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Are you looking for some smart ways to usher in the summer? Are you wondering how you can show that you are proud of your students' accomplishments and give your English learners a memorable sense of closure?

The end of the school year should be a time of celebration. So, make it epic and give your students a great send-off that will celebrate their learning! E-planet is here to help you to wind down, have a real blast and keep the festivities both fun and educational!

✔️ A Fun Mural

Involve your students in a fun creative process and help them to understand that creativity should go hand in hand with teamwork. Choose a wall in your ELT classroom or language school and encourage your English learners to write their names and the date with a motivating quote. Whether you want to encourage your class to work harder, dream big or make the world a better place, there are so many quotes that are sure to inspire your students! 

Another great idea is to ask them to create a unique 'Tree of English Knowledge'. What's that? Well, you just help them leave their fingerprints on a wall... and there you have it; each fingerprint seems like a small tree leaf! This mural will certainly catch the interest of parents, teachers and other students. And it will be a lasting memory of your class! 

Tip 💡 Every blank wall is a canvas that is waiting to be filled. But if you don't want a permanent mural, you can use coloured chalk. Just make sure to take a picture of your students' temporary artistic creation! Chalkboard paint is the perfect way to transform a wall with minimal effort. Searching for a less expensive, easier and paint-free method? Chalkboard rolls and panels are what you're looking for! 

✔️ A Student Success Spot

Have your students been doing a lot of writing this year? Then a great way to celebrate is to create a 'Student Success Spot': a wall on which your English learners can proudly put their best work on display! 

Tip 💡 Celebrating student success is always motivating for all English learners (young and old)!

✔️ A Memory Book

Reading, writing and art in one project? Yes, please! Motivate your young students to reflect on the past year and create a fun memory book using some of the following prompts: I was good at... | I wish I was better at... | My Proudest Moment Was... | The Best Thing I Learnt Was... | My Favourite Memory of my English Teacher | What I’ll Miss Most | Sweet Notes from my Classmates | A note from my English Teacher | My Goals for Next Year | A note to my future self. 

Memory books can be great keepsakes of a fun school year that is about to come to an end. And students can spend the last day filling in each other’s memory books. 

Tip 💡 Say yes to a student-teacher selfie and send your English learners home with another special memory from your year together! And don't forget to make silly faces together for a memorable snapshot!

✔️ An Awards Ceremony

Imagine an impressive event or an Oscars-type ceremony, where your students will be given awards that will be based on your students' characters, achievements, talents and positive traits, e.g. The Most Avid Reader | The Best Debater | The Biggest Techie.

Ready to roll out the red carpet for your English learners? Before planning a great ceremony, bear in mind that there are many free digital certificates and awards online that can make your life easier! 

Tip 💡 What about acceptance speeches? That's a great idea if you want to help your students to practise their public speaking and presentation skills, understand the importance of body language and become more confident speakers. This activity is ideal for teens and older students, since it’s an open secret that almost all English learners are extremely nervous before oral exams!

✔️ A Summer Bucket List

A wish list of things to do is always a good idea. Ask your students what a bucket list is and encourage them to write their own list! Explain that they should set realistic goals and give them some ideas, e.g. Places I'd like to visit | Books I want to read | People I'd like to see | Skills I want to learn. 

So, it's time to bring a bit of summer sunshine into your ELT classroom! What will be on your students' bucket list?

Tip 💡 A summer bucket list is the perfect way to practise conditionals (e.g. If I have the chance, I will definitely do that) and modal verbs (e.g. You don't have to be an adult to do that).

✔️ A Unique Celebration 

All young students love dressing up. So, why not offer them a themed experience? Plan a British-themed celebration and let them impress everyone with costumes inspired by the English language and the United Kingdom! For example, they could use red uniforms and bearskin hats to dress up as the Queen’s Guards! Or they could come as their favourite British celebrities!  

Of course, there is only one possible colour scheme for your British party: red, white and blue. And Britain’s rich culture and interesting traditions can give you the ideal starting point for brainstorming fun decoration ideas. In addition, you can encourage your students to focus on crafts, games, songs and recipes or snacks that are associated with the U.K.

Your English learners could also compile an end-of-year playlist with favourite English songs. So, get ready and let the party begin!  

Tip 💡 Have your students write down their favorite memories of this school year on strips of paper. Slip their notes inside balloons, inflate them... and have your students burst the balloons and share the written messages aloud at the end of the party!

Ready for a mind-blowing celebration? One last thing: Take a quick look at the inspiring TED Talk 'Every Kid Needs a Champion', given by Rita Pierson. As she says, teaching and learning should bring joy. And every child deserves an adult who insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. You can do this. Bring joy one more time to your ELT classroom, celebrate your students' achievements, show everyone that you've made a good team this year and motivate your English learners to keep learning!