Spirit Day Ideas for ESL Classrooms

Sprout English’s theme of the week is clothing! Your students will love learning clothing vocabulary with these fun cards and games.

Does your school hold Spirit Days like Crazy Hair Day or Pajama Day? A monthly Spirit Day is a great way to give kids something to look forward to. My own kids love “er” day at their school. This is when students and teachers dress up as anything ending in “er.” If you’re looking for some new ideas for Spirit Days for the upcoming school year, check out these lists, and be sure to add your own ideas in the comments below. Here is a sample Spirit Day Letter that you can use to send home to parents.

Spirit Day Ideas

Here are some ideas that can be combined with learning a new English expression. Your students will use the literal meanings of the words to come up with a costume. Be sure they understand the figurative meanings too.

A Taste of Your Own Medicine Day —Dress up like doctors, nurses, and patients.
Apple of My Eye Day —Dress up like fruit.
At the Drop of a Hat Day (aka Crazy Hat Day)
Back in the Day Day (aka ’50s Day, ’60s Day, ’70s Day, ’80s Day)
Bad Hair Day (aka Crazy Hair Day)
Behind the Times Day —Dress up in old-fashioned clothes.
Bend over Backwards Day —(aka Backwards Day)
Black and White Day —Dress in black and white. (Teach the idiom “black and white”: very clear, not complicated)
Blessing in Disguise Day —Dress up like angels.
Cut Corners Day —Dress sloppily.
Double Trouble Day (aka Twins Day)
Dress to the Nines Day —Come to school wearing lots of accessories.
Elvis Has Left the Building Day —Dress like Elvis.
Have a Soft Spot Day —Bring in a stuffy.
Hit the Sack Day (aka Pajama Day)
In the Black Day —Dress like you’re rich.
Join the Club Day —Wear your team jersey or club clothes or uniform to school.
Joined at the Hip Day (aka Twin Day)
Judge a Book by Its Cover Day —Dress like a book character.
Keep Up with the Joneses Day —Dress like a neighbor.
Off on the Wrong Foot Day —Wear shoes on the wrong foot (or wear two different shoes).
Opposites Attract Day —Dress opposite to a friend.
Out of the Blue Day —Wear blue, but don’t tell any other teachers that you’re doing it. Invite someone in!
Paint the Town Red Day —Wear red.
Piece of Cake Day —Dress up like dessert.
Pull Your Socks Up Day —Wear long socks.
Raining Cats and Dogs Day —Dress up like cats and dogs.
Salad Days—Dress up like different salad dressings.
Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb Day —Wear a crazy outfit.
Under the Weather Day —Dress like weather.
Work Your Socks Off Day —Go barefoot or dress in business attire.
You Are What You Eat Day —Dress like food.
You’re Only Young Once Day —Dress like a baby.

More Ideas Based on Calendar Days

Here are some fun calendar days for dressing up and showing school spirit.

January 6: Detective Day (Sherlock Holmes’s birthday) —Dress like detectives or spies.
February 14: Valentine’s Day —Dress in red, pink, and white (or hearts)
March 3: I Want You to Be Happy Day —Wear T-shirts with happy people and happy faces (or wear yellow).
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day —Wear green.
March 22: World Water Day —Dress in blue.
April (last week): Golden Week (Japanese holidays) —Wear gold.
April 15: World Art Day —Dress like painters or wear colorful clothing.
April 17: Golfers’ Day —Dress like a golfer.
May (first Tuesday): Teachers’ Day —Dress like your teacher.
August 16: Honeybee Day —Dress in black and yellow, or dress like bees.
September 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day —Dress like pirates.
September 21: International Peace Day —Wear white.
October (last Friday): Frankenstein Friday —Dress like monsters. You could also have Beasts and Fairies’ Day.
October 31: Halloween —Dress in any costume.
December 5: Disney Day (Walt Disney’s birthday) —Dress like a Disney character.

Check out ESL Library’s Lesson Plan Calendar on our sister site for inspiration if you want more ideas based on calendar days. Share your own ideas in the comments below!

Related

Find 32 clothing flashcards in the Games Room – Card Games.

     

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