Savannah and More!

Thank you for your interest in my presentation.

The link to the PPt.  from

The Georgia Conference on Information Literacy,

 Savannah, Ga Oct. 1-2, 2010 is as follows:

1. Rationale

http://dspaceprod.georgiasouthern.edu:8080/jspui/handle/10518/1244

2. PowerPoint

http://dspaceprod.georgiasouthern.edu:8080/jspui/bitstream/10518/1244/1/Andreacchi%2c%20Julia%20-%2010%20Bucks%20Equals%2010%20Great%20Ideas.pdf

The following link:

http://www.learningtimes.net/aasl/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Exploratorium-J.-Andreacchi-10-Bucks-10-Great-Ideas-Oct.-28-2009-Final.pdf 

from my presentation at the AASL can also serve as a 

source of informtion and a starting point

for your own creativity. 

Reinvention is Key!

Something old is new again.

The Challenge Contiues...

Thrifty Store Items to Consider...Engage your inner imagination

1.  Puzzle Blocks

2.  Clay Pot

Image from:

http://www.pixelperfectdigital.com/free_stock_photos/showphoto.php/photo/6544

3.  Envelopes

Book of the Month

Image from: http://books.google.ca/books?id=HukQc_2K7PsC&dq=the+adventurous+scrapbooker&source=gbs_navlinks_s

To be continued...

Resourcefully yours,

Julia Andreacchi

All Rights Reserved

DollarDaze and Thrifty Finds

 ©2010

                                                               

Let The Games Begin!

Good News!

I have the honour of being selected to showcase my
DollarDaze and ThriftyFinds 
ideas at the Georgia Information Literacy Conference.
I will post my PPt. presentation shortly.

See you in Savannah, Georgia on October 2st, 2010. 
http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/infolit.html

Thank you for your patience...I appreciate your committment to my blog and in sharing your ideas and comments with me.  This month the focus is on:

Games--Reinventing an Old Game

with the purpose of educating students.

With the focus on computer technology in the classroom I will make connections to internet links that will also support the activities listed.

The mindfulness of creativity, imagination and resourcefulness

 drives the process of Reinvention.

1. What’s in a name? -- Adapted from The Rachael Ray Show

A. Purpose: Vocabulary Development and Review

List all vocabulary unique/new selected from a novel chapter or specific terminology from a subject of study eg. Science. List can be generated/studied/defined and posted on a word wall as the chapter is read and/or as the unit is studied.

To make the process of learning words/terms/vocabulary interesting…have students generate as many new words that they can from the existing word. Create groups, impose time-limits and announce a winner.

This activity can be played at the end of a chapter discussion or the end of a unit of study. The purpose is to reinforce vocabulary in an interesting format and to encourage thinking and the development of new vocabulary…Scrabble is Reinvented!

From: http://www.mixtgoods.com/view-product.php/431

Eg. Chromosomes = Some, Mess, Moss, Rose, Cross, Home, So...

Use 2 words in a sentence plus the word that generated the new words.


http://www.wordle.net/ -- will help students build a word wall
http://www.wordles.com/getWordsInWords.aspx -- Students can use this link to check their work againt the  list generated by the computer.

2. Tic – Tac – Squares

A. Purpose: Content/Chapter Review

From: http://coolcoolbird.blogspot.com/2009/07/interesting-game.html

Have groups of students develop a series of knowledge questions that will help them review and consolidate ideas garnered in the unit/chapter study. Bloom's Taxonomy can direct question development. Questions should be reviewed/evaluated by the teacher. Give students feedback and then place questions in a box.

Divide class into 2 groups…”X’s” and “O’s”. Play the game accordingly by drawing one question at a time to be answered from the box. One group member will volunteer the group consensus. A wrong answer gives the other group an opportunity to gain access to that square.

3. Bingo Lingo –

This adaptation of Bingo was developed by a college of my Tim Westhead.

