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Recycle Cards, Calendars for Instruction & Fun!
By Teachers.Net News Desk
Djinn – Welcome everyone! The subject is “What to do with those left over Christmas Cards and calendars.” I know how creative you all are and I’m sure we
will get some wonderful ideas from everyone.
Djinn – Does anyone
have a tried and true idea for calendars?
Chelle/K/PA – I take
the calendars and glue them onto tagboard and laminate. Then cut apart
as puzzles for each month!
Jane/k/MO – If you
have an ellison press you can make some wonderful cut outs from the Christmas
cards
Djinn – great idea
Chelle!
Djinn – Jane- what
kinds of cut outs?
meeha/ece/tx – I
use the old calendar pics as language experience posters
Chelle/K/PA – that’s
what i do with old Christmas cards,meeha
Jane/k/MO – I want
to use old calendars for the children to use in sequencing numeral. I will
cut them apart and let the children put the numbers in order
Spider – Depending
on the calendar, I laminate and use them for picture id and discussion.
Jane/k/MO – we have
a book mark cut out with the Ellison press stencil maker
Spider – One calendar
from last year had a smaller duplicate picture on the date part so I used
them for matching. The kids loved them.
iram – I just thought
of using calendars as wrapping paper for small gifts. You can also cut
out pictures from cards and paste them on plainly wrapped gifts.
Djinn – Jane- what
a great idea – we have one of those! thanks
Djinn – I use the
circle from the ellison and cut three circles – from cards – fold the circles
in half and glue three together. Makes a great ornament
Jane/k/MO – I cut
out snowflakes and Christmas shapes and glued the students picture on it
for Christmas presents for parents
Chelle/K/PA – I have
the children dictate to me everything that is going on in the Christmas
card. Glue the card to the paper and write below. Great for having kidsnotice
detail and tell action stories. Bind them togeter for a class book!
Djinn – I have used
the calendars with animals – etc. for language experience ESL etc.
meeha/ece/tx – someone
on the mail ring uses the back sides of the picture part of the card for
thank you notes — it hought that was a great idea!
Djinn – I like that
idea Meeha – saves money for notecards too!
Paula B.*MO* – I
use the x-mas card fronts for added decoration in the memory book I make
for each child.
Spider – You can
save some of the cards nd use them next year as Christmas postcards
Chelle/K/PA – I have
made some adorable Xmas wreaths from card fronts….
Spider – Chelle,
how?
Djinn – Chelle -
tell us how you do it
Chelle/K/PA – You
need to trace a pentagon shape from each Xmas card. I usually do this for
them so that it gets centered properly….the kds cut out the shapes. I
think that they select 10 to 12…can’t recall. Anywa, glue them in a circle
shape on a large piece of green bulletin board paper. An adult cuts around
the outside, leaving a bit of the green paper showing. Their painted red
handprints go in the middle on the green aper. Glue a construction paper
ribbon on. Laminate and cut out again. Really cute! Can you picture it?
Kathleen:-) – I do
simply place calendars at the Writing Center, kids just naturally copy
the numerals in the boxes, draw pictures in the boxes
meeha/ece/tx – the
thickness of the cards is great for children who need to practice cutting
– you could trace patterns … or have them cut out specific objects within
… the cards!
LVG – I like to use
them with the Ellison cutter to make bulletin board letters.
iram – How about
using the cards and caledar pictures as writing prompts in a writing centre..”write
a story about… or draw a story about…”
meeha/ece/tx – mom
and i make boxes from the cards … but i don’t think it is a preprimary
task — 2nd grade and up would probably do ok with it.
Djinn – For older
students – cut out a picture paste inside a folded piece of paper. On the
outside write 3 adjectives – Mystery Game.
Kathleen:-) – bulletin
board letters! that’s a neat idea, too!
LVG – I use old desk
calendars with old calendar pieces for a matching & counting game.
iram – Paste a calendar
picture on thick cardboard and cut out puzzle shapes. Make puzzles!
Kathleen:-) – The
calendar illustrations could be cut and used for categorizing by seasons
LVG – I have picked
out cards with simple pictures & writing to put in environmental print
books.
