Teachers can ALWAYS tell when it's nearing the end of the year because the kids all get spring fever. It's like the summer crazies are just creeping under their skin, making it almost impossible for them to control themselves...
In an effort to review some key concepts while the kids are trying not to bounce off the walls, I put together some fun end of year activities. This pack was partially inspired by
Judy Moody's Not So Bummer Summer. The Judy Moody books are a classroom favorite and we usually watch the movie together after testing wraps up. Click on the link below the picture to check out my newest resource on my TpT store. As always, I'm keeping the price extra low so you can keep more of your cash!
FYI:Scholastic has Judy Moody and the No Bummer Summer for $1 per book! I used my bonus points (35 pts. Per book) to pick up several copies for my classroom. I LOVE to take advantage of these super steals!
If you'd like another fun end-of-the-year activity, read on!
One of my favorite things to do with the kids is to make tie-dye T-shirts. I usually start this project a week or two before field day so the kids can sport them around the events. It makes it easy for roving parents to find our group and it really gets the whole class pumped up to participate. There's nothing particularly tricky to making the tie-dye T's. It just requires a little advance planning to make it fun and budget-friendly for everyone. :) Here are the materials you'll need: one tie-dye kit, one white T-shirt per student, rubber gloves (at least for you), plastic trays (optional), 2 large trash bags, one gallon plastic bag per student, and 1-2 sharpies.
First things first. At least a week ahead of time, send a note home to the parents requesting that students bring a CLEAN, white t-shirt to school by the date you've set aside to dye everything (Be sure to include an FYI that the shirts will be permanently dyed). While your students are gathering their shirts, get online and find a coupon for your local craft store. I LOVE
Hobby Lobby (
http://hobbylobby.com) and
Michael's (http://www.michaels.com/)
! Look for a
Weekly Ad or
Weekly Specials tab on their websites. There you should find a printable coupon for around 40% off of one item. Print the coupon and get shopping!
When you get to the store, you should find the tie-dye kits in the craft section. Although, during the summer months you can frequently find these on displays in the center of the isle somewhere near the craft section. You can get any kit that you'd like, but I usually purchase the kit that will color 30 shirts and contains five different colors (retails around $19.99). I'm always drawn to buy the huge kits, but you'll end up spending more than you need too. The kids will be just as happy with the color choices in the five-color kits and it'll cost half as much.
At the register, be sure to check with the cashier to see if the store offers an educators discount. I have found that Michael's gives an extra 10-15% off when you show the cashier your teacher ID badge. With your discount coupon, the whole kit should cost about $10 or less. If this still really straps your budget, you could always as your students to collect change for a few weeks to help defray the cost.
Now that you have your color kit, there are just a couple more prep steps to coloring your class fancy! This goes without saying, but be sure to read all the directions prior to tie-dye day in case there are any last minute items you need to take care of. Decide which design you would like to make on your T-shirt (yes, you should make one too!), and make sure you practice how to twist/fold the shirt to give you the desired pattern. This gives you a great teaching tool and the kids will think you're really cool when you show up for field day in your tie-dye T. ;) The day before you tie-dye the shirts, label a gallon bag with each student's name on the front.
You're almost ready! On the dying day, cut the bottom seam off two large trash bags (I get these from my custodian) and use them to cover your table that you'll be tie-dying on. Set out 3-4 plastic trays for students to contain their dye on. Prep the dye bottles per the directions on the package. The package instructions will usually also give directions for making the various patterns. I share these with my class by putting the directions under my document camera and projecting the images on my board. Then, I ask a couple of students to distribute 2-3 rubber bands to each person. Students should roll/twist/twirl their shirt into whichever design they'd like to achieve. I usually recommend students try the bulls-eye or large color-block strips (these are the easiest) if they've never tie-dyed before.
Here you go! Call students back 3-4 at a time and let them choose their colors. Typically, I let my kids pick two colors. This keeps color-happy squeezers from wasting all the dye while ruining their T's and everyone else's fun. When the students have finished adding color, put the shirt in their gallon bag and zip it up. The package directions usually state the the dye should sit for 6-8 hours. I let my stay in the baggies overnight; this makes the color more vibrant. The next day, cut off the rubber bands and rinse out as much dye as possible. Put the shirts back into their bags and send them home with your students. I also staple a note on the front of the bag with an FYI that the shirt will most likely bleed in the wash for the first 2-3 washes.
Enjoy your end of the year special events in your colorful T's! I've also had students bring their shirts on one of the last days of school and let students autograph each others T-shirts with sharpies or fabric markers.
