:: E.T. CLASSROOM FLYER

1. FRIDAY INSPIRATION

"If the wind will not serve, take to the oars."

- Latin proverb

FRIDAY POSTER: Motivation
You can change out your classroom posters weekly with our quotable posters series. Today's printable poster features the motivational latin proverb, above.

ON THIS DAY . . .

June 4th, 1940:
It was on this day in 1940 that a young author, all of 23 years of age, took the literary world by storm when she published "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter". Carson McCullers wrote the story of a deaf-mute named John Singer, the catalyst for exploring societal isolation, racial tensions, and economic distances between groups of people, all resulting in alienation. Music and silence are also imbued into the emotional language of the story, with a poignant scene in which Mick Kelly, a semi-autobiographical character, attempts to build a violin when she cannot afford to buy one, and to escape her life through music. McCullers herself had musical aspirations, attending Juilliard briefly in hopes of becoming a concert pianist. After a short-lived marriage, McCullers took up residence in an intellectual, literary, and artistic circle in New York City, where she also wrote "The Member of the Wedding" and "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe". McCullers died at the age of 50 after lengthy and crippling battles with severe illnesses.

MAGIC PEN STORY STARTERS:
These imaginative prompts go beyond your usual less-than-one-line writing starters, and are terrifically creative to boot. Consider gathering them into a clipart-illustrated mini book for a writing exercise journal to keep your students actively writing over the summer months.

EDUCATION IN THE NEWS . . .

Comment on our news selections, at our blog:
http://classroomflyer.blogspot.com

TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD REWRITING HISTORY?

QUESTIONABLE SPENDING IN CHARTER SCHOOLS

- Demosthenes

SUMMERTIME FUN . . .

PAINTED SNEAKERS:
Get all set to enter summer in style with this wonderfully creative project, where students will be creating their own, uniquely decorated sneakers.

MAKE A CIRCLE FLYER:
Make a colorful flying disk for summer fun, by downloading the templates and following assembly instructions. As part of your end of school year activities, have competitions for longest distance, highest, most colorful, most original, etc.

PAPER BAG WIND SOCKS:
We suggest using bright, bright colors for this windsock, which is simply a grocery sack or brown paper bag transformed with paint and streamers.

PAINTED PEBBLE FAMILIES:
It can't get any easier or more fun than this summer craft, where students can paint their pebbles however they want, or create a whole family of pebbles to take home for their own gardens this summer.

MAKE A RECYCLED SUMMER BEACH BAG:
Everyone has them sitting around - plastic store bags, that is - and with this project, your students can work together to create a unique, recycled beach bag for summer fun.

SIT-UPONS:
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Why not make a classic sit-upon for a summer camp theme in your classroom as summer fast approaches? Or try a novel approach... From traditional woven newspaper sit-upons, to ziplock bags or, my favorite, plastic tablecloth versions, find a variety of sit-upons to choose from in the URLs above.

FAST AND EASY KITES:
Have a classroom helper available for your younger students for this project - or simply pre-cut the dowel pieces as directed. These kites are ready to test-fly in a flash!

MAKE A VACATION BOOK:
It's the cover of the book you'll be interested in for this project, where your students will take copies of maps and other vacation mementos to create their own travel journals.

STREAMER ZONES:
Add some magical movement and color to your classroom this summer with these fantastic Streamer Zones. They'll wave about the hula hoop bases with just the tiniest breeze, and your students will love working toward reward time to go to these zones. Try themes of blue and green to create an ocean feeling with these special play centers.

MAKE A NEWSPAPER HAT:
Ahoy, me hearties! Climb aboard for summer fun, and make your own folded newspaper hats with this fairly simple craft. Allow students to paint their hats, or add buttons, glitter, and other decorations you might have lying around your classroom.

CLASSROOM TEEPEE:
The project is classified as a Backyard Teepee, but you can easily set it up for a camping theme in your classroom. Use recycled or thrift store sheets instead of canvas for a less expensive version, and ask parents to come in and help your students put it all together. Personalize the craft by having your students dip their hands into paint and leave their handprints on the teepee, printing each name under each handprint. Then auction off your teepee at the end of the school year to a lucky student and his or her family to set up in their own backyard for the summer.

MAKE A MINIATURE HOVERCRAFT:
Visit your local thrift store for some old LPs - if that doesn't sound familiar, then how about "vinyl"? Records are making a comeback, but for this project, it won't be music they'll be playing. Rather, they will be transformed, along with balloons and a little ingenuity, into flying hovercrafts!

20 RECYCLED SUMMER ART & ACTIVITY PROJECTS:
Create an inexpensive summer art camp with recycled materials, using the suggestions and activities supplied here. You can make Coffee Can Stilts, a Magazine House, Paper Towel Rainmakers, and more.