A. Purpose: Content/Chapter Review

From: http://images343.bloguez.com/images343/tags,images,p,16.html?googleimage

Have students randomly number a blank bingo card from numbers 1 to 24 with the centre square assigned as "Free". As in Tac – Tac – Squares students will generate a series of review questions. Evaluate and select 24 questions and number each one separately. This activity becomes a group task and a formal review directed by the teacher.

Draw a question. Have a student answer the question and then have students place the answer in the corresponding numbered box. The teacher can add further discussion and details pertaining to the question. Aim is to work towards Bingo! as a topic or chapter is reviewed in an interesting and fun format. A prize, such as a book mark can be awarded.

Bingo Maker and Additional Ideas For Words and Math reviews.
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/bingo/

3. Snakes and Ladders Reinvented –

A. Purpose: Consolidation of knowledge and understanding

From: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-12507400-snakes-and-ladders-board-game.php

An old game takes on new meaning. This game board was developed by a secondary Biology student as a review of the concepts studied -- the Kidney, Form and Function.

Old Games Reinvented ---

• have students use the game board as a starting point for their own imagination to develop a game that will test or review concepts studied
• have students use an old game board but have them modify the game rules to fit the concepts that they are testing or reviewing

The October 2010 Challenge

Thrift Shop Finds!

Please share with me...

Resourcefully yours,
Julia Andreacchi

All Rights Reserved
Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds

©2010

Coming Soon -- Games Reinvented

Snakes and Ladders

Bingo

What's in a name?

X's and O's

Box It!

The Box It! Activities have now been updated....and a

new challenge for April 2010

has been posted below...

Ideas to consider--

There are a variety of boxes (wooden, paper, large, small)

available for purchase at the Dollar Store

that can be used for a variety of activities. Recycle

shoe boxes as well as constructing your own box from

discarded cardboard boxes.

1. Biome in a Box

Select and research a biome.

Create a "Biome in a Box" to illustrate:

the flora and fauna found within the biome as well as the

relationship between the living organisms.

Use found/recycled material and a shoe box.

An excellent source of information for students and

resources for teachers is

http://oneocean.cbc.ca/pledge

A written component to accompany Biome in a Box can include:

Creating a Newspaper Advertisement--Home Wanted

Identify an Organism

Description of Location/Biome

Basic Characteristics of the Home Desired

Other Interesting Information related to Home Ownership

Contact Info. -- Name and Description of Resident seeking Home

2. The faces of the box can act as story boards.

 

3. The Box can act as a time capsule/memory box--

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/memory-boxes-0704

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/memory-box

Decorate the box and enclose10 items that would give insight

 into the character of a novel and his/her conflict.

State why each item was chosen to enclose in the box.

4. Make a Pin Hole Camera with a Juice Box

see:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnnHjz8pF1M&feature=related

The project has applications in a variety of subject areas:

eg. Science--the physics of light

Art--perspective

English--story telling

5. Thrift is Best!

Recyle an old polaroid camera to create a Pin Hole Camera

see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PrYuYp9ORY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnrEA6rZk6Y&NR=1

5.  Bloom is Reinvented

Utilize the Power of Bloom's Taxonomy to ask Smart Questions

How? Cubing

To address Differentiated Instruction

Retrieve a printable template of a cube

Build the box with a recyled cardboard box.

See the links below for some excellent ideas

http://www.eht.k12.nj.us/~jonesj/Differentiated%20Instruction/Cubing.htm

The sides of the cubes can each have a challenge activity developed using Bloom's Taxonomy.

Students can select from a variety of activies that will have them producing/creating products based on their preference, interest, to demonstrate learning. 

6. Cut open a box

See: http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/surprise-photo-explosion-box
This looks like a great way to illustrate a process or outcome--what a student has learned...
Your imagination will guide you.

7.  Design a Box
Kiss My Face is a company that manufactures
natural and organic skin care products.
Their packaging is interesting...It is 50% post
consumer recycled material.
In an effort to "do a good thing for the environment and to eliminate
printed brochures they have printed product information on
 the outside and inside of the box. The flap on the box
 makes reference to "thinking inside of the box" and
inviting you to visit http://www.kissmyface.com/

This promoted me to think about a student assignment....
1. Discuss the importance of reduced packaging to the the environment.
2. Select an organic product and design a box for it.
3. Use the "Kiss My Face" box as an exemplar.

