Thinking back over my teaching career. Could write a lot about that. Here's some of the funniest stuff that pops into mind right now.....
Once was demonstrating the potter's wheel to a class of 5th graders. The pot got too wet and suddenly launched itself off the wheel, hit me in the chest, and proceeded to slowly slither down my skirt and plop into the floor. There was dead silence. Then one little boy piped up, "Could you do that again?!"
Another time I was demonstrating stitchery on a piece of burlap and ended up sewing it to the front of my blouse.. I always managed to keep the kids interested!
Then there was the time a little boy threw up on my feet. It filled my shoes. I have never forgotten him! I felt sorry for him (and me) but I couldn't stop laughing.
The time I forgot to tighten the lid on the orange paint before shaking it was pretty good, too. The lid flew off and I was drenched from head to toe in orange. A class came in and sat down in their seats and nobody said a word. I was laughing hysterically and said, "does anyone notice anything??" Finally a child said, "Are you supposed to be orange?"
Had written a simulation years ago for an economics unit. The 5th graders formed companies and "bought" recycled materials from me that they then had to turn into some type of product and sell to 4th graders at recess time.( we used play money) They had to market as well as produce their items. So they set up displays they had created, on the playground. The company that sold the most won. Anyway it was great fun. Overheard some 4th graders talking about going to the "mall" at recess time
Used to reward kids for recycling newspaper, cardboard tubes, etc. Once a little boy brought in a bag with newspapers on top.. I took it and heaved it upside down onto the counter and it was filled with eggshells, talcum powder, fruit rinds, etc., etc. He had picked up the garbage on his way out the door that morning!
Early in my career I learned that young children are quite literal and do not respond well to sarcasm. I had a class of very squirrelly kindergarteners who were doing object printing with paint at stations around the room. They kept spilling paint, dropping wet objects in the floor and dropping their papers paint side down in the floor. I got frustrated, and said "Why don't you all stop and just walk through the paint!?" Damned if they didn't do exactly that! I was so surprised-learned a BIG lesson that day. Oh.. and NEVER ask a child what something is..(it can cause them to cry). instead say.."Tell me about your artwork!"
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