On the last day of school I can always hear Alice Cooper's voice in my head singing “School's out for summer!” Now that the lesson plans are done and your class is on their way to summer break, how can elementary teachers relax and unwind? Here are 53 fun summer activities for teachers that I'm sure you'll love!
Relax And Recharge During Summer Break
First things first! You've spent the last nine months getting up early and taking care of a room full of tiny humans every day. Summer is your chance to slow down, breathe deep, and give yourself the break you’ve earned. Whether it’s lounging by the pool or taking a midday nap just because you can, these relaxing summer ideas for teachers are all about helping you recharge and feel human again.
1. Sleep in with no alarm
2. Read a book just for fun. Have you tried The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden? There's an entire series and they are all great. Highly recommend!
3. Watch a full Netflix series guilt-free. Some of my favorites are Bridgerton, Ozark, Ginny And Georgia, Younger, and my all time favorite Gilmore Girls.
4. Try a guided meditation on the Calm app
5. Get a massage or spa treatment. I've been booking monthly massages for about 6 months and I feel so much better! Try it…you'll like it!
6. Go to a weekday matinee
7. Lounge by the pool with a cold drink. My favorite is non-alcoholic Arnold Palmer, what's yours?
8. Treat yourself to a fancy coffee (or tea!) – I'm not a coffee drinker but I love at least one cup of tea every morning. My favorite tea is Hot Cinnamon Spice from Harney And Sons . It's the most soothing, fragrant, delicious tea you'll ever try. Yum!
9. Take a social media break
10. Invite a friend to join you for a mani/pedi
11. Visit a salt cave or float tank spa
12. Watch an entire season of a reality show you’d never admit to loving – I'll admit it. I've watched every season of every Real Housewives franchise. It's my dirty little secret!
Outdoor Fun Summer Activities For Teachers
Chances are you've been stuck indoors for the last nine months so summer is your opportunity to get outside and enjoy some sunshine. If you've been feeling stressed with end of the year testing and antsy kids, getting outdoors can do wonders for your mood. These outdoor summer activities for teacheres are a great way to soak up the sun, move your body, and enjoy the freedom that comes with not being stuck in a classroom all day.
13. Go on a nature hike
14. Visit a local park or botanical garden
15. Pack a picnic and head to the lake with your bestie. Take a frisbee or a good book and spend the day soaking up the sun.
16. Go camping or glamping. Check out some of the top glamping destinations all over the country here.
17. Take a bike ride on a new trail
18. Try kayaking, paddleboarding, or canoeing
19. Take a road trip to somewhere new
20. Go to a beach or lake and look for sea glass. I live near Lake Erie and one of my good friends turned me on to searching for lake glass. It's the most fun when you find a treasured piece of blue or green glass and so peaceful to walk along the lake.
21. Watch the sunset (or sunrise!) I'd probably opt for sunset because summer is for sleeping in, but you do you!
22. Have a backyard bonfire with s’mores. Is there anything better than that chocolaty sticky goodness?
Teacher Summer Fun With Friends & Family
During the school year it's really easy to put your friends and family on the back burner. You've been so busy juggling lesson plans, emails and other people's kids sometimes there's no time to enjoy your own family. Whether it’s a weekend getaway with friends or a backyard movie night with your kids, these summer activities for teachers are all about making memories with the people you love.
23. Host a game night. I meet a group of girlfriends once a month for Bunko and it's so fun. We take turns hosting at each others houses and it's always a good time and a fun way to get out of the house for a of couple hours.
24. Catch up with teacher friends over lunch – find someplace new to visit – maybe a cute little bistro with an outdoor patio!
25. Go on a girls’ (or guys’) weekend. Every year, my teacher friends and I would head for a weekend shopping getaway and we had the most fun! Memories were made (some we can never speak of in public) and lots of laughs were had during those fun times with friends!
26. Reconnect with your high school or college friends. When was the last time you visited your alma mater? Make plans to meet with some high school or college buddies and visit all the old hangouts with them. Imagine all the stories you can tell and relive those good times.
27. Plan a fun family field trip to the zoo or a museum – in my family we head to the Cleveland Zoo every summer. It's a family tradition!
28. Volunteer for a cause you care about
29. Take your niece, nephew, or grandchild on a fun day out. Maybe get some ice cream or play at a park. Sometimes simple days are the best days!
