Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Creative Uses for Everyday Things

Last night, Kendall stumbled upon a website that teaches how to create origami 
using dollar bills.  She was inspired:



So, the next time you want to give the gift of cash, consider these creative ideas for presenting it!

And speaking of creative ideas, Mr.4444 gave me a tire for use in an event at school last week. 
We didn't end up needing it, 
so it was sitting in my room when my students spotted it and immediately put it to good use. 
They've been fighting over it ever since. 

Here's a shot of one of my students and me, today. 
This student was working very hard to read some tough words, 


so hard that he absentmindedly stuck his feet inside the tire, 
(and you can guess what happened next).  Even after that, a moment later, he did this...


which, of course, I put an end to immediately!
(But thanked him for modeling so enthusiastically.)

I'm not sure the novelty "chair" is worth a kid losing his teeth!


How about you? Do you have any unusual uses for everyday objects in your life?


*Note: My classroom is across from the Main Office. The photo was taken by a helpful secretary. This student's mom gave her consent to my using the photos.

12 comments:

  1. I can't think of any right now, but maybe you can get one of those exercise balls for your class as a sitting alternative. LOL I think kids will sit on and climb on anything. That dollar oragami is really cool. I'll have to try it.

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  2. Oh, now there's another perk you have I see--I wish I cold go to work dressed like that!

    I think having the exercise ball would be a great idea for chairs--I use one at my home computer all the time!

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  3. Kendall did a great job on the origami. Had she done origami prior to working with the dollar bills?

    Using the tire as a chair must be pretty comfy. My daughter sits on a large rubber ball when she is at her computer. I am so old fashioned I have a terrific ergonomic office chair at my computer.

    I am the kind of person who will use any object for whatever I want to, I don't look at something and get locked into "this is a pitcher" or "this is a dresser drawer". Every object I see I think "how can I use that". That is why I like thrift stores. Lots of imagination heaven at thrift shops and garage sales.

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  4. TechnoBabe, no--This was Kendall's first origami adventure.

    Traci, if you look carefully in the photo, you'll see a big, pink exercise ball. We use them all the time--They are great for fidgety kids. However, they also make "great" basketballs, so they drive me crazy sometimes, but it's worth it.

    Karen, it's "Spirit Week!" Yesterday was "Favorite Sports" team apparel. Today is Red, White, and Blue. Tomorrow is my favorite--PAJAMA DAY!!!

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  5. Love Kendall money ring....so creative. Love the tire chair and all I could think about was the what if he falls and knocks out his teeth....ouch!

    I have a softball to check the aches and pains out of my shoulders and back.....but other than that..no

    Have a wonderful day!

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  6. I'm thinkin' what a wonderful core exercise sittin' on your tire chair would be!!! I have loads of tricks and tips for the fidgety. I bet your hat is full of 'em too!!!

    The last thing I used was for Miss little Sara Grace's braids durin' Camp Grandma. The braids end so teeny tiny they require a itty bitty rubber band that their mom, The Latin Lovin' Hillbilly did not send. Nothin' would work 'till I put small binder clips on 'em and it worked like a charm.

    Of course this rockin' Grandma put ribbons over 'em so the girl could look stylish!!! Heeehehehe!

    'Just the way I fly!

    Have a blessed day sweetie!!! :o)

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  7. And I thought money was cool enough all on it's own!

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  8. I love the origami creations! Nice job Kendall! How cool it is to see the kids making creative use of the tire. It's awesome to see what a difference those "little things" make.

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  9. Oh, yeah. That's about what I imagined happened with your tire.

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  10. It is funny what creative thoughts people can come up with using ordinary objects

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  11. That would have taken an extra hour and extra pound of effort to finish. I really love the ring there and the idea must have originated from the tire. :)

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  12. My first engagement ring is a dollar bill ring. It's a long story that I might have to blog about someday. I still have that ring and keep it tucked away in a safe place. :)

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