I grabbed this book off of our library’s ‘theme of the month’ display. This isn’t a ‘how to’ craft book, but has several full size photographs of environmentally savvy artist’s creations.
In my classroom, I collected Crayola marker caps for awhile. First graders have a hard time remembering to snap them on the marker, which results in dried out markers, therefore I have a baggie filled with rainbow bright plastic. I was never sure what to do with them, in Cool Green Stuff, there is an ingenius use for several of such plastic pieces. Naulila Luis from Portugal created a hand bag using such marker tops. Beautiful!
Another favorite are the climate change bloomers. They have a picture of earth on them and when your panties get warm, the earth turns blue – to symbolize the earth being over taken by water as the climate continues to change. What a trip!
Such whimsical exciting ideas here. Read for inspiration for your own crafts, or to buy a birthday present for the person who has everything, or treat yourself – you’ll be treating Mother Nature too.
Last week I was leading my first graders in a discussion about isopods (a.k.a. roly poly bugs). We created this experiment to see whether they prefer moist or dry soil. I asked if anyone knew what the word moist meant. One little boy raised his hand and began his explanation, “Well, you know when you eat cereal and it gets sort of soggy? Yeah, soggy. It’s like the scientific word for soggy.” Try and top that Wikipedia!
Here’s what I’ve been drinking recently. J found it on sale at QFC. He taught me a little trick. Instead of looking at the sale price of wine, look at the amount of money saved on the yellow tag. This is genius! This bottle is normally $9.99 but for the past few months has had a savings of $6! Making it $3.99. (Yeah yeah, I attribute my math skills to my dad). So anyway, it’s really tasty table wine, I’d recommend it, and even better, it’s from Washington, so it’s suppporting our local economy. The sale was supposed to last through the end of April, but I went to buy a bottle of wine last night and it’s been extended through the end of June! I still prefer to support our local wine shop on 15th, but the wine shop closes at 7 so when I don’t plan ahead, I’ll run for this one.
I tend to lose things- often. Take, for example, my water bottle. Most people know that I carry water with me most places I go. I started doing this when I was at Bethel, and before it was the trendy thing to do. I just like to have myself a drink when I want it. Soon after, articles started being written in health magazines about the importance of hydration. I was so ON that one.
My bottle of late is from a Twist – brand water bought on the clearance rack of our local food co-op. It was a good deal, plus it was a tasty break from plain water since I’m not consuming any sugar now. I use it daily. On the bottom, I find no little triangle with a number. I do see a melted on (how do they get that number on there?) 10 and a little peace symbol. That must mean it’s safe, right?! Peace is good. Why would they put that little peace symbol if it wasn’t a good idea to use thier bottle?
Well, so many people are all in a tizzy about this plastic thing and frankly, it’s got me a little bit worried. Those of you who know me well, know that I am a Grade A Klutz. In other words, it’s risky for Kris to cary around a glass bottle, especially at school where I spend several hours with 6 and 7 year olds. Possilby more dangerous than the leeching chemicals thing. But if the leeching chemicals are true, I decided it was worth the risk – for all of us. So far it’s been going well, except today I noticed that there is a reddish-brownish ring of rust around the mouthpiece from the cap, which is apparently metal. Now I feel really confused. Surely rusty glass is no better than reused plastic with a little peace sign…?
Any advice is welcomed. By the way, JJ has a plastic cup from his Auntie Leah and Uncle Eric that he loves, it has animals from the San Diego Zoo on it. It’s a “number 5″ – would you let him continue to drink from it?
In response to a sermon our pastor preached on Sunday, I’ve been thinking about the following questions:
Where does God want me/us?
How will God use me/us?
Am I letting God use me?
Am I willing to move toward painful places?
How can I be a presence in our community?
I feel excited to explore these questions in the coming months. Please ask me how I am progressing in my thought process. Right now, I haven’t gotten very far.
I am confident that God has gifted me to teach, and so my job is a big ‘yes, God wants me there’. But, I am unsure whether I am supposed to be moving toward a “low income” school. Although, it seems that our school is becoming more that way, which excites me. Right now, I think I am where God wants me.
