Every year I struggle with what to give my students at the end of the year. I know they will survive if I don't give them anything, but a part of me tells me that I need to anyway! You don't want to spend money on something they're just going to throw away, or a bunch of candy (cuz they definitely don't need it!), and lots of kids always have people signing their shirts with Sharpie or Crayola markers that day and chances are their parents are going to be a tad upset when they get home.
My final decision: Personalized Drawstring Backpacks. This was SO easy (with the right tools :) ) I ordered blank canvas drawstring backpacks from Oriental Trading, bought some fabric markers, had some parents donate some as well, and cut out the students' names from Heat Transfer Vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo! They turned out great!! Tomorrow the students will go around and autograph each classmate's backpack and I can't wait to see the end result!
I will then collect the backpacks, iron them to heat set the marker, and pack them with water bottles and a few snacks and hand them out on field day (the day before the last day of school). I have told my class about this, and even showed them some samples, and they are stoked! I'm glad I'm giving them something they love and will be able to use!
