Last day of school...for me...

I've still got tons to do today to get cleaned up and checked out...I still have to enroll for classes this summer and some other important deadlines in my life, right now...

But I did want to post something until I get a moment to reflect on my first year of teaching...

So I'm offering out my end of the year Scavenger Hunt which I gave to the kids for the summer that reinforces all kinds of great school stuff while offering the kids some fun for the summer, as well...

It's kind of geeky, I warn you:):)...but if you have kids or know people who might be interested in doing some fun/educational activities this summer, this is an opportunity:):)...

Have a great week, everyone:):)...

Love,
Ben

Scavenger Hunt

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to complete all 3 parts of this very exciting and dangerous hunt.

First, is to find as many of the materials listed below from various institutions in your community that have something to teach either about valuing education or about having fun over the summer.

Second, is to read one great book. And watch a great movie of that book, as well, if you’d like. At least one. Librarians, teachers, and other such adults are usually really good about helping you find the really good ones. Sponge Bob is a fun time. But I also want you to find one great book that has something important to teach about the world. Attached is a list of such great books.

Third, to complete the interview with the adult in your life that you respect the most about what it means to achieve excellence in life and in school. If you completed it before the end of the school year, spend some time with that person getting to know them and how they do those things that they do so well and what kind of person they are, as a consequence. And if you haven’t completed the interview, complete it. And spend time with that person getting know what is it that makes them great and what qualities you may want to emulate.

Scavenger Hunt
Find 10 of the 20 items below. And spend some time in the places where you find them either for purposes of fun or to learn something about the opportunities they offer for our learning and for our futures. All students who collect and present 10 items for inspection will receive a candy bar of their choice.

A library card from the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, any of its branches, the UMKC university library, or any local or out-of-town public, university, or other lending library.

A brochure from Science City.

A ticket stub from the Kansas City Zoo.

A bookmark, book, or receipt from a local or national chain book store.

A ticket stub or brochure from the Negro League Baseball Museum or the Jazz Museum.

A ticket stub or souvenir from the Natural History Museum or the Spencer Art Museum at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.

A ticket stub or souvenir from the Kansas History Museum in Topeka, Kansas.

A signature from a professor after visiting a class (with your parents, of course) at University of Missouri, Kansas City, Rockhurst University, or any of the universities in the Kansas City metro area; the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas; Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas; Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas; Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas; Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas; Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas; University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri or any of the University of Missouri schools; University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis University, Washington University, Webster University, or any of the area universities in St. Louis; Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas; Bethel University in Newton, Kansas; Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, Kansas; Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas; Kansas City Community College in Kansas City, Kansas, or any of the various community colleges in Kansas, Missouri, or wherever you happen to be this summer.

A brochure from the Harry Truman museum in Independence, Missouri; Abilene, Kansas’ Eisenhower Museum; Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where Winston Churchill gave his famous Iron Curtain speech; or any other such Presidential or head-of-state museums, landmarks, or places of significance.

Some evidence of having visited your parents’ place of work and what you learned there.

Any evidence of attendance at any museum, library, school, university, science center, or other exciting learning adventure that you may take this summer.

…and for fun…

An in tact set of swimming rules from a local or not-so-local swimming pool.

A receipt or report on a movie rented from a local video store.

A signature from a local recreation center.

An game or advertisement from a local video games or other games store.

A CD, tape, album, receipt, or free literature from a local music store.

A code of honor or behavior from a martial arts school.

A brochure or other evidence of visiting a local motorcycle or car shop.

A hair styling picture, comb, or other evidence of visiting a local hair salon or barber shop.

A receipt or advertisement from a local pizza shop.
Great Books (and Movies) List

The Great Gilly Hopkins

To Kill A Mockingbird

Charlotte’s Web

Lord of the Rings

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (the Chronicles of Narnia)

James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
The BFG, or anything by Roald Dahl

The Best Christmas Pagent Ever

Mary Poppins

The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

The Little Prince

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Dear Mr. Henshaw or any book by Beverly Cleary

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Matilda

Black Stallion

Where the Red Fern Grows

Fudge-a-Mania, Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing, or anything
by Judy Blume

The Indian in the Cupboard

The Mouse in the Motorcycle

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Stuart Little

The Best School Year Ever

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, a Message from Chief Seattle

Encyclopedia Brown

How to Eat Fried Worms

Go Free or Die, a Story about Harriet Tubman

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Amelia Bedelia

The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, or anything by Shel Silverstein

Anything in the Juny B. Jones series

Anything from the Winnie the Pooh series or by A.A. Milne

Anything from the William Allen White lists from any year

…or visit: http://www.educationworld.com/summer_reading...

…or various summer reading lists that you can find at your local library or on the internet…


Interview

This interview is for you. So ask the questions you want you know. Interview the person you respect most in your life and find out something about them.

What are the people who you respect the most in life excellent at?
How did they get excellent?
What values or habits or thinking or practice was/is involved with being excellent?
Who were their heroes or mentors or teachers or models? Why is excellence, doing your best, being the best possible at your work important?
What qualities are most important to excellence? Leadership? Loyalty? Passion? Determination? Education? Commitment? Courage? Responsibility? All of the qualities from our survey (the kids and I gave out a social science survey to teachers and adults in their lives to rank the most important qualities of excellence in school and in life).
Who are good examples of excellence in life?How does school fit into excellence in life?
What qualities are important for excellence in education?
Why is excellence in education important?