Let’s be real — by the time testing is over and the summer sun starts creeping in, both you and your students are done. The energy is high, the attention spans are low, and you're just trying to survive that last week of school without resorting to endless movies or crowd control.
If you’re looking for something low-prep, educational and fun to fill those last days, I’ve got just the thing: the ESL Summer Bucket List Writing Craft!
1. ESL Summer Bucket List Writing Craft
This resource is a creative writing and vocabulary activity designed with ESL learners (and general ed students) in mind.
Instead of worksheets that collect dust, your students will create a layered booklet that helps them dream, plan, and write about their summer.
Whta's included:
- A cover page + 8 summer-themed writing pages
- Differentiated levels for 3 proficiency/grade bands
- Visual word banks on every page
- Sentence frames (dotted and blank), drawing boxes, and writing-only options
- Each prompt focuses on things kids love to talk about: places they want to go, books they want to read, goals they want to reach — and more!
2. How to Use It with ESL Students
This craft works beautifully over a few days — one page per day or more if time allows. It’s flexible enough to fit your schedule and your students' stamina.
Here's how to do it:
- Choose the appropriate writing level for each student:
- Draw + dotted sentence frame (for newcomers/emerging writers)
- Draw + blank sentence frame (for developing writers)
- Write only (for more proficient students)
- Use the visual word banks to introduce and review vocabulary.
- Have students draw and write each day.
When all pages are done, show them how to assemble their pages in number order to create a cute, layered “bucket” booklet.
Voila — a meaningful, language-rich end-of-year activity that students can proudly take home!
Why It Works
- ✅ Supports language development with built-in scaffolds
- ✅ Encourages creativity through drawing and personal reflection
- ✅ Reinforces sentence structure and vocabulary
- ✅ Gives every student access to writing, regardless of proficiency level
- ✅ Easy to prep and use, even when your own energy is running low
Give it a try with the free one-page version, and if your students love it (they will!)
👉 Click here to grab your free ESL Summer Bucket List page!
End the year with smiles, structure, and a fun little booklet your students will be excited to take home!
Looking for more End of Year ELL projects? Read my blog here.
Do you need ELL summer packets that can be completed by your ELL newcomers independently? Check out these packets.
Do you need more ideas and resources for summer school? Click here.
Would you like to receive more tips, trick and FREEBIES? Click below!
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