It is time to say, “Bon Voyage” to your students and “Ahoy!” summer. The end of the school year is always an emotional time. Kids are excited for summer, teachers are busy finishing up report cards while also packing up their classrooms. In the midst of the business and excitement it’s important to pause, take a moment and wrap up the year in a fun and meaningful way. I am a sucker for a good theme, so I set out to turn my classroom into a seaworthy space!
Students and parents love a good photo-op so I sectioned off part of the room with the amazing, three-piece Sailboat Backdrop. It instantly transformed the room into a summery place ready for some snapshots. 
I passed out the DIY Sailor Hats and let students decorate them however they wanted using the Sharpies®. They were so excited, and wore the sailor hats the entire day. 
I created photo booth props by using the Nautical Themed Decorating Kit and taped them to popsicle sticks. 
I put together the Ship Wheel Cardboard Stand-Up for an added effect, and as soon as my students saw it their eyes lit up! The students loved the final product and enjoyed taking pictures home with them. After we took loads and loads of pictures, I passed out these adorable Inflatable Beach Balls. The students signed their names on each one as a sort of inflatable yearbook. It was a total crown pleaser. The kids loved it and immediately wanted to go outside and play with them. They are the perfect size and a fun little way to take a piece of our class home with them this summer. 
As a final bon voyage gift to the students, I gave the kids a little starfish gift with the phrase, "It mattered to that one" attached to it. I read this poem to them on the last day of school and send them into summer with the kindness challenge, of always choosing to be kind. It is a sweet and sentimental way to wrap up the school year. 
I printed out these tags and glued them to beach-themed scrapbook paper to give to the students. On the backside is the entire starfish poem. They can keep these as a bookmark. Click “download template” button under the materials list to get the free printable.
