100 Days of School Project

What You Need:

• Large piece of cardboard (try reusing the side of a packing box)
• Clear-drying, non-toxic glue
• Scissors
• Ruler
• School-related paper ephemera such as artwork, photos, old homework, worksheets, flyers, or even an old t-shirt with his school's logo

What You Do:

1. Before your child begins his collage, go on a scavenger hunt to track down school-related paper items that he'd like to use in his collage. You don't need to have exactly 100 pieces; you can make up the balance by cutting items into several pieces. Remember: anything school-related goes!
2. Have your child assemble the 100 pieces he has chosen for his collage in front of him.
3. Cut up the collage pieces into artful geometric and organic shapes such as circles, triangles, hexagons, clouds, hearts, or clovers.
4. After he has finished cutting, ask your child to count the pieces again to make sure he has 100 (a great math exercise!).
5. Help your child glue his collage items onto the large piece of cardboard, overlapping them as he goes. Encourage him to be as creative with the placement as he likes!
6. Set the collage aside to dry completely.
7. Once the collage has dried, look over it with your child and discuss the last 100 days of school. Ask him to describe what specific items in the collage mean to him. Did he include the hardest spelling test of the year, or a quiz he aced? Reflecting on his past achievements and the hurdles he has overcome will help your child develop his sense of self as he experiences both personal and academic growth.