s be honest, your students deserve that kind of ending. And so do you.
These end of year high school English activities are also flexible enough to adapt to your unique schedule and student needs. Whether you’ve got five days or five weeks, you can mix and match these ideas to build something truly memorable. They also make great mini-units for summer school or enrichment periods where traditional curriculum doesn’t quite fit.
So as you plan your final stretch of the school year, I hope you walk away from this post with a spark of inspiration and a handful of ideas you can use right away. These end of year high school English activities are more than just time-fillers—they’re meaningful opportunities to engage, reflect, and celebrate a year of growth with your students.
Which of these high-interest unit ideas are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments or connect with me over on Instagram @samanthainsecondary. I’d love to hear how you’re wrapping up your year!
Happy teaching!
