Since I was keen on cycling I thought well, I'll do a cycling option in the spring and fall. I would do bicycle safety, maintenance, riding skills and you could always find a few games to go into the program.
One of the activities I tried was the Gold Rush ride. I took 100 egg sized rocks and painted them yellow(gold). In one of our larger parks with bike trails. I would hide the rocks. Then the kids had to find the rocks while riding their bikes. I was amazed that the kids participated in this activity with such energy. I had one kid choose my option 6 times in a row.
Later on we had a welcome to the new class , gr. sevens, in September. Again we chose a large park and bussed 200 grade sevens out for hot dogs. But we needed an activity. You guessed it...the old yellow rocks. We went out the afternoon before the event and hid the rocks. On the afternoon of the hot dog roast we divided the kids into groups. They came from 5 different feeder schools so we wanted to mix them so they got to know kids from other schools. So when we were all organized somebody said "go" and off they went. Liberal amounts of licorice twisters added energy to the hunt. Again the kids went tearing around looking for the rocks. My buddy, the art teacher used to keep the rocks in his art room. He probably still has the rocks in his garage at home even after 20 years of retirement.
Well, a few posts ago I wrote about finding 150 bird species for our country's 150th anniversary. I'm getting the same feeling about the activity. We're not finding rocks but birds. I can't believe the enthusiasm people have for finding species, reporting them and general discussion.
I guess I'm a one trick pony and use the same activity over and over but in different forms. I guess it's basically a type of treasure hunt!
I think everybody loves treasure hunts because they're so much fun. I can see what a wonderful, creative, fun teacher you were.
ReplyDeleteWell, in reality I was pretty quiet and serious. I had to work on the creativity. I found when I was out of my comfort zone I did things differently.
DeleteI meant ARE!
ReplyDeleteYou never quit being a learner and a teacher.
DeleteWhat a great activity - I'd be enthusiastic about that, too, and I'm not the world's most energetic person :) I also wish I'd had a basic course in bike skills, maintenance, etc. as in your course. Very practical for the kids. I'm glad you are getting a good response with the birding.
ReplyDeleteThe option was much different than my usual assignment.
DeleteWonderful to have a trick up your sleeve to use in needy times. The photo of the small bird in your hand is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe chickadees in that area are real beggars. Yes, tricks had to be used.
DeleteYou are very god in inventing games!
ReplyDeleteIt was basically a treasure hunt. There are many versions of treasure hunts,
DeleteWhat a great post! I'm not into the 150 thing, but you go.
ReplyDeleteWell, come on. Get with the program. and here I thought you were a patriotic citizen.
DeleteThe treasure hunt brought out a variety of thoughts ad inspirations. I like your pelican, we have a few who stay all winter.They are such graceful birds.
ReplyDeleteA friend sent me the pelican photo. we have non breeding pelicans on the river all summer.
DeleteI like that line, "one trick pony," Red. Brings back memories of other one trick pony people I"ve known. I would have LOVED to be in your option, too. Learning all about bicycling probably change the future lives of many of your students. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it changed lives but I had some interesting characters.
DeleteHi Red, I like the way you started this post with, “In my previous life as a middle school teacher…” Well, yes, it was like a different life, wasn’t it? So, in my previous life as a high school teacher I sometimes wondered what all my colleagues down in middle school were up to. I wonder if any of them were clever enough to come up with something like the Gold Rush ride. You were just way ahead of your time. These days folks get into a game called Geocaching and go around looking for hidden treasure using their GPS device. Have you heard of it?
ReplyDeleteI've heard of geocaching but never tried it.
DeleteBasic treasure hunt can be applied in many areas. I have a lawyer friend and he describes himself as a recovering lawyer. He now writes and travels and comes birding with me.
I wonder if some of those gold rocks are still lying around out there?!
ReplyDeleteThere might be the odd one but the kids usually found them all. we didn't make it too hard. But I think old Bob probably still has the box of rocks!
DeleteYou never really leave teaching behind, even after retirement. My brother teaches grade seven and eight... I know I couldn't handle it. I can deal with adults!
ReplyDeleteI still have teacher dreams.
DeleteHunting for something is always a fun challenge. Kudos to your creativity!
ReplyDeleteYes, just make a little contest out of it and it works.
DeleteDid you ever find a yellow rock left over from the year before?
ReplyDeleteNo, the little beggar usually found everything. Now I used tempra paint so it would wash off quickly,
DeleteWhy change when you have something that works.
ReplyDeleteIt's a basic idea. You just hang your materials to it.
DeleteDon't fix what ain't broken :) Sounds like a great way to keep people engaged!
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed at how well it works.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever activity that gets kids out and about is a great one! I think your bird project is a a great one! :)
ReplyDeleteI suspect that most kids are delighted to get out of a classroom and do something active so if you are doing that, you are 95% of the way to success. I bet you really enjoy remembering that, kids can be tiring and frustrating and all of that but their joie de vivre is always a joy.
ReplyDeleteIf I thought I had a chance of contributing something interesting to a bird count, I would also love to be involved but the birds around here are limited to a few types.
So that's what Canadians do to have a good time - tearing round parks looking for rocks! I guess we are all different... Seriously though a great, creative idea but you should have painted the rocks RED!
ReplyDeleteTreasure hunts are always fun. You were such a great teacher...and still are! Looking for different birds would be exciting.
ReplyDeleteyou realize what works!!
ReplyDeleteWell, as the old ad/commercial for the hair product Brylcreem used to say..."If you're onto a good thing, stick to it!" :)
ReplyDeleteMy Granddaughter always played games, treasure hunts she made up for her friends. Even today. She teaches Grade 2,4,6,7,8. Main subject French. And she adores her students. They love her. They always ask her. Your just out of University and your teaching us. Your so young. Why did you chose to teach us. You could have enjoyed better things to take as a career. I knew since she was a wee child. She will be a teacher. Dreams do come true. So you telling us your adventures of being a teacher. Like William said . You have never really left teaching behind. I agree. I am glad. As your posts are so interesting that you tell. Never stop telling. I would of loved to be in your class back then. As I loved all that you share. And my dads camera borrowed for bird hunting.
ReplyDeleteI had to think up those options classes very year, too. I love the bike one -- we never did that. One of the criteria was always that you got no money to spend on the activity so it was always quite a challenge. I guess my most popular one was making your own paper. My dad helped me make the paper frames from picture frames from the thrift store and screen from old windows and I had them after I retired until I sold my house and move south!
ReplyDelete