Easy Teacher Appreciation Week Student Activity Idea

Teacher Appreciation Week student activity idea using coloring pages and acrostic poems for a simple, sweet, and meaningful gift for past teachers.

teacher appreciation week student activity ideas

It’s that time of year when students are buzzing with excitement, and you’re juggling end-of-year assessments, field trips, and countdown calendars.

But right in the middle of the chaos is one of my favorite weeks—Teacher Appreciation Week. Teacher Appreciation Week is always one of those times I look forward to.

Every May, I love giving my students a chance to pause and say thank you—not just to me or my teaching partner, but to someone who’s made them smile, supported them, or helped them grow over the years.

It might be their second-grade teacher who made reading fun or the music teacher who cheered them on at the winter concert.

And let’s be honest: while some of us get adorable gifts or sweet notes from our current class, there are so many teachers in the building who deserve to feel that same appreciation.

So this year (and every year), I do a simple little routine that lets my students show love to a past teacher—and it only takes a couple of minutes to put together.

Let me walk you through how I introduce this activity, the templates I use, and a few easy ways to turn it into a tradition you’ll want to repeat year after year.

Why This Teacher Appreciation Student Activity Works

You don’t need anything fancy, just print-and-go pages and some class time. The goal is for students to say “thank you” in a way that feels special but doesn’t take hours to prep.

What I love about this is that it builds community across grade levels.

Students light up when they get to deliver their notes to former teachers, and my coworkers always tell me how much it means to receive a heartfelt letter or poem from a former student.

It’s one of those small moments that leave a big impact.

I’ve even had students include their poems in an envelope or pair it with a small gift card if their parents choose to.

But honestly, the most memorable part is just the words kids write.

It’s also the kind of writing project that doesn’t feel like a “writing project.” There’s no pressure to get everything perfect—just an opportunity to say thank you in their voice.

And for reluctant writers? This is where they shine. The sentence starters and fun format give them a structure they can follow without feeling overwhelmed.

Best of all, your teacher coworkers will love receiving something heartfelt from a student they taught years ago. It’s a small gesture that means a lot.

How It Works in My Classroom

Here’s how I introduce the teacher appreciation week student activity in class:

I usually do this activity as an early finisher task during the first week of May.

I tell my students, “We’re going to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week by thanking someone who’s made a difference in your school life.

But here’s the rule: you can’t pick me or my teaching partner. We already get a ton of love this week!

I explain to my students that during Teacher Appreciation Week, they’ll get the chance to thank a teacher from a previous year—someone who made a difference for them.

I explain that they can choose any past teacher, from kindergarten to special area teachers like art, music, PE, or even the media center. The teacher has to be in the building.

For new students who might not know many of the staff, I encourage them to write to one of their special teachers, such as PE, Art, Music, or the Media Center. This opens up the opportunity for everyone to participate.

Once they’ve chosen someone, they pick a coloring page or an acrostic poem template from the stack.

They complete the activity as an early finisher activity. If they don’t finish in class, they take it home as homework.

On Friday, we walk together as a class and deliver the finished pages during specials or a short hallway trip.

It’s my favorite part of the whole week.

What’s in the Teacher Appreciation Templates

simple gift for Teacher Appreciation Week

There are two types of printables students can choose from: coloring pages and acrostic poem templates.

1. Teacher Appreciation Coloring Pages

These pages are fun, creative, and easy to complete.

There are four different versions with a mix of writing and drawing prompts that help students reflect. Some of the questions include:

What’s a funny or favorite memory with this teacher?
If your teacher had a superpower, what would it be?
What song reminds you of your teacher?

It’s the kind of reflection that makes kids smile while they write. I’ve had students write hilarious theme songs or draw superhero capes on their teachers.

They get to color and be creative, and they always take pride in the final result!

2. Teacher Acrostic Poem Templates

There are four poem templates too. Each one uses the word TEACHER as the poem base. What makes these special is that each line starts with a simple sentence starter, like:

T is for the time you helped me with…
E is for every time you…

There’s also a word bank to help students get their ideas flowing. These structured templates helps my reluctant writers feel successful.

I’ve had kids who usually shut down during writing time but they finish these poems with big smiles on their faces. They feel proud—and the teachers who receive them are always touched.

Usually, I have students complete both a coloring page and an acrostic poem, each one dedicated to a different teacher.

It’s flexible based on your timeline. If we’re short on time, I let them choose just one. If we start early in the week, they might get through two.

More Ways to Use This in Your Room

If you want to go beyond the traditional thank-you card, here are a few ways I’ve used these printables over the years:

Early Finisher Option:
I print a stack of these in early May and keep them in a bin labeled “Teacher Appreciation.” When students finish their work early, they can grab one and start coloring.

Bulletin Board Display: Have students choose one teacher to write to, then collect the finished pages and post them on a hallway bulletin board. It becomes a beautiful display that every teacher can walk by and enjoy.

Morning Work or Center: Set up a little “Thank a Teacher” station during Teacher Appreciation Week with copies of the printables, markers, and word banks.

Class Keepsake Book: Collect finished poems or coloring pages, bind them together, and gift the collection to your grade level team or a special area teacher.

Homework Assignment:
If your schedule is packed, send the templates home with instructions. You’ll be surprised how many families will go above and beyond when given the opportunity.

A Thoughtful Teacher Appreciation Gift from Students

If you want something that feels meaningful but won’t take hours to plan as a teacher appreciation gift student activity, this is it.

This activity is simple, thoughtful, and completely student-driven. With just a few copies and colors, your students can create heartfelt notes that brighten someone’s day.

The best part? You’re helping kids practice gratitude and say thank you to the teachers who shaped them is such a powerful way to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.

Whether they’re writing to a first-grade teacher who helped them learn to read or the art teacher who encouraged their creativity, these notes stick with us as teachers.