End of Year Student Gifts You Can DIY for a Dollar or Less

End of year student gifts: gummy bookworms and emoji pins

It’s the end of the year, and you want to give special parting gifts to your students without breaking the bank. We pulled together some end-of-year student gifts that you can DIY for about a dollar each. These tokens give students something to remember the year, plus they’re a fun way to celebrate accomplishments.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Throw some shade

You can pick up inexpensive sunglasses at the dollar store. Plus this website has a free printable, making it a super-easy student gift.

Buy it: Kids Sunglasses at Dollar Tree, Adult Sunglasses at Dollar Tree, Neon Sunglasses on Amazon

Source: True Life I’m a Teacher

2. Give ’em s’more

This gift will definitely come in under $1 each when you buy the supplies in bulk. You can create your own printable, or get one from Etsy.

Buy it: S’more Gift Tags on Etsy

Source: Lori Flaglor

3. Owl miss you

These super-cute owls will give your students a personalized treat. You can use any number of things for the body of the owl. Twix candy bars will help make this fun treat come to life!

Buy it: Twix on Amazon

Source: Mandy and Daniel

4. Time to get crazy

End-of-year student gifts should be put to use, and you know your students will love these crazy straws! Create your own design or download it from this awesome Etsy store.

Buy it: Crazy Straw Printable Tags on Etsy, Loop Silly Straws on Amazon

Source: Daisy Lou Arts

5. Chalk it up

There are several ways you could give chalk as a DIY end-of-year student gift, and this is one of our favorites. Buy chalk in single packs or in bulk from the dollar store along with chalk bag toppers from Etsy.

Buy it: Chalk at Dollar Tree, Chalk Bag Note on Etsy

Source: Tidy Lady Printables

6. Last-day bookmark

This is a project you can hand out on the last day. Make a bookmark out of paint samples … so simple and so cute!

Source: Mrs. Olmsted

7. Freeze pop bouquets

These come in as one of the cheapest gift options. Get a 100-pack of ice pops for under $10! They are a great gift that truly says “Enjoy your summer!”

Buy it: Freeze Pops on Amazon

Source: Trish Long-Keith

8. Celebrate your smart cookies

Buy it: Oreos on Amazon, Variety Cookie Packs on Amazon

Source: Caramel Potatoes

9. Practice your painting skills

Buy it: Craft Rocks on Amazon

Source: Teachers Resource Force

10. Have a ball

You will be one of their favorite teachers EVER with this DIY idea! These beach balls come out to under $1 each.

Buy it: Beach Balls on Amazon

Source: Classy in the Classroom

11. Blow some bubbles

Nothing says summer like a fresh container of bubbles! You can get bubble wands at Dollar Tree at only $1 for two. This is an end-of-the-year student gift that’s hard to pass up!

Buy it: Bubble Wands at Dollar Tree, Bubble Wands at Target

Source: Sparkling in Second Grade

12. Summer sweets

Inspire students to start a lemonade stand or make a cool drink to kick-start the summer. Use crazy straws from the dollar store and attach to Kool-Aid packets for a fun gift.

Buy it: Krazy Straws at Dollar Tree, Kool-Aid on Amazon

Source: The Crafted Sparrow

13. Jump into summer

Encourage healthy habits and challenge them to jump rope every day! Tell them that you’ll do it, too. (Now you have to actually follow through!) Jump ropes from Amazon or Dollar Tree come out to a dollar or less each!

Buy it: Colorful Jump Ropes on Amazon, Foil Jump Ropes at Dollar Tree

Source: Our Thrifty Ideas

14. Add some bounce

You can buy bouncy balls in bulk, making this option an easy and cheap gift for a large classroom.

Buy it: Bouncy Balls on Amazon

Source: Literacy Loves Company

15. Stay hydrated

This is a really special DIY gift you can create with $1 water bottles and a little creative customization with an acrylic pen.

Buy it: Water Bottles at Dollar Tree, Acrylic Pen on Amazon

Source: Hanging with Mrs. Hulsey

16. Fun in the sun

These DIY dollar sponge water balls are genius. Kids will have so much fun with them this summer. Better yet, show your students how to make them themselves so they have a fun craft to do this summer.

Buy it: Sponges on Amazon

Source: A Place Called Joy

17. All aglow

Did you know you can get up to 25 glow sticks in one package from Dollar Tree? This gift is too inexpensive not to create.

Buy it: Glow Sticks at Dollar Tree

Source: The Bubbly Blonde Teacher

18. Poppin’ summer

Just popping in with a quick note! You can buy popcorn packages in bulk, making this a project you can DIY for less than 50 cents each.

Buy it: Popcorn on Amazon

Source: Bren Did

19. Slime ’til the end

Did slime drive you bananas this year? Probably. But now you can give students a gift they’re going to LOVE. DIY this slime along with your students or purchase it on Amazon for 50 cents apiece! Add some mini plastic fish for just a few cents more per student.

Buy it: Slime on Amazon, Plastic Fish on Amazon

Source: My Frugal Adventures

20. We built a great year

Students can build STEM skills and create at home with these adorable $1 block sets! Print off a quick note and these are ready to go.

Buy it: Building Blocks at Target

Source: @dalyessentialsofteaching

21. Because this year flew by

Feed into some summer fun with a Frisbee!

Buy it: Frisbees at Dollar Tree

Source: Teach Me T

22. A bunch of smarties

Something sweet for the end of the year!

Buy it: Smarties on Amazon, Clear Gift Bags on Amazon

Source: @teaching.with.miss.milo

23. Let’s color

Send your students off with an activity they can do this summer. Many assorted coloring books can be found at the dollar store. Plus, get this gift tag for free.

Buy it: Color Books at Dollar Tree

Source: Pocketful of PreK