School event “My city in history”

I am an ESL teacher from Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. The year of its foundation is 1639, when the fortress city of Sich was built by the Zaporozhian Cossacks in the Mykytyn Horn. My city has a really unique past. I`m sure, teaching local history is an excellent way to bring that past to life for my students, and I am greatly interested in finding a way to connect the classroom with my community.

School event “My city in history”

If planning a birthday party for a human being is daunting, celebrating the birthday of a whole city is an even more challenging task. Planners must find ways to honour the past, celebrate the present and dream about the future.

I suggest you some activities to organize a school event/party/fair to celebrate your city anniversary/birthday with your students. All activities are in English.

1. Historical Scavenger Hunt:

   - Create a list of historical landmarks and sites in your city.

   - Divide students into teams and provide them with clues or riddles in English.

   - Teams must solve the clues and find each location, taking pictures and learning about the history along the way.

   - Offer small prizes for the teams that complete the scavenger hunt first.

2. Cultural Food Fair:

- Organize a food fair where students prepare and serve traditional Ukrainian dishes like borscht, pierogi, and varenyky.  

- Have them label each dish with its name in English.

- Set up a food fair where students can share their dishes and practice describing them in English to visitors.

3. Historical Presentations:

   - Assign each student or group a different historical event or figure from your city past.

   - Have them create informative presentations in English to share.

   - Display the exhibits in a common area and have students present them in English to their peers and visitors.

4. Cultural Booths:

   - Have students set up booths representing different aspects of Ukrainian culture, such as food, music, dance, and art.

   - Encourage them to interact with visitors in English, explaining the significance of each cultural element.

5. Art and Craft Booths:

   - Set up booths where students can create and sell crafts inspired by the city's history or culture.

   - Encourage them to engage in conversations with visitors in English about their creations.

6. Storytelling Circle:

   - Create a cozy corner with a storyteller or students who can narrate historical or cultural stories related to your place.

   - These stories can be presented in English to engage and educate attendees.

7. Photo Booth:

   - Set up a photo booth with props related to your place history and culture.

   - Encourage students to take photos and add captions in English.

8. English Language Games:

   - Organize games like English word bingo, charades, or Pictionary with a historical or cultural twist.

   - These games can help students practice English vocabulary and communication.

9. Art and Craft Exhibition:

   - Invite students to showcase their artwork related to your native place, such as paintings, sculptures, or crafts.

   - Encourage them to describe their creations in English and discuss the inspiration behind them.

10. Language Exchange:

    - Arrange a language exchange corner where students can chat with native English speakers or other international guests.

    - This provides an opportunity for students to practice their conversational English skills.

Remember to involve your students in the planning and organization of the event to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility; create a festive and welcoming atmosphere that encourages students to use English naturally while celebrating the rich history and culture of your native place. This event can be an unusual fantastic way to blend language learning with community engagement and celebration.