As the end of the school year approaches, teachers and pupils alike are eager for the freedom of the summer holidays. And yet there will be many pupils who have mixed feelings as the final day of term beckons - parting with friends and teachers whom they have seen daily for the best part of a year can be difficult for some. A mixture of expectation and sadness, along with the insecurity of change, can tinge the last weeks of the summer term with a degree of pain and uncertainty.

Emma McDonald, writing in Education World, recommends some closure activities which teachers can use with pupils during the final weeks or days, to help them feel positive as they move on.

Story Share
Ask your students to write a story about their favourite memory of the school year. The memory can be something funny or special; it can be about an event, or a teacher or another student. (This activity can also serve as an opportunity to apply the writing skills taught throughout the year.) Give them enough time to write a good solid story and invite them to add a brief closing message saying goodbye to classmates and teacher.

Arrange a day for students to share their stories aloud.

Memory Book
Using a large notepad or copybook, allocate a page to each student and ask them to write about things which they remember from the school year. You can also include a page for students to sign.

Photo Scrapbook
Use a digital camera or a polaroid instant camera to take a picture of each student. Paste each picture on its own page and ask students to write a letter telling about the kind of year they had in school. Then bind the pages together to create a class scrapbook.

Note Cards from the Teacher
It’s important for a teacher to say goodbye to each pupil at the end of the year. A great means of closure is to give students something to take with them, such as a short note card from their teacher.

Using individual cards, write a short note/letter to each student. Include positive comments and encourage each one as you know best. This personal note from you remembering the student and saying goodbye will mean more than you know to those leaving your classroom. If you have multiple classes, you might want to create a card on the computer that conveys your main message. Then sign and jot a quick personal sentence for each student.

Saying goodbye well
Throughout our lives we make transitions from one event or situation to another. Whatever the transition, we must say goodbye to the old before we can say hello to the new. Providing closure at the end of the school year allows both students and teachers to let go of the past and move forward into the future. (Source: Education World)