The end of the school year brings a time to reflect on lessons learned. It is also a good time to recognize the talents and personalities of students. Class awards should focus on positive and memorable traits of the students. Sometimes, when the class environment is one of fun and lightheartedness, these awards can take on a fun spin as well.
When deciding which award each student will receive, reflect on his or her individual personalities, traits or habit. One student may be a natural problem solver whereas another works hard daily. Some students may stand out for their forgetfulness, like frequently misplacing library books. Yet others may show a talent or resourcefulness that is uniquely their own. Whatever it is, having fun and connecting the child's award with a famous person, known event or even a candy bar can add fun to the end of the school year.
Academic Award Ideas
Academic award categories can easily be represented by famous persons or by creatively connecting events or popular characters. Depending on the age of the students, some of these might need an explanation either printed on the award or spoken when the award is presented.
- Albert Einstein best young scientist
- Mathlete fastest solver for timed math tests
- The Survivor struggled but always pulled through in the end
- The Thinker best problem solver
- The Bee best class speller
- Bookworm read the most books or largest recorded time
- Lewis and Clarke most likely to be excited about learning or exploring something new
- Emily Dickinson best poet
Candy Bars Award Names
Candy bar names lead to many humorous connections with events during the school year. A student who loves astronomy could be a Starburst or one one who frequently forgets the names of new things could receive the Watchamacallit Award. The following are a few more examples:
- Snickers always making others laugh
- Butterfinger always dropping things
- Payday often looking for milk or lunch money
- Skore best game player or athlete
- Almond Joy always happy
- Milky Way loves astronomy or star gazing
- Three Musketeer always there to support his/her friends
- Good and Plenty always offering to share
Miscellaneous Creative Awards
As with academic awards, other awards can be created from the names of well known persons, popular fictional characters or even famous events. The possibilities are endless and can even be suggested by the actions or personalities of the students themselves.
- Jeff Gordon most likely to be racing through the door when the bell rings
- Emily Post best manners or most kind
- Librarians Award finding the most lost books by the end of the school year
- Homer Simpson most duh moments
- American Idol always singing or humming or most dramatic
- Julia Child always cooking something up
- Agatha Christie most likely to be involved in a mystery
- Lunch Lady always excited for lunch time
- Rolex Award always watching the clock
By recognizing the achievements and personalities of every student in the class a teacher can show each child that he or she is a unique person. Awards also give an opportunity to reflect on friendships and memorable events that occurred throughout the school year.
| 