30. Organize a summer book club – Is there a book you've been wanting to read? Enlist a couple of friends to read the book with you and then once a week meet for coffee and discussion
31. Hit up a summer lawn concert, your local church festival or fair
32. Plan a family day at your local aquarium
33. Join a community class or group – Have you always wanted to try pottery or painting? Now is your chance!
34. Write a handwritten letter to a friend or family member – when was the last time you actually got a letter in the mail from someone? Probably ages ago! Wouldn't it be nice to surprise a friend or family member with a letter written on beautiful stationary?
Unwind And Learn Something New With Teacher Friends Or Family
Summer is the perfect time to mix fun with a little learning, especially when you do it with people you enjoy. Whether it’s a craft night with your teacher besties or trying out a cooking class with your family, these experiences let you connect, laugh, and maybe even pick up a new skill along the way. These summer activities for teachers are all about low-pressure learning and making memories together.
35. Learn to cook a new dish – My partner is gluten free so I've been trying new recipes for him!
36. Take a dance or yoga class
37. Start a summer journal or learn how to scrapbook – There's something so cathartic and relaxing about putting photos on cute scrapbook pages you created yourself.
38. Try a new hobby (pottery, painting, paddleboarding?) – I recently revived an old hobby of mine making dollhouse miniatures and I'm having a great time! Here's my miniature kindergarten classroom. What do you think?
39. Learn a few words in a new language – I took French in high school and all I can say is Bonjour and Comment allez-vou? Which means “Hello. How are you?” I think this summer I may need to brush up on my French skills.
40. Try geocaching or treasure hunting
41. Plant a small herb or flower garden – I started a small container garden this year and it's going well. I purchased these grow bags and I love them because I can move them around and no weeds!
42. Visit a museum or historical site you've never been to – Check out what's local to you or go on a road trip. Here in Ohio we have so many – The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, The Football Hall Of Fame and The Cleveland Museum of Art are top notch!
43. Watch a DIY home improvement or decor class on YouTube…then make it come to life at your own house. Maybe you've always wanted a fire pit or a raised bed garden. Make it happen this summer!
44. Paint rocks and hide them in different places for people to find in your city – Last fall, while out to dinner, we found a painted rock that looked like a ghost and on the back it said to re-hide it for another to find. It was so fun and brought us so much joy finding that little rock. It was like finding a treasure! I vowed to paint some more and hide them this summer for others to find while out on their summer adventures.
Fun Ways Teachers Can Treat Themselves In The Summer
You’ve spent the year giving your all to your students and now it’s your turn. Summer is the perfect excuse to spoil yourself a little (or a lot!). Whether it’s a small indulgence or a full-blown treat-yourself day, these fun summer activities for teachers are all about celebrating you. Because let’s be honest, teachers deserve way more than just an apple.
45. Buy a fun subscription box that you can look forward to each month of the summer – We recently subscribed to Universal Yums which is a monthly international snack crate filled with treats from all over the world. Each month the box comes packed with goodies from a different country. So far we've received snacks from the United Kingdom, Greece, Taiwan and Pakistan. It's so exciting when we see our box arrive in the mail each month and we've never been disappointed in the snacks. I highly recommend!
46. Take a solo adventure and see something new – I'm not much for traveling alone but if you are, this summer is your chance to explore!
47. Go to a fancy restaurant and order dessert – I usually skip out on dessert when we're out for dinner because it's often expensive or too many calories. This summer I'm going to order the chocolate lava cake at least once!
48. Have a staycation and book a night at a local hotel – Read, eat junk food and watch all your favorite tv shows.
49. Buy yourself a cute new summer outfit
50. Get a pedicure and paint your nails fun summer colors. I've discovered Polish Pops which are gel nail strips. I absolutely love them! They're easy to put on, way cheaper than paying for a manicure at a salon and stay on for at least two weeks! Plus they come in lots of fun colors. I especially love the skittles for summer, which are designs with multi colored nails. If you decide to try them for yourself, use this code, and you'll get $5 off your first order of $25.
51. Eat ice cream for dinner. What's your favorite? I love mint chocolate chip!
52. Spend the day browsing and reading books at a book store
53. Get a new summer haircut or a cute new color
54. Light a favorite candle and enjoy a long bubble bath with a glass of wine. You deserve it!
Ready to try some of these summer activities for teachers? Download the whole list here and see how many you can complete this summer! But most of all, enjoy your time away from school. Fall will be here before you know it!
Save These Ideas For Later!
Take a minute to save these ideas to your favorite end of the year Pinterest board so you can remember them later!
Looking for more end of the school year ideas? Take a look at these posts:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Molly, the creative mind behind Firstieland. With over 35 years of experience in early childhood education, I'm your primary support for resources that will save you time and make learning feel like play. Learn more about my mission for Firstieland here.
