1. From Trash to
Instructional Treasures
Presented by Betsey Kennedy
4th grade teacher, Big Shanty Intermediate School
elizabeth.kennedy@cobbk12.org

2. All Information, Links, Pictures, and
PowerPoint Presentation Available on
http://trashtotreasure.wikispaces.com/

3. Why Bother?
• “When a child is in a familiar and safe situation, as in
most of our classrooms, his or her brain will seek
novelty.” (Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.)
• Fine Motor Skill Development
• Following Directions

4. Unique Books:
Brown Bag Books
• Be sure to check out:
– http://www.bookmakingwithkids.com/
– http://www.makingbooks.com/
– http://www.bagladiesonline.com/

5. Unique Books:
Page Protector Books
• Possible Uses:
– Map of Georgia Ecosystems
– Map of US during Civil War
– Math Overlays (Multiplying Fractions)
– Character Analysis

6. Unique Books:
Toilet Paper Roll Books
• Possible Uses:
– Storytelling
• (check out http://storybird.com/)
– Timelines
– Reports

7. • Possible Uses:
– Vocabulary Collector
– Research Note Organizer
– Story Told Through Letters
Unique Books:
Envelope Books

8. Teaching Tubes
• Collect artifacts to represent a topic
• Students examine artifacts to determine
which topic is being represented
• Possibilities: Bill of Rights, Native
American Tribes, Important People

10. Reinvented Games
• Math Fact / Vocabulary / CRCT Review Jenga
• Guess Who?
• Let’s Go Fishing

11. Find It Bottles
• Possibilities:
– Vocabulary
– Thesaurus in a Jar
– Food Chain
– Math Problems