Last English Class of the school year Extravaganza: Unforgettable Activities for ESL Learners!

Congratulations, esteemed ESL teachers in Quebec! We've arrived at that highly anticipated moment of the school year - the final English class! Can you feel the excitement building up? It's time to bid farewell to activity books and wrap up those captivating Learning and Evaluation Situations (LES) that have enriched our students’ language learning journey. Get ready to embrace a day filled with laughter, excitement, and unforgettable memories. Let's say goodbye for now to the  enchanting singing and animating lessons in elementary and to the opinion texts and feature articles in high school, and create a last English class celebration that will leave a lasting impact on our students.

     Last English class of the school year activities

     Here are some ideas for fun activities you can consider for the last period of the school year:

          1. Potluck Party:

Organize a potluck party where students bring in dishes from their cultural backgrounds or favorite recipes. This activity promotes cultural appreciation and provides an opportunity for students to share their culinary skills and traditions with their classmates. Encourage them to describe the dishes in English, fostering their speaking and descriptive abilities. They will also be happy to eat together and this brings a sense of community. I did this activity at Christmas time and my students were so grateful, they had told me because of the years they spent with Covid restrictions, they had never experienced a potluck before and they really appreciated this fun and easy party activity. This is the sheet I use for my potluck activities: potluck-signup . Make sure to buy plates,  napkins and cups or have students sign up to bring these items. In elementary school, my daughter came home with a small note saying what she had to bring 2 litres of orange juice and the date. In high school, students remembered because they couldn’t wait for the feast. 

2. Karaoke Extravaganza:

Set up a karaoke station in the classroom and let your students showcase their singing talents. Create a playlist of popular English songs and encourage students to take turns singing solo or in groups. This activity enhances pronunciation, rhythm, and confidence in speaking English while also adding an element of fun and entertainment. I always make sure to sing a song or two myself!

3. Picture Booth with a Ring Light:

Set up a picture booth corner with a ring light and fun props where students can take memorable photos with their friends. Provide them with English phrases or words related to the school year as props to hold in the pictures. This activity encourages creativity, collaboration, and provides a keepsake for students to remember their time together.

4. Card games and board games  Stations:

Create different activity stations around the classroom, each focusing on a different skill or topic. For example, you could have a vocabulary station with word puzzles, a grammar station with interactive exercises, a reading station with engaging short stories, and a writing station with creative prompts. Students can rotate among the stations, practicing various language skills in a hands-on and enjoyable way.

Set up card game tables where students can play English card games like  Go Fish,, Crazy Eights, UNO,  Alternatively, provide game boards for popular English board games like Scrabble, Boggle, or Apples to Apples These games enhance vocabulary, spelling, critical thinking, and social interaction skills. 

Board Games

1. Taboo: This game requires players to describe a word without using certain "taboo" words. It promotes vocabulary building, communication, and thinking on your feet.

2. Scrabble: A classic word game where players create words on a board using letter tiles. It helps with spelling, vocabulary expansion, and strategic thinking.

3. Apples to Apples Junior: A fun and engaging game where players match nouns with adjectives. It encourages creativity, vocabulary development, and conversation skills.

4. Guess Who?: Players take turns asking yes/no questions to guess the character on their opponent's game board. It promotes questioning skills, descriptive language, and logical thinking.

5. Scattergories: In this game, players need to come up with words that fit into specific categories within a time limit. It improves vocabulary, creativity, and quick thinking.

                Card Games:

1. ESL Go Fish: Adapt the traditional Go Fish game by using flashcards with words or phrases. Students practice asking and answering questions using target vocabulary.

2. Taboo English Vocabulary: Similar to the original Taboo game, but with a focus on English vocabulary. Players describe words without using specific "taboo" words to help reinforce vocabulary usage and speaking skills.

3. Tell Me a Story: Each player is dealt a set of picture cards, and they take turns creating a story using the cards they have. It encourages storytelling, creativity, and speaking fluency.

4. Spoons: A fast-paced card game where players aim to collect a set of four matching cards. It encourages quick thinking, vocabulary recall, and verbal communication.

5. Conversation Cubes: While not a traditional card game, these conversation cubes have prompts or questions on each side. Students roll the cubes and then engage in a conversation based on the prompt.

These games provide opportunities for students to practice speaking, improve vocabulary, and develop their communication skills in a fun and interactive way. Remember to choose games that are suitable for the age and language proficiency level of your students.

         5. Funny Awards Ceremony:

Organize a light-hearted awards ceremony where you create humorous awards for each student, highlighting their unique qualities or achievements throughout the school year. For example, "The Creative Wordsmith Award" for outstanding storytelling skills or "The Energizer Bunny Award" for the most enthusiastic student. This activity promotes positivity, laughter, and appreciation among students. You can make them on Canva or purchase some on TPT.

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Remember to adapt these activities based on the age and proficiency level of your students. The goal is to create a relaxed and enjoyable environment where students can use English in a meaningful way while celebrating their last English class of the  school year!

Enjoy and if you have any ideas to add please  leave us a comment or send us an email. We would love to hear from you. Have a wonderful last English class with your students!