Chelle/K/PA – I also
punch holes around the cards and use them as lacing cards.
meeha/ece/tx – if
you get people to give (donate) 2 matching cards … or collect and find
several matching sets, old cards could make good ‘fish’ or other matching
games!
Djinn – How did you
get your old cards and calendars? Can anyone share ?
meeha/ece/tx – the
cut out shapes could also be used as part of holiday (or otherwise) ‘necklaces’
– with a hole punched in one side to thread through — with added beads
…
iram – laminate calendar
pictures and use them as placemats when you serve food. washable and easily
disposable.
Toni – WI – People
in my family save EVERYTHING for me. I did ask parents to send in calendars
and Christmas cards if they were throwing them away.
Kathleen:-) – family
collect for me..my sister has a business, they receive zillions of cards
meeha/ece/tx – i’ve
bought calendars at 10 – 25 cents per when they are too old to sell, use
old ones from family members,
LVG – The local store
donates greeting card envelopes, they usually have a seasonal color or
logo, so I do the obvious and cut the fronts and put in my writing center.
Djinn – You could
use macaroni for beads and pictures between
iram – I’ve been
saving cards for years, this is great!
Toni – WI – How about
Dr.s offices, etc. They usually receive a ton of cards too.
Kathleen:-) – calendars
have become a bit more difficult to come by these days
Djinn – That’s true
Kathleen- I make mine on my computer.
iram – my dad always
collects calendars for me from insurance companies and banks
Kathleen:-) – my
brother-in-law is a veterinarian, so the cards they receive have mostly
animal illustrations, so the kids love them
Toni – WI – I asked
my parents for calendars, and I have to admit, I didn’t receive any! I
can’t imagine what they do with them. Doesn’t everyone have a calendar
in their house?
Djinn – My husband
is in construction – my kids love the calendars with the big machines -
backhoes etc.
meeha/ece/tx – the
back parts of the cards would make good ‘templates’ for tracing and cutting
– teach the children another level of independence!
Toni – WI – Cute,
Kathleen. I volunteer at the local humane society. I will ask for their
cards when they take them down.]
Spider – Lots of
people write things on them – maybe they are leary of sharing the info
iram – you can get
calendars from the strangest places, my dad also found me a few from a
sandwich shop. you just have to ask!
Toni – WI – Maybe
they would just give the picture part, if nothing else.
meeha/ece/tx – the
feed’n seed type stores generally have them, pharmacies, etc.
TAM – I asked a loal
icecream parlor to save the containers ice cream comes in. Then each child
gets one and makes a trash can out of them by gluing old Christmas card
fronts around the container. They love this! It’s also a good idea for
Valentines cards.
Djinn – I guess you
just have to get out there and not be afraid to ask. i seem to get more
“pushy” as I “mature” LOL
Djinn – Tam- what
a great project – Bet you could use left over gift wrap too.
Kathleen:-) – TAM,
that’s a new and interesting recycling project..good to do these things
around Earth Day…of course, every day should be Earth Day 
iram – what about
saving envelopes, they are so nice around christmas time, and you can always
cover up the names on them. envelopes always come in handy.
Djinn – I put envelopes
in my writing center – my kids love to “mail” letters to one another.
TAM – gift wrap!
great idea Djinn!
Kathleen:-) – Ask
cigar shops at malls for their empty boxes…good for decoupage with pictures
from cards and calendars, or for storing items in the classroom
Dee2 – Use cards
for critical thinking skills. Show 4 or 5 cards and give clues. Ex. Which
one is alive? or Which one starts with Rr? etc.
Djinn – I think teachers
are natural recyclers – super ideas
iram – i have also
cut out stamps from all the mail I get over the year and put them in my
mail centre. the kids just glue them on their envelopes.
meeha/ece/tx – anyone
use the magazine order stickers as ‘stamps’ in the writing center?
darthyAlabama – I
laminated an envelope, with flap up and names on flap, for each student.
These are filed in a box called “my favorite words” , then we add words
like you would for a word wall. They love to go get their own envelope
and practice the words.
Djinn – Duh Meeha
- why didn’t I think of that – it’s a natural – thanks
Addie k/mo – thats
a good use for those stickers!
Toni – WI – Great
idea, Meeha. I just threw mine in the recycling!
Djinn – Please everyone
- feel free to jump in with and idea or comment.
