SAVE IT FOR THE KIDS

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Home : 2004 : August : 20

SAVE IT FOR THE KIDS
By HEIDI

TWo suggestions:
On the first day of school, after all the routines are set up and kids are unpacked, I start an activity called monster exchange. I don't explain the whole thing to the kids, I explain as we go. I give
each student half a sheet of paper (a whole sheet takes too long). I tell them this is the one time in the year that they absolutely don't put their names on their work. Then, I Tell them their mission is to design, or create, a monster. It should be from their imagination and completely coloured. Oh yeah, and it should be top secret so they need to stand a book to make a private work

area at their desk. This is a labour they love and take pride in. Then when they are finished, I tell them now they need to use a loose-leaf and write instructions for someone who has never seen your monster to be able to draw it. We discuss how important it will be to go step by step and that usually directions have the steps numbered, etc. They groan about the writing assignment, but quickly get into it. They DO need to put their name on the directions sheet. Then I collect everything in a file folder so no other student gets to see the monster. I randomly hand out direction sheets to the students and give them a fresh sheet of paper to create the monster they have instructions for. (This may take an extra day). When all is done, we post the new monsters on a bulletin board and students take turns telling me if they recognize one that looks like it might have been done from their directions. We put up the original monster for each one and discuss the similarities and differences. Students quickly realize that their directions were too vague, not well written and not very specific. It is a piece of writing I save in their portfolios to show them at the end of the year because it is usually terrible and they see how far they've come. They love seeing the monsters on the bulletin board!

The second suggestion is to assign students homework the first day. tell them on Friday you will collect their homework and post it on that bulleting board, which is reserved for them. The assignment is to make a collage, poster or poem all about themselves. Tell them not to go overboard, it shouldnot be larger than an eight and a half by eleven page. But be creative and have fun!