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We hold a special election to select our favorite book, and then we make a banner showing the events or characters in the story. The banner is made from an old sheet or a piece of muslin. An overhead projector can be used to outline some of the pictures in the book onto the sheet. We use all sorts of media - crayons, magic markers, material scraps, yarn, and felt - and we end up with a beautiful project that everyone has participated in making. One of the characters in our favorite book was a horse. The children used black velvet for the body, a button for the eye, leather for the saddle, and yarn for the tail. The children used their imaginations and created a real masterpiece.
Claudia McClarran, Wentzville Elementary, Wentzville, MO, Grade 1
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The class could vote on a book and dedicate the day to that book. For example, if Ira Sleeps Over were chosen, students could come to school with teddy bears. All work would center on this theme. They could wear pajamas, write about bears, read about bears, and make bears.
Miriam Leon, Crocket School, San Marcos, TX, Grade 1
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Parents' Day: I would make a day for parents to attend school. Students would receive the following day's lessons on the day prior to Parents' Day, and their task would be to teach the parent on that day. The parent would have to actually do the assigned lesson for each subject. In case of several children in the same family, parents could spend some time with each. This would make all children feel special. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, older brothers and sisters, or special grown-up friends could be invited if parents could not attend.
Delores Rekward, Adams Elementary, Davenport, IA, Reading Specialist
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After studying and researching our countries of origin - their customs, language, money, food, and religion - we will have a "Heritage Fest." All parents, grandparents, and siblings are invited to attend. We will have music, skits, displays and short reports about each country, as well as a display of family trees done by the students and their parents. We will end the Fest by eating the food prepared for each country.
JoAnn Goodness, St. Lawrence School, Wisconsin Rapids, Wl, Grade 4
