Elementary Classroom Projects

scratch · 08-31-2010, 01:30 AM

Hi, everyone! I'm a teacher who is currently looking for a full time job, hopefully 1st or 2nd grade. Are there any current/former teachers on here who have some great art/craft project ideas to share with me? Or even if you aren't a teacher and have a fun, simple project, I'd love to hear about it! Thank you!

P.S. I am thinking of doing a unit based around either Little House in the Big Woods or Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Any craft ideas that would go with this theme would also be great! Thanks!

mamaslittlemonkeys · 08-31-2010, 01:44 PM

I taught preschool at Head Starts for 4.5 yrs and have my degree in early childhood education...I'm So out of practice though! LOL I'm back temporarily as a Family Advocate for Head Start so I get to talk with teachers and i know they like my I Spy bags, Chalk mats, recycled crayons, etc for the classroom.

melsbells · 08-31-2010, 01:46 PM

Hmmm... Been a long time since I read those. I remember she describes some kitchen chores, maybe you could do a simple task from that. Like making butter in a jar. Have the kids sit in a circle while you read to them, and they take turns shaking the jar up, and roll it across the circle to pass it.

Don't know how well this would translate to the classroom, but I think it was in Big Woods that Ma made Laura her little doll. Maybe you could figure out something like that...?

Well at any rate, best of luck on your job search!!

scratch · 09-01-2010, 01:35 AM

Thank you so much for these great ideas! Melsbells, I especially like the doll idea!! I like the butter idea too, but some school districts are getting ridiculously strict about bringing food into the classroom.

downrightart · 09-01-2010, 04:54 AM

Differences of today and back then would be really nice to point out. Milage by foot to school and then the milage on gas by bus. Gosh, I see all kinds of ways to impliment that story with different subjects in class. Another thing about elementary grades is that you all are still teaching all subjects.

Oh, and journals! You can even have them personalize their journals. Also, pictures are good to add to those journals. Have them cut out pics from books of that time era and then some from your class. Oh! And story book characters! Have them choose a character from the book and dress the part or have items that describe the character.

Boys can be hard to keep focused, so try the fishing they had back then compared to today. If you can keep fish in class, it's a great way to have them see nature. Have them draw fish, boats in water, etc. Have a local fisherman or Wildlife officer come in and talk to the class about the importants of wildlife in our environment.

I don't know where you live, but have senior citizens of the art crafts come in and talk about quilting, crocheting, tatting, woodworks, sugar cane making, etc.

Gosh, there are so many things that have ran through my mind and I don't have enough time to write it all down!

PS....I work in a school 6th -12th grades. No, I'm not a teacher, I'm the school registrar. I've been in the school system going on 18 yrs now. You have my whole hearted support. Good luck to you!!

achristian · 09-02-2010, 04:46 PM

I feel like I should be able to help you but can't. I taught second for several years and did a lot of art within my science and math themes. I don't have any ideas for the books you're reading.

needlepointpaula · 09-28-2010, 05:19 PM

Maybe make some sort of photobooth with a background they design in class? Take pictures on a digital camera? I feel like I would love something like that if I was a little human.

melsbells · 10-01-2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downrightart

Differences of today and back then would be really nice to point out. Milage by foot to school and then the milage on gas by bus. Gosh, I see all kinds of ways to impliment that story with different subjects in class. Another thing about elementary grades is that you all are still teaching all subjects.

Yeah, in fact the characters travel in each of the books. You could do a comparison of a modern-day road trip vs. the move at the beginning or the end of LHOTP, or a modern-day shopping trip vs. the trip to town in LHITBW.

Very cool idea. You could even tie in a multi-cultural link and talk about other countries where the same technology is still used and how different things are there. Nah, that might be too confusing. But you could do that unit later and tie it back in to this one...?

scratch · 10-04-2010, 01:23 AM

Thank you all SO much for your replies! These are some great ideas!!

downrightart · 10-04-2010, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scratch

Thank you all SO much for your replies! These are some great ideas!!

How is it going?