End of School Year Activities for ESL | 8 FUN ways to end the year

Summary

In this video, Charlie, an experienced English teacher, shares 8 fun and creative activities to help teachers end the school year on a high note. From reflecting on memorable moments with 'Best Moments' to writing letters to their future selves, these activities engage students in a positive and meaningful way. Other ideas include an Oscars-style award ceremony, quiz challenges, and even planning a dream vacation. With both fun and educational elements, these activities are perfect for making the last days of school memorable and enjoyable for all students.

Takeaways

• 😀 Charlie introduces himself as an English teacher with 12 years of experience, currently working as Director of Studies in southern Spain.
• 😀 The video focuses on 8 fun and engaging activities to end the school year with a positive and memorable experience for students.
• 😀 The first activity, 'Memories,' encourages students to reflect on the past year by writing about their most memorable moments using post-it notes, helping with writing skills and past tenses.
• 😀 The second activity, 'Letter to Future Self,' involves students writing a letter to themselves for the following year, helping them reflect on their growth and future goals.
• 😀 'Oscars for the Classroom' is an award ceremony where students receive silly or skill-based awards, promoting fun and creativity, with optional speeches.
• 😀 'Quiz the Book' challenges students to use their course books to answer questions, such as identifying colors or finding synonyms, encouraging quick thinking and familiarity with course content.
• 😀 'One Day at a Time' involves dedicating a day to each student, allowing them to choose an activity they would enjoy, personalizing the end-of-year experience.
• 😀 A theme or fancy dress party can be a fun way to celebrate the end of the year, where students vote on a theme, come dressed up, and participate in themed activities.
• 😀 'Let's Go on Holiday' has students plan their dream holiday within a budget, incorporating travel planning and creativity, with a competitive element of spending the least money.
• 😀 The final activity, 'Paper Airplanes,' is a low-prep activity where students build and throw paper airplanes, with challenges like flight time and design quality, promoting fun and friendly competition.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Charlie's video?

The main purpose of Charlie's video is to provide teachers with eight creative and engaging activities to end the school year on a positive and memorable note.

How does the 'Memories' activity help students?

The 'Memories' activity encourages students to reflect on their experiences throughout the year. It helps them practice writing skills and the use of past tenses, such as the past simple and past continuous.

What is the significance of using a 'Letter to Your Future Self' activity?

The 'Letter to Your Future Self' activity prompts students to reflect on their goals and aspirations for the next year. It offers a personal connection to the future and can help students assess their progress when the letter is revisited the following year.

How can the 'Oscars for the Classroom' activity be adapted?

The 'Oscars for the Classroom' activity can be adapted by giving fun and light-hearted awards for traits like 'Most Punctual,' 'Sleepiest,' or 'Most Giggles.' It encourages student engagement, reflection, and public speaking through the acceptance speeches.

What educational benefits does the 'Quiz the Book' activity provide?

The 'Quiz the Book' activity helps students review and engage with the material in their course book. It promotes critical thinking, vocabulary practice, and collaborative problem-solving through a competitive format.

What is the concept behind the 'One Day at a Time' activity?

The 'One Day at a Time' activity involves dedicating each day to an individual student, giving them the opportunity to choose activities they’d like to do. It personalizes the end-of-year experience and allows students to feel valued.

Why does Charlie recommend a theme or fancy dress party?

A theme or fancy dress party encourages creativity, participation, and fun. It allows students to engage with their peers in a lighthearted way while also providing opportunities to practice language through themed quizzes, music, and games.

How does the 'Plan Your Dream Holiday' activity help students?

The 'Plan Your Dream Holiday' activity engages students in practical language use related to travel and budgeting. It also provides a creative outlet for students to practice vocabulary about locations, activities, and money management.

What makes the 'Paper Airplanes' activity an effective classroom exercise?

The 'Paper Airplanes' activity is simple yet engaging, encouraging hands-on learning and friendly competition. It enhances students' understanding of instructions and measurements while promoting teamwork and creativity.

How can teachers make the activities more environmentally friendly?

Teachers can make the activities more environmentally friendly by using digital platforms like Google Jamboard for activities like 'Memories' instead of paper, or encouraging digital submission of letters and artwork to minimize waste.