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I need ideas for special subjects
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sim  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:28 pm
Every Friday I teach a "Friday subject" -- something unrelated to the regular curriculum that is interesting to the students. I teach sixth grade girls, and in the past I've done the following as Friday subjects:
how to take care of your hair
manner, etiquette, and table setting
the orchestra
personal finance
I'm running out of ideas to use b/c I've been teaching for a while and some of the ideas that appealed ten years ago no longer hold their interest. Can any of you help out? I'd really appreciate any help.
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Mimisinger  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:31 pm
Sewing a button, or do a long sewing course, fri1 - sew button, fri2 - run-on, fri3- buy fabric fri4 - learn how to make pillows
fri5 stuff pillow
Speech writing
reciting poetry

can you take them out?

music appreciation
art - a different type each week - for example, look at an artist, an imitate that style
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Blue jay  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:33 pm
Let your students choose! Hoave them write ideas and you select it randomly from a hat!

That would be so much fun!
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  sim  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:35 pm
I'd love to do the sewing -- I think they'd like that -- but I'd need to find s/o to help me as I am inept with a sewing machine. I love the art idea. Maybe I can try to start with impressionists. I can probably take them out; it's a small class. Any out-of-premises ideas?
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  sim  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:37 pm
QueenBee3 wrote:
Let your students choose! Hoave them write ideas and you select it randomly from a hat!

That would be so much fun!

I had them write ideas, and they were not very helpful. one was "the history of headbands" and another was "how to be stylish and fashionable." A couple of them want to know about the stock market, but the rest would really be bored. A few want to learn dancing, which I would do if I could find a parent volunteer, as that is not my forte. I really need a bunch of ideas in my file so I could feel that most Fridays are covered.
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mummiedearest  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:51 pm
first subject would be public speaking. each kid can prepare a speech on any subject she wants. length five minutes. she has to notify you of the subject so you can prepare a lesson to go with her speech. it's fun if you don't grade them on the speeches.

how to crochet. it's not hard to learn yourself. even if you're inept with a sewing machine Smile

challah baking. include a lesson on the halachos of hafrashas challah. not enough girls learn about this in school, sadly.

potato stamping! totally fun.

singing in rounds. learn some good ones, not row your boat.

flower arrangements

drawing

have them collect various bits of junk and make sculptures.

basic cooking/kitchen safety

cpr
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  Mimisinger  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:54 pm
sim wrote:
I'd love to do the sewing -- I think they'd like that -- but I'd need to find s/o to help me as I am inept with a sewing machine. I love the art idea. Maybe I can try to start with impressionists. I can probably take them out; it's a small class. Any out-of-premises ideas?


Do it sewing by hand. I had the same Friday free day thing...
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  sim  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:56 pm
THanks, mummiedearest -- these are good ideas. I'm going to go with the singing in rounds and junk sculpture for starters b/c they sound fun and I can at least sing. any ideas with rounds singing? all I know is Palchebel's Canon, and it has no words. I'd try Frere Jacques, but I'd prefer something hebrew/jewish if you know one.
I like the cpr idea. I think that could be combined with a babysitting safety type lesson, with the heimlich maneuver and first aid. THanks a lot!
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  Mimisinger




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 5:58 pm
ooohhh making candles!

when the weather starts to change - play in the snow and then write haiku

do you have a video taker? Have them create a news show. Each student is a different newscaster. They have to create their own piece, write it and research it, make a set, get costumes. Then tape it and then watch it with popcorn, inviting another group (obviously a long term project)

Create a school newspaper.

Photography - tour the town/area, take pictures, create online albums - it's free
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  mummiedearest  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:03 pm
sim wrote:
THanks, mummiedearest -- these are good ideas. I'm going to go with the singing in rounds and junk sculpture for starters b/c they sound fun and I can at least sing. any ideas with rounds singing? all I know is Palchebel's Canon, and it has no words. I'd try Frere Jacques, but I'd prefer something hebrew/jewish if you know one.
I like the cpr idea. I think that could be combined with a babysitting safety type lesson, with the heimlich maneuver and first aid. THanks a lot!


yismechu bmalchuscha is a nice round, but obviously I can't sing it for you here Smile

"by the waters of babylon" by don mcclean (sp?) is nice and based on tehillim.

you can sing canon in la's instead of words.
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  Blue jay  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:23 pm
sim wrote:
QueenBee3 wrote:
Let your students choose! Hoave them write ideas and you select it randomly from a hat!

That would be so much fun!

I had them write ideas, and they were not very helpful. one was "the history of headbands" and another was "how to be stylish and fashionable." A couple of them want to know about the stock market, but the rest would really be bored. A few want to learn dancing, which I would do if I could find a parent volunteer, as that is not my forte. I really need a bunch of ideas in my file so I could feel that most Fridays are covered.