4.  Another Box Design could be a Condom Package...
Appropriate for Senior Health and Phy. Ed. Classes
Base the assignment on the concept
designed by The Centre for Biological Diversity.
http://sciencetrio.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/cover-your-tweedle-save-the-burrying-beetle/

The April, 2010 Challenge

Reinvent a Game
New ways to play old games...
 to consolidate learning.

From: http://www.makeandtakes.com/valentine-tic-tac-toe-game

See you next month!

May I suggest...

Cardboard crafting with many illustrations  and a variety of projects
Take recycling to the next level!
Patterns included...

Resourcefully yours,

Julia Andreacchi

All Rights Reserved
Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds

©2010

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

The Dollar Daze and Thrifty phenomenon continues with more neat teaching ideas based on a featured monthly find. Thank you for your contributions as we continue to embrace:

"Reinvention is the new Mother of Invention"

The intent is to develop activities where the teacher is talking less and students are doing more.

December Feature

Plasticine

Purpose:

 To help students construct meaning and understanding of a concept with models.

"Making physical models in the creation of non-linguistic representaions stimulates and increases

activity in the brain". (Gerlic & Jausovec, 1999)

Modeling Meaning and Understanding to Reinforce Concepts...

“I make therefore I am.”

Suzanne Ramljak from Crafting a New World, Utne Reader,

Jan/Feb, 2010

In the article entitled Crafting a New World (Utne Reader, Jan/Feb. 2010), Sociologist Richard Sennett explains to Suzanne Ramljak the value of craftsmanship and how creating with your hands is an opportunity for reflection and critical thinking. Creating an object is a concrete representation of our thoughts and understanding and according to Sennett “satisfies a psychological desire for closure and tangible results.”

With teacher demands to cover a vast amount of classroom material less time is available for student reflection and self-analysis of completed tasks. According to Sennett, “We go by the notion that once you’ve solved something, the actual experience of doing it is secondary. That whittles down attention…..First and foremost people believe the most important thing about work is making as much money as possible.”

How does this concept translate into the classroom?

1. Offer students an opportunity to make…to construct meaning and
    understanding of a concept with models.

2. “Ban all-multiple-choice questions in tests, which encourage people to
    get to the quickest answer possible rather than to dwell on
    the problem (Sennett, 2010).”

Ramljak, S. (2010, Jan./Feb.). Crafting a new world. Utne Reader, Retrieved from
http://www.utne.com/Spirituality/Crafting-a-New-Word.aspx

One plastic dollar store piggy bank + plasticine =

Model of the Human Brain

One styrofoam head + plasticine = Model of the Human Brain

One Dollar Store Picture Frame + photo of digestive system

+ plasticine = Model of the Digestive System

The photo can be replaced by a number of other illustrations such as other Organs, Maps/Biomes.

Other possible models...

Consider phases of the moon and your imagination...

Next Month's Challenge

From: http://www.gcgideas.com/2009/06/19/the-dreaded-box/

Please share with me...

Books of Interest and Inspiration...

1. Art Journaling Magazine

What a great magazine with wonderful ideas that will serve your imagination...

for creating, reinventing, recyling and writing...

Resourcefully yours,

Julia Andreacchi

All Rights Reserved

Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds

©2010

Reinvention is the New Mother of Invention

“Creating an environment of innovation can encourage people to break routine and pursue revolutionary ideas”. Jeremy Gutsche(2009) from Exploiting Chaos.

Our dialogue continues on repurposing dollarstore and thrifty finds to develop activities that engage students in thinking and doing. Teachers need to be talking less and students need to be actively involved in their learning.

