Saturday School Shopping... the best kind of shopping there is!

Lately I've been finding lots and lots of goodies to use at school.

It is costing me a small fortune (I say 'small' because most of it is from the dollar shop and op shops (thrift stores for those of you in the USA).

Let me share some of the cool bargains and what I hope to use them for, in the classroom!

 

Op shop photo cube box. You add photos on the outside. Not sure what I'll use this for yet, but for $1, I couldn't walk past it.

 

 

Op shop: Pure wool vintage blankets $5. I'm going to upcycle these into gorgeous cushion covers and stencil common punctuation marks on either side. We can use them as cushions in class library or as a punctuation task (just print the sentences onto A4 paper and get the kids to throw the correct punctuation cushion into the correct place, I'll blog about how this works out later!) The cat is happy... for now.

 

 

Op shop bird puppet ($1) and basket (50c). This bird is actually supposed to make a sound but it is broken (I ripped that bit out) but the best part is, the pocket in it's butt where the battery goes, fits a plastic egg. I'm hoping to use her as a 'wORd bIRd' which teaches kids how to flip the sound a digraph makes or to try a different option for the same sound. The fact that it can have an egg inside allows for some great word family fun like this: Examples of how to use a word family egg

 

I got some more stuffed toys from the Op shop at the same time but I'm yet to figure out if they will just be 'reading buddies' or if they have a more specific use.

Dollar store wrist bands. These are good for randomly selecting groups. Choose a band from an opaque bag and get into the group with the same coloured bands. No arguments. Also good for Chance and Data math games.

 

 Way cool find. $10 from the post office. Comes with clay, software (simple!), background and an easy to read book. The possibilities are endless for engaging students with this. I can make social stories myself, to teach social situations and responses. Students can write scripts, design storyboards, read the instructions, develop a soundtrack use computers... the list goes on... and it is soooo easy!

 

 

 

These are just cute AND the most expensive. $7 cute turtle (not sure what for just yet), $7.50 cute post-it dispenser for my desk and $9 'annoying orange' toy which shouts dumb jokes when you press it. I think I'll use the orange to announce if something in class isn't working well and we need to change our mind about it. To show that we can be flexible and not frustrated when things don't go to plan... maybe.

 

 

Echo mic $3 from the newsagent and bubble gun $4. I think I will buy a set of six echo mics. You talk into the over sized mic and somehow you can hear your voice echo back. It has a little spring inside and NO BATTERIES. I can use these for taking turns to talk in group discussions, presenting work and for reading to self tasks (hence buying a set of six). The bubble gun doesn't need batteries either. Just dip the end in a little bubble solution and pump the trigger to let loose a spray of bubbles. I'll use this to teach self control (don't pop the bubbles!) or as a classroom timer (quietly to the carpet before the last bubble reaches the floor).

 

I'll keep you updated on future purchases and let you know how my cushions and stuffed animals go, when I get to creating something from them.

 

I have to head to the larger town down the road tomorrow, to pick up my step-son for the school holidays (around 120kms, we live in a very small, quite remote town) and I'm sure I'll be visiting the thrift stores there too!