Tagged with 'DIY'

Teacher Appreciation Day is a time to celebrate educators. It's an opportunity for families to show love and support for the outstanding teachers in their children’s lives.What makes a teacher's role in society one to celebrate?Teachers play such an important role impacting the minds of young children! As the National PTA explains, "Teachers provide so much to our students—inspiration, motivation and, ultimately, their futures." Educators are responsible for more then just the traditional role of instructing, but also assessing, guiding, nurturing, and role modeling. Passionate teachers are a large part of a child's support system, filling in for parents while children are at school.Parents show teachers they care.With the responsibilities and pressure we place on ourselves as teachers, it feels really good to know our efforts do not go unnoticed. The meaningful gifts I have received over the years are ones that I still remember fondly, use often or hold in a special place.Do you have a teacher that you’d like to show gratitude towards? Here are some unique and memorable gift ideas that teachers will love!

1. Handwritten Card

The most significant gift a teacher can receive cannot be bought. It is knowing we have made a difference in your child's life. Write a thoughtful note sharing a special memory from the year or how a teacher helped your child. I still adore a card from a parent I received years ago sharing the impact I had on her kiddo. Meaningful cards are truly a treasure!

2. Personalized/ Engraved Gifts

Engraved items with a personal message make a very unique gift! An engraved flower pot, coffee mug or tote bag is something teachers will use and cherish. Many companies now offer the option to personalize items so you can easily get them!

3. Gift Card to the Spa

Give a gift card to a traditional spa or foot spa for a well deserved break. No matter how they're feeling, teachers find the strength to grade papers, write lesson plans, buy supplies and deliver to the class each day. A spa gift card is a great way for teachers to take time for themselves and relax.

4. Gift that Reflects their Interest or Hobbies

After almost a full year spent with your child's teacher, you may be familiar with their interests and hobbies. Show them how much you care by getting an experience (from Groupon) or an item to compliment their hobby. Group classes are easy to find and range from yoga, to cooking, to art! 

5. Gifts for Every Day of the Week

Another way to honor your teacher is to give a gift each day of Teacher Appreciation week. Here are some ideas...Treat them to lunch$5 Coffee gift cardFavorite candy or snackFresh FlowersContainer filled with useful teacher items (Like this Create-a-Space from Learning Resources!)Take a moment to tell a dedicated teacher that they matter. Express how they've helped your child. Share a special moment from the year that resonates with you. Say, "thank you," with a gift to show how much you value all that they do.Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Each year Astronomy Day is celebrated worldwide. The stars have fascinated humanity for literally centuries, and even to this day captures the imagination of kids of all ages. Celebrate this event with them this year and don't worry if you don't own any expensive telescopes. These DIY activities use real life discoveries to inspire your little astronomers!

Track the Phases of the Moon

Bone sticks from across Europe and Africa dating back as long ago as 35,000 BCE that tracked the moon’s phases. Use a simple number line with your kids to track the phases of the moon over the course of a month, from full moon and back again. Do it for several months and see what patterns they begin to observe.

Depict a Celestial Phenomenon

A celestial phenomenon is a astrological event that involves one or more objects. The earliest example depicted was discovered in Germany in 1999. The Nebra Sky Disc dates back to 2000 BC and it depicted a star cluster, phases of the moon and the rising sun.

Use a black paper plate, or even just black paper, and encourage your children to depict their own star formations. If they can’t stay up to observe them at night, project some indoors with this Shining Stars Projector.

Astronomy to Keep Time

The Chinese astronomers kept detailed observations beginning about 600 BC, for the primary purpose of timekeeping. Their records allowed them to predict eclipses, and include the first record of events such as supernovas and comets.

On the other side of the world, the Mayans developed their own astronomical tables for predicting the phases of the moon, eclipses, and the appearance of the other planets. They used these and the cycles of the Sun, the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and constellations to establish the Mayan calendar.

All of the above astronomy was without a telescope, and you can still observe these astronomical events with your kids today. Check out this astronomy calendar and pick a full moon, eclipse, planetary event, or meteor shower to observe as a family.

Try this simple astronomy experiment to help kids as young as preschoolers understand what makes night.

Just because ancient astronomers did all of this without a telescope doesn't mean your little ones have to! All of the above activities can be done with the naked eye but if you feel like shooting for the stars check out Learning Resources Big View Telescope. How will you celebrate Astronomy Day?