Am I letting God use me? Not so sure. Honestly, my head’s been buried in teaching young children and writing about past experiences to prove to someone in Texas that I am a good teacher (see prior post entitled ‘my damn box‘). This is the first chance I’ve had to breathe and to think about something other than teaching in months. I think NOW I will let God use me, but I don’t think I have been earlier this year.
Right now, I just feel excited to be where God wants me and to return to my Mission Year Values of Loving God, Loving People, Nothing else matters.
Recently, my friend Mollie lent me this book. I read it from cover to cover in just a few days. I talked about it with anyone who would listen. The author, Amanda Blake Soule writes a blog www.soulemama.com and shares several of her ideas in this book. She is a mom of 3, but I don’t think you need to have kids to read this book. I plan to use several of her ideas in my classroom too. Throughout the book she shares not only thoughtful crafts, but also ways to help young children (and adults too!) experience the creative process.
I knew the book was off to a good start when Soule began by sharing that, growing up she wasn’t considered ‘a creative child’ or ‘good at art.’ Instead, she gives several ideas for everyone, not just naturally gifted artists. Because, let’s face it, children are all born with creativity. It’s our job as adults to foster that creative process.
Around our house it’s not rare to find a squashed wild flower on a shelf, rocks in our shoes or sticks poking out of pockets and lying under couch cushions. JJ (who is 3 1/2) loves to find nature’s treasures and use them as play things. But, with Soule’s urging, I took this one step further. I provided JJ with high-quality paper (thanks Jessica!) and paints. He made a gorgeous rendition of a flower we found. Soule suggests using nature’s gifts not only as play things inside but also as inspiration for creating.
Some of her ideas involve major change. One I have been thinking about is the toys JJ plays with, and that my students play with at school. She suggests using as many toys as possible that are made from natural fibers, such as: cotton, wood, clay, rock, instead of the rainbow of plastics that grace the shelves at most stores. We already tend toward ‘non toys’ as toys. For example, one of JJ’s favorite things to play with is an empty wrapping paper tube. He uses it as a telescope, a tube slide and a bat. Now, I am thinking about how to organize and rethink some of the ’stuff’ we have now. (More on that soon because his birthday is coming up!
Please read Soule’s book even if you don’t interact with children often. You’ll be surprised to see the childlike creative streak that is within you!
This blue thing has been staring at me out of the top shelf of our closet for close to a year. Seriously, last April we paid the first increment towards my national boards certification process and what was I rewarded with? This box that had written on the side: “IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED!” Ahhhhh! Needless to say, I didn’t give it immediate attention, it was too scary!
Those of you who know me well know that the last several months I have been holed up in front of a computer analyzing and reanalyzing lessons I taught in the past. I have been typing, editing, and rewriting. March 31 that all changed. That was the day “my box” was due. On my only sister’s birthday, I rechecked and copied each piece of paper (approximately 85 carefully selected specimans) and then went to UPS to mail this box. I couldn’t believe $9.85 was all they wanted for all of my work. Surely it was worth more than that!? But, I didn’t complain, instead I verifyed that the receipt showed I did indeed send it to Texas that day and then I left. Now, I guess I just wait. I’ll keep you posted……….
Happy 60th birthday Papa!
A provocative body of work for the soul…..this book was among the best I have read in 2007. I enjoyed Gilbert’s descriptions of her spiritual journeys. Plus, I think she’s into the same things I am: eating, traveling, having new experiences, people, God.
My friend thought she was ‘whiny’ but I found her to be truthful and intriguing. I like how she is passionate about learning about having a spiritual journey, and that she asks for help- and then trusts those she asks as wise.
Though hers is not necessarily a Christian journey, she got me excited to spend time with God again.
To make space to be with God. To be open to trying new ways to be with God. To think outside the box (ahhhhh! Christians don’t think outside the box, do they!?). Anyway, the friend I borrowed this from read it because she was interested in the countries that Gilbert visited, so don’t worry it’s not overtly religious, plus it’s on the NY Bestseller list. Please read it and let me know what you thought…….
I grabbed this book off of our library’s ‘theme of the month’ display. This isn’t a ‘how to’ craft book, but has several full size photographs of environmentally savvy artist’s creations.
