Whiteboards on a Zero Budget
Buying whiteboard material may be out-of-budget for some classrooms. Here are a couple of cheap (or free) alternatives.
Recycling
Recycle Everything, Even Broken Crayons
Take it a step beyond having extras around in case someone forgets or loses theirs or you somehow pick up an extra student. If a kid runs out of blue, you just give them another. But when the tub of brokens gets too large to be practical, it’s time to get creative.
Pack Rat! Collect Odds & Ends for Classroom Use
From art projects to classroom organization, the whosits and whatsits you collect now will seem worth their weight in gold as you head into next semester.
Bag It: Recycling Plastic Bags
A lowly plastic grocery sack may not seem like a versatile tool for the classroom, but don’t overlook all the uses for this free and easy-to-find item. Start with these ideas, then build on your own brainstorms.
Trash to Treasure
Before you toss out that old floppy disk or wristwatch, think about how your kids, with minimal tools, could disassemble it and use it for something else.
Recycled Christmas Ornaments
For something different, try making Christmas ornaments out of recycled materials. Brainstorm with your art teacher how that might be accomplished in an aesthetically pleasing way, or tackle it on your own with bits of plastic, paper, aluminum foil, string, wire, etc.