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Simple Summer Classroom Projects: Summer Tasks for Teachers Series

If you’re a 2nd or 3rd grade teacher looking for some easy summer classroom projects to get ready for fall, try these simple ideas in the Summer Tasks for Teachers Series, all about classroom items, ideas & projects you can try, make, or buy during the summer to save yourself some sanity at back to school.
Read on for Super Summer Recommendations + links to the (ever growing) Summer Tasks for Teachers Blog Series.

Yes, it’s summer and you don’t want to think about the new school year (at least not yet).  But you know that even if you’re trying to relax while binge watching Netflix, – sangria in hand – there’s (at least a little) part of you that is screaming “BUT THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO for Back to School!”

Instead of stifling that screamy little teacher voice, it’s best to just do one or two seriously SIMPLE classroom tasks per day/week/summer month to make the teacher inside quiet down while you sit, laptop in hand, and try to catch up on The Bachelorette (or at least read Reality Steve to spoil the ending).

The Summer Tasks for Teachers blog series includes easy tasks and DIY projects you can do over the summer to prepare your classroom for next year.

Even if you don’t know what grade you’ll be teaching yet, many of the items in the series can work in a number of elementary grades. However, please note, these ideas and materials have been tested mainly in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms.

Before we delve right into summer classroom projects, let’s celebrate SUMMER with these Super Teacher Summer Recommendations.

Because it’s OK to not think about your classroom for 2 seconds. You are a teacher, but you are also a real life person who needs to read, eat, and drink for fun!

Super Teacher Summer Recommendations

32 Third Graders and 1 Class Bunny Book

Summer Book

If you haven’t read Phillip Done’s 32 Third Graders and 1 Class Bunny (affiliate link), put it on your summer to do list. His description of a laminator altercation alone is worth the cost of the book. I’ve never been so happy to not have to wear a tie.

Summer Drink

If you’re a sangria drinker who doesn’t mind something on the sweeter side, try this Raspberry Peach Sangria recipe. This is a perfect go-to day after school ends patio drink!

2 Bottles Pinot Grigio
1.5 cups peach schnapps (in the pic above we substituted brandy for schnapps. yum!)
2 cans peach nectar
1 cup frozen pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
1 cup frozen sliced peaches
1 cup frozen raspberries

Just combine everything in a large pitcher and cool for as long as you’re able. If you don’t have time to chill it, don’t worry. The frozen fruit acts like ice cubes! So easy (and delish!)

Summer Dessert

Strawberry Daiquiri Pie is super easy and non-alcoholic for our non-sangria drinking friends. It makes a perfect addition to any summer BBQ or “school’s out!” team lunch. This recipe makes 2 pies, which tends to be easier since you can then use up all the ice cream and daiquiri mix, plus even if you only need 1 pie, it’s a pretty safe bet that if you make 2, they will both be gone within the hour.

2 premade graham cracker pie crusts
1 can frozen strawberry daiquiri mix (thawed)
1 half gallon (or whatever size is deemed “regular”) vanilla ice cream (softened)

In a large bowl, combine softened vanilla ice cream with the can of daiquiri mix. Stir until blended. Pour ice cream/daiquiri mixture into the graham cracker crusts and freeze for 3+ hours.

*Not into the daiquiri taste? Just substitute your favorite lemonade concentrate instead, but don’t overdo it. Pour half a can first, then add until the tanginess is just right.

Dazed and Confused movie cover

Summer Movie

It is my yearly tradition to watch Dazed and Confused (affiliate link) on the last school day of every school year. Whether it plays in my classroom while I clean out the mess that has become the inside of my desk (shut your door, it’s rated R for a reason!) or at home, it doesn’t matter.

This is a quintessential last day of school movie. Parker Posey, Matthew McConaghey, Ben Affleck (sans upgraded teeth), and Milla Jovovich terrorizing future freshman. Yes, please!

Plus Willy Wiggins. We’ve not heard from him since, but he’s perfection here!

Summer Tasks for Teachers Series: The Blog Posts

Check out the current Summer Tasks for Teachers Series, focused on simple items to make, do, or buy for your classroom next year, at the links below. And don’t forget to subscribe by email so you’ll be the first to hear when a new “Summer Tasks for Teachers” post is published (and get a great Back to School FREEBIE at the end of the summer!).

Summer Tasks for Teachers #1 – The Birthday Committee
Summer Tasks for Teachers #2 – The Service Station Freebie
Summer Tasks for Teachers #3 – The Tooth Fairy
Summer Tasks for Teachers #4 – Free Sanitizer Bathroom Passes
Summer Tasks for Teachers #5 – Third Grade Books for Back to School
Summer Tasks for Teachers #6 – DIY Differentiation Folders
Summer Tasks for Teachers #7 – Award Awesome Students with The C.H.I.P Award
Summer Tasks for Teachers #8 – Must Have Mentor Texts for Writing
Summer Tasks for Teachers #9 – Classroom Management Magic with Australian Flags
Summer Tasks for Teachers #10 – How to Organize Your Classroom Library by Genre

Do you have any simple summer classroom projects that you would like to share? Tell me about them in the comments! I’d love to add more great ideas to the Summer Tasks for Teachers Series.

Have a fab day (& summer!) Super Teacher,

2 Comments

  1. Loved your website! Loved your ideas! One question…I was looking at your 2 dress pics and could not find my way back to see the second dress pic 🙁

    1. Thanks so much Jean! I’d love to check out the dress pictures, but I’m not 100% sure which dresses you’re referencing. Are these in the Olivia costume post? Feel free to comment back here or send me a message through the links on the site.
      Katie 🙂

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