Home Corner BLING!
I like creating things for work. I really like being
innovative and creative. Something that I have done for years and years – is make
stuffed food boxes. I stuff them with shredded paper and then tape them
securely shut. You can then use adhesive contact to wrap them in. This way they
last even longer and are less likely to be opened by curious fingers and minds.
I often stuff them =with= the children because this way – they know what’s
inside and are less likely to investigate.
I have also made food bottles for years ... I have found at
Kmart – a set of 3 small twist top jars which are BPA free plastic for $2 ...
so a bargain I think! I’ve filled them with some food items (labelled on the
bottom with the date) and then glued them closed with my small hot glue gun
(put the glue around the inside of the lid and a little up the thread – then carefully
twist on – wait til they dry and presto! Real food items! I am still toying with creating name labels with the bottles. I might, but then again, I might not!
Also I have been making food cans ... this is a =new= idea
of mine! I had made them years ago using papier-mâché cans – but it was
toooooooo much work ... I’m lazy and
need ease and convenience these days ... buy a smooth edge can-opener ($5 from
Coles) which cuts the lid off a can but leaves a, yes you guessed it, smooth
edge! Run your finger along it carefully to make sure it is smooth! Then I just
put on a food label – then contact the label and then fold the overlap into the inside of the
can just for extra protection. I leave the cans open - why not? They can then use them to feed people (I had a little not quite 2 year old feed me some cat food the other day, YUM!). Or they can fill them with spare parts (like bottle lids etc).
Some of these items are either “free” or easily affordable.
They are made using items that might otherwise make it into the rubbish/recycle
cycle with only one use under their belt ... this way, you can re-use and
re-purpose items, then when they have lived out their second life with you, you
can then recycle them! (minus the plastic of course).
The food bottles will quite possibly last for YEARS ... I
have had some last for 10 years before I left them at a job ... It was time to
start new. And I’m really impressed with the Kmart jars. Perfect size for
little hands. And they really aid in imagination, are real items that they
might be able to relate to – and it helps them connect food with food in different
states of being (i.e. dried rice, dried beans, etc).
Also, something that we need to all consider - especially in light of the NQS - and their emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness and the environment - this is the perfect thing for your service to do! If you do it with the children - you are also empowering them, discussing it with them, and helping them to be capable and competent contributors to their own learning space and materials.
Also, something that we need to all consider - especially in light of the NQS - and their emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness and the environment - this is the perfect thing for your service to do! If you do it with the children - you are also empowering them, discussing it with them, and helping them to be capable and competent contributors to their own learning space and materials.
So that is my newest sharing with you ... Go forth and
create and innovate! AND feel free to share your ideas!
T.ink.
© Teacher’s
Ink. 2012
All rights reserved.
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