As my Class Objects series continues, I have to admit one of the main reasons I decided to start it was because I saw it as a personal challenge, as a project that would keep my creative juices flowing! So when it came to choosing the next object, I have to say I was a bit worried as to what I should choose. The answer was literally in front me – on my desk to be more exact! Erasers! What can you teach with them?
1. Writing and Speaking skills. Writing on erasers can help you create alternative writing or speaking prompts. Erasers could even be used as jenga tiles!
2. Story setting craft. I just love how erasers can be used instead of brushes or stamps. Next time you ask your students to write a story, ask them to “draw” its setting using rubbers! There are more great ideas for craft projects on Pinterest, but what really blew me away was the art projects you can find here.
3. Spelling/Pointillism idea. A few years ago, I posted an alternative way to the traditional method of asking our students to copy new vocabulary in their notebooks. Inspired by word pointilism, you can create beautiful art/spelling projects using pencil erasers as stamps. Since it isn’t very practical to do every time you present vocabulary you can have a “D.O.T” spelling project once a month. For the project, choose words whose spelling has been particularly challenging for your students and create a project influenced by pointillist painters! Look here as well!
3. Spelling/Pointillism idea. A few years ago, I posted an alternative way to the traditional method of asking our students to copy new vocabulary in their notebooks. Inspired by word pointilism, you can create beautiful art/spelling projects using pencil erasers as stamps. Since it isn’t very practical to do every time you present vocabulary you can have a “D.O.T” spelling project once a month. For the project, choose words whose spelling has been particularly challenging for your students and create a project influenced by pointillist painters! Look here as well!
4.Vocabulary – Opposites: Erasers come in all different shapes and sizes. There are food erasers, animal ones even fast food erasers. They are the perfect opportunity to introduce animal/fruit vocabulary or any group of words your erasers are most suitable for. Also, the classic red and blue ones are ideal when you want to introduce opposites (the red side represents positive words, the blue one negative ones)
5. Two sides to everything – Getting to know you activity. As an alternative to the “Getting to know you” bingo or questions game we often play on the first day of the year, we can have our class play the Two sides (to the eraser) game. Ask your students to write a question on one side of their erasers, then pass on their eraser to any classmate they want to. The person getting the eraser would have to write their answer on the other side of the eraser.
6. Role play. Instead of asking students to write their own dialogues between two imaginary people -often called A and B!-, ask them to glue or tape 2 of their erasers on a piece of paper and have them talk to each other.
5. Two sides to everything – Getting to know you activity. As an alternative to the “Getting to know you” bingo or questions game we often play on the first day of the year, we can have our class play the Two sides (to the eraser) game. Ask your students to write a question on one side of their erasers, then pass on their eraser to any classmate they want to. The person getting the eraser would have to write their answer on the other side of the eraser.
6. Role play. Instead of asking students to write their own dialogues between two imaginary people -often called A and B!-, ask them to glue or tape 2 of their erasers on a piece of paper and have them talk to each other.
7. Erasing memories/mistakes – Speaking prompt. It’s really important that students – and teachers- realize that mistakes and failures are part of our life and shape who we are. Start talking about when we use erasers and ask them to imagine they could only erase one memory from their school life. Which memory would that be and why? Why is it importan to keep all other “bad” memories?