The item for last month:

Card Sleeves

Possible activities…

Time Lines
• students can record information on cards that fit into individual pockets
• Topics…
1. a biographical journey in the life of an artist, historical figure, composer, athletic, scientist etc.
2. the history of an event(fashion past and present), scientific discovery (DNA, mapping of Genome to stem cell research)
3. events in a story to aid plot development and comprehension

Chart—Compare/Contrast/Similarities
• Ist column 2 items(eg. characters in story) for comparison in each sleeve
• 2nd column features that contrast between each group of items(eg. characters in a story)
• 3rd column features that are similar between each group of items(similarities between characters)


A Guide/Template for writing
• 3 columns = 3 subtopics that will support a thesis statement
• Subsequent rows will house the examples, quotes that will support each subtopic

KWI with each column representing:
• What I know
• What I want to know
• What I leaned

Reflection Guide
Sleeves can serve as an organizer where a group/or individual can record what they learned over the course of the project/assignment or individuals can be instructed to record one piece of information or skill that he/she learned at the end of an activity, unit. The sleeve remains at the front of the student’s binder. It is a Reflection Guide.


Math
Combine numbers and mathematical operations (x,+,-) in sleeves.Task would be to complete the missing square with a number that equals the identical number whenever the numbers are tallied up and down the rows or across the columns.

Idea Tree for Story Writing or Story Summary
1st column lists story concepts: characters, setting, themes, conflict/problem, and resolution.
Student completes subsequent rows with information gathered from story/novel.


Summarizing an Article
Students are to record in one sentence the 9 most important ideas/concepts identified in the reading.
Regroup with a partner and between both students identify the 9 best ideas.
Organize the ideas in a logical fashion, followed by a written paragraph based on the 9 points to guide the summary.

Next Month’s Challenge….

Plasticine

Please share with me.

Books of interest and inspiration…

Ugg Boots and Crocs, uniquely different yet desirable. I actively look for unique ideas and inspiration from a variety of sources to guide my imagination with the intent of reinvention.

Every month I will also share some of my favorite books.

1. Exploiting Chaos, 150 ways to spark innovation during times of change.Jeremy Gutsche(2009)
The dedication reads as follows…“To My Dad: For teaching me how to create something from nothing, which is, in fact, the premise of this book”.

2. Softies Only a Mother Could Love – Lovable Friends for You to Sew, Knit, or Crochet.
Edited by Jess Redman and Meg Leder (2009) – these activities will serve as a future topic for our imagination. The back cover reads “Fuel your imagination and awaken your creative spirit”.

3. To-Do-List: From buying milk to finding a soul mate, what our lists reveal about us.
Sasha Cagen(2007)

4. Craft: transforming traditional crafts. Published 4 times a year by O’Reilly Media. Inc.
See http://www.craftzine.com/
Examples of crafting include: Foraging Mother Nature to re-create, designing your own game board.

Resourcefully yours,
Julia Andreacchi
All Rights Reserved


Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds

©2009

AASL Conference in Charlotte (Nov. 2009) - News you can use!

Thank you for your wonderful reception and interest in my Exploratorium
 10 Bucks = 10 Great Ideas.

  
The ideas developed, using dollar store and thrifty finds
 are intended to
 "Help the Brain Fall in Love with Learning".

(Marco Torres AASL-Nov. 7'09, Charlotte)

Where do you go from here?

To do List:

• Identify one idea that sparked your interest and make it happen
   next week. Start small. Baby steps will move you forward.

• Embrace a new way of seeing and doing on your next dollarstore and
  thrifty excursion. Make your visit a cerebral adventure.
  Reinvention is your new friend.

• Focus on developing activities that have students communicate their
   understanding in a fun and interesting way.

• Accept the monthly challenge.

The Monthly Challenge:

Each month a new dollarstore or thrifty item will be posted.

I invite you to share your ideas.

November Item:

1. The Trading Card Collector Card Sleeve

   Image from: ehow.com
2. Develop and share an activity that can engage students in literacy and
    learning. You have the power of  imagination.
3. Please post your idea in the comment box or send an email.
   

Once again thank you for your interest.

Reinvention is the new mother of invention.

Resourcefully yours,
The Dollar Store Lady
Julia Andreacchi