And the Crazy Stand Alone...

So...tomorrow is the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holidays. We get out at 2:00pm. Surely you remember those glorious days before holidays. The days spent with color sheets and filmstrips...and then later on movies.

Gone are those lazy days. Enter the day of the talent show. Tomorrow our school is being turned upside down for not one...but two talent shows. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. The need for this is because we have so many kids. Now one might think the talent show would be free for our low income kiddos who receive free lunch. OH NO....we charge a whopping $3 to go to this talent show. $3!?!?!?!

HOLY CRAP. That is expensive to go watch a bunch of kids and some teachers try to dance and lip sync and do a bunch of other stupid stuff...I mean...it isn't really a "TALENT" show.

But that aside...we do get out of school early. We are going to be in 4th period ALL day. The way it works....take my class for instance. In the morning I will have class (ummm...babysitting service) then we will go to lunch...then in the afternoon we will go to the show....well those that can afford the $3 bucks will. :) Those that see the show in the morning will do the opposite.

So...we have been given permission to show a movie tomorrow when we aren't at the talent show. Well...actually we were first encouraged to teach. LOL...that is funny...what teacher has EVER taught the day before the holiday? I know they didn't when I was in school. We colored...or did puzzles...or watched those old film strips (think way way back to elementary school) or watched some "educational movie".

My plan was to show a movie on Caves. I bought it at one of the many caves I have visited in my travels. Since we are studying weathering and erosion I feel that it fits right in. So see...educational. :) Good teacher. However, when we were given permission to show a movie...what the administration was trying to say was that we didn't have to show and educational movie. Ok...whatever...why waste a day. :) See...still good teacher. :) Although sometimes they do think I am mean...but hey...it is a movie you know...and I wasn't even going to make them take notes or anything.

But then today....We were working on our weathering and erosion field guides (huge writing project that will be another big long blog later) when several kids in my fourth period start begging me not to watch a movie tomorrow. WHAT?!!?!? NO MOVIE?!?!?! :) I panic...they actually want me to teach on the day before a holiday? Oh NO!!!!! So I try for a non-educational movie...(by now even more kids are begging...and I do mean quite literally begging)...no...still no...they don't want a movie...they want a fun lab.

So what do I do???? I give in. I rack my brain for a "fun" lab. What the heck can I do that is fast, fun, and easy? Film Canister Rockets! To think my kids actually want to do science rather than watch a movie...although it is a movie about caves...but I did offer any G rated movie as a last resort...it was a proud moment for this teacher...

So...after school I race all over town begging stores for empty film canisters (not as easy as you think). I now have well over 75. So now we have a lab. :)

I must be crazy....or dedicated...or both...I don't know. Maybe this is just really what it means to be a teacher. While EVERY other teacher in the building will take the day off with a movie I will be busting my butt with lab. Think...7th graders (12-year-olds for those that don't remember), baking soda, vinegar, film canister, and goggles...but they asked for it...they want to do something fun...they don't really think it is educational...but that is okay...most of the time they don't know it is educational. That is when they learn the best. So...Alone I will stand...with my plastic apron and my goggles...and let my 7th graders shoot their rockets!!!!