Sixth Grade Party Ideas

A sixth grade party can be a fun way to relax with your class and help students bond. However, to hold students' attention, you may need to consider ideas for making the party special and one of a kind. Give your sixth grade party a healthy dose of creativity to make it engaging and memorable.

Theme Parties

Poll the students for a movie or television favorite, and create a party using the show or film as a theme. Or, throw an adult-like mocktail party if your students want to feel sophisticated. Serve sparkling grape juice in plastic champagne flutes, and tell the students to dress to impress. You can also use a recent classroom lesson for your theme. For example, a unit on astronomy could lead to a star party. Cover the walls and ceiling with black sheets, and use glow-in-the-dark paint to paint constellations (or let the students do this at the party).

Outdoor Parties

Get outside for your party. Set up a grill, and have a cookout right outside your classroom. Ask a parent to cook, and play noneducational games with your students. You can also merge your party with other sixth grade classes and have a small carnival. Set up games, give away prizes and "sell" candy -- give out tickets for games won and collect them for candy. Or, have an evening camping party. Set up tents outside your classroom, build a bonfire and tell ghost stories. Ask parents to chaperone.

Outings

Rent a movie theater for the afternoon, and treat your sixth graders to a private showing. Many movie theaters have cafe-like theaters with restaurant-style seating and can supply refreshments. Or, take your students to the mall, and have a party in the food court. Split them into teams, and send them on a scavenger hunt (create clues before the party). You can also take them to an amusement park for the day or hold your party at a skating rink or arcade.

Budget Parties

If you don't have a lot of money to spend, get creative and ask the students to pitch in. Have a costume party; tell students to dress up as whomever they wish (or give them a theme, such as famous people you've studied in class) and to bring a dish that they think their costume would have eaten. Or, have a Secret Santa party, even if it's April. Tell students to bring one small gift. At the party, pass out numbers, and let students pick a gift with the rule that anyone after them can take it away. You can also simply tell students to bring their favorite candy and soft drink to school and then show movies and play games all afternoon.