THe history of hair styles could be fun, Starting with Ancient styles (Egyptian etc to contemporary) Make a hair timeline

The history of fashion would be also so cool. They could learn about historical periods through fashion. LIke how Rennassaince women would faint from their corsets etc. And under the wigs of men and women during the classical period their scalps were filled with lice

Dancing: Be brave and take on a instructional dance dvd with your students, They would love to see their teacher break from teacher mode

How about women in finance? OR how to be a fininacilly independent woman Understanding how to save and use your money wisely and not spend so much on headbands. Have them create their own living expense budegets if they were to live on their own and see if they compute correctly.
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pobody's nerfect




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:29 pm
little girls LOVE babies. could you get some live babies 'donated' for the time and teach them proper holding, burping, maybe even diaper changing?
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  mummiedearest  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:30 pm
QueenBee3 wrote:
sim wrote:
QueenBee3 wrote:
Let your students choose! Hoave them write ideas and you select it randomly from a hat!

That would be so much fun!

I had them write ideas, and they were not very helpful. one was "the history of headbands" and another was "how to be stylish and fashionable." A couple of them want to know about the stock market, but the rest would really be bored. A few want to learn dancing, which I would do if I could find a parent volunteer, as that is not my forte. I really need a bunch of ideas in my file so I could feel that most Fridays are covered.


THe history of hair styles could be fun, Starting with Ancient styles (Egyptian etc to contemporary) Make a hair timeline

The history of fashion would be also so cool. They could learn about historical periods through fashion. LIke how Rennassaince women would faint from their corsets etc. And under the wigs of men and women during the classical period their scalps were filled with lice

Dancing: Be brave and take on a instructional dance dvd with your students, They would love to see their teacher break from teacher mode

How about women in finance? OR how to be a fininacilly independent woman Understanding how to save and use your money wisely and not spend so much on headbands. Have them create their own living expense budegets if they were to live on their own and see if they compute correctly.


I agree about the history of hair styles. you could explain how women during the american revolution couldn't buy pieces to make those tall hairstyles because they weren't trading with england. many of them used old boots to get that height.

the history of fashion could be combined with an art lesson. much of today's fashion is based on renaissance paintings. you could show them examples of fashions from different periods.

I once gave a speech about the history of playing cards. I found the topic fascinating.

another suggestion: teach them hand book binding. it will take a few weeks to finish the lesson. you can rebind worn out siddurim from the school. my dad and I rebound a number of our seforim when I was a kid. it's a useful skill to have. we made new covers for them and everything.
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  Blue jay  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:31 pm
pobody's nerfect wrote:
little girls LOVE babies. could you get some live babies 'donated' for the time and teach them proper holding, burping, maybe even diaper changing?



THis is a great idea!! THey also make computerized baby dolls that simulate babies
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  mummiedearest  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:31 pm
pobody's nerfect wrote:
little girls LOVE babies. could you get some live babies 'donated' for the time and teach them proper holding, burping, maybe even diaper changing?


I would never allow my child to be used as a model for such a lesson. I think that would be a bit irresponsible of the parent and the teacher. practice on mannequins, please.
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amother


 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:36 pm
Those girls are so lucky to have you as a teacher. How I wish my teachers would have created such interesting classes. Kol hakavod and hatzlacha raba.
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  mummiedearest  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:41 pm
a teacher of mine once did napkin folding with us. that was fun.
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Rachie1  




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:47 pm
What about sort of a "career" day? For a few weeks maybe you could have different women come in to talk about what they do and the students can ask questions, and maybe you and the guest can think of something interactive to do that is related to the career.

Or what about a home health basics class? Learning how to wrap a bad wound, help someone choking, what to do if someone gets burned, what items to stock in a medicine cabinet always, etc. All are things they could encounter when they have children!
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  Rachie1




 
 
    
 

Post Mon, Nov 02 2009, 6:49 pm
Oh, one more idea - what about making something for the elderly? Like Thanksgiving cards or something sweet, as many of them are alone and lonely during this time of year.
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  sim  




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Nov 03 2009, 6:54 am
They've already done napkin folding. I like the hand binding idea, but this is a school run on a shoestring and I would be expected to spend my own money on anything. I don't think the baby thing would go over well -- 90% of the class are oldests, and they've had their fair share of burping, changing etc. The career day idea would be great, but not too many people in this community have what you would really call a career. I'll look into it, though.
we already did finance and how to budget. The hair styles and fashion through history sound interesting, though -- can you suggest a website or book that has more info on either of these?
I'll try to screw up my courage and take out an instructional dvd, maybe on ballet which they are obsessed with. If anything, they'll find my efforts to do it amusing!
Thanks so much everyone, for all your ideas and encouragement. If you think of anything else, please please please post it or pm me.
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