“I’m done….now what?” 

For the teachers with a student (or two) who will be done with the assignment within 5 minutes of giving it out. 😅

Pull from this list of early finisher ideas that will cost you almost nothing in terms of supplies AND prep time. 

This way, you will always have an idea to spark the creativity in your fast workers!

The Ultimate Early Finisher Activity Ideas List:

1. Write a Story or Comic Strip ✏️

2. Solve a Logic Puzzle or a Brain Teaser 🧠

• Snag a free brain teaser to make it even easier!! 

3. Solve a Sudoku Puzzle 🔢 

• Taking some time to teach your whole class or small groups how to play Sudoku is a great way to spend a rainy day (and then they can do this on their own!!) 

4. Complete a Word Search or Crossword Puzzle 📝

• This is a GREAT way to get extra practice with vocabulary words 

5. Practice Handwriting or Cursive ✍️

• Print some packets and some of your students will be allll over this option! 

6. Write a Letter to a Friend or Family Member 💌

• Keep the tradition of writing letters by hand alive! 

7. Draw a Picture and Write a Caption 🎨

8. Work on a Creative Writing Prompt 🖊️

9. Practice Math Facts with Flashcards ➕✖️

10. Create Your Own Math Word Problems 🔢

11. Start a Kindness Chain by Writing Notes of Encouragement 💖

• If students aren’t sure where to put them, have them “hide” them in books in your classroom library for other students to find as they read! 

12. Do a Jigsaw Puzzle 🧩

13. Read a Book for Fun 📖

14. Create an Illustration for a Book 🌇

15. Draw a Map 🗺️

• Of the classroom, of their house, of their route to their favorite shop, etc. 

16. Color a Coloring Page 🖍️

17. Listen to an Audio Book 🎧

• Headphones are a must 😂

18. Solve a Maze ⤴️

19. Build using Blocks, LEGOs, etc. 🧊 

20. Work on a Passion Project 

• Give time and space for your students to dive into learning more about something they are super excited about. 
• This is an activity I LOVE to end our year! 

Hopefully, this list is filled with some ideas you can bring into your classroom tomorrow. 

And maybe it even sparks some other ideas for things you can offer.  

Here are a couple of parting suggestions to make this time of your day smooth and stress-free: 

✨ Have designated areas for where coloring pages, Sudoku games, blank paper, comic strip outlines, etc. live. 

• I highly recommend using some sort of drawer system with editable labels so you and your students can keep everything straight! 

✨ Only introduce a couple of these ideas at a time. Don’t feel like you need to present your 1st graders with 20 options day one. 

✨ Take the time to teach your whole class about these different options. Show off what it looks like to do the activity well. Talk through your expectations for what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to you and those around you. 

• Check out the first two tips in this blog post for more. 

✨ Post the list of options somewhere in your classroom. 

• Whether that is a poster, on a Google Slide, or handwriting them on the board. That way you don’t have to repeat yourself every five minutes! 

✨ Finally, only choose options you enjoy and fit your class well. 

Ultimately, this list is to help you gain back a little sanity in the midst of your busy day of teaching. 

You got this! ❤️