Addie k/mo – i used
to give them to my son to play with, he loved them (he has since outgrown
this pasttime)
Toni – WI – you know
TAM, those publishers clearinghouse magazine stickers.
meeha/ece/tx – Publishers
Clearing House and similar companies send out these sheets with multiple
perforated small stickers (magazine offers) just about the right size for
stamps — when the little ones ‘write” each other they like to put a stamp
on the envelope!
Spider – Oh, great
idea meeha. The kids will love it.
iram – Oh! you get
so many of those stickers too! I never thought of that!
Addie k/mo – plus
parents would probably send them to school too, unless they give them to
their kids to play with
Spider – I just threw
two sets out yesterday.
Djinn – Wow – It’s
amazing what you can learn in so little time! I just love chatting with
teachers.
Gumbo/K/La – LOVE
those stamps…….always ask parents to send em in for the writing center……
Kathleen:-) – Maybe
we could put out a notice to the entire school, or to the PTO/PTA to save
cards, calendars, stamps, etc for us
Addie k/mo – that
is a good idea, kat
Djinn – Great idea
Kathleen – we did christmas wrap as a fund raiser and I asked for everyone
to save me the samples – I have tons of small pieces of christmas wrap.
Gumbo/K/La – Got
a LOT of envelopes, stationery,etc when bank changed hands…….
iram – I ask for
any christmassy things: gift wrap, garland, tinsel, ornaments… you won’t
believe how many people “change their decorating look” from year to year!
meeha/ece/tx – I
save old wrapping paper for ‘lotto’ games, counting cards, and the like!
Addie k/mo – if you
go through principals enough, the school will have to print new envelopes
and stationary and you can get the discards! LOL
Kathleen:-) – Djinn,
I have those samples too! But every year I forget to use them, so they
accumulate!
Djinn – We used them
for decorating Christmas Stocking with our buddies – torn paper collages
- wreaths – and I still have tons.
TABS – I use wallpaper
sample books for a lot of projects
Gumbo/K/La – Some
gift wrap makes great counting games…….need the kind that you can cut
out to make ‘sets’…..write numerals, number words on clothespins, laminate,
and great game……
darthyAlabama – New
Year’s Resol.: Begin a Loose-leaf notebook of good ideas!! Have a Holidays
section & you might remember all of that stuff we keep in storage for
“another”day
Kathleen:-) – darthy,
good idea, the notebook. I use theme boxes (copy paper boxes)but still
forget, misplace, misfile 
TABS – I used them
to cut outChristmas shapes, put students pictures on them
harricon2 – cut pretty
part of card into circles and then put them in an oval shape, collage style,
to make a placemat, be sure to use clear contact paper
meeha/ece/tx – i’ve
seen those mats – they’re generally pretty and fairly sturdy!
reva – Take greeting
cards and cut circles out of them with pictures in middle. Glue on 9X12
paper overlapping until paper doesnt show. Laminate and you have a placemat
TABS – I also use
the wallpaper samples to make note book cover for the childrens note pads
Kathleen:-) – harricon,
that would be pretty. could be laminated, right?
harricon2 – my daughter
made one for her art teacher 3 years ago and he still pulls it out each
Christmas
harricon2 – sure,
laminated would be even better!
Djinn – I used an
ellsion cutter and cut christmas paper into snowmen- students glued onto
fronts of journals for Jan.
cheryl – Not an original
but I am using old cards as thank you notes to my kids and for them to
write to mom and dad if we ever get back in school
meeha/ece/tx – just
thinking … you could also use the old cards to make ‘napkin rings’ –
cut a slit in the center of a shape cut from the picture and slide the
napkin through…
Djinn – Meeha – what
about making pencil holders? cut two slits and slide a pencil or lollypop
into slots for a gift or treat?
Chelle/K/PA – Good
idea about pencil holders…even candy cane holders!
reva – Cut small
circles from cards and glue on paper in shape of tree. Cover each picture
with a plain circle. Children uncover one each day until Christmas. Put
rolled tape on the back of plain circles. I usually use a yellow circle
at top for last one to be removed. There is a poem that goes along with
it but do not have it here.
Toni – WI – TABS,
where do you get the wallpaper samples. I know we, as teachers, have to
be bold and ask businesses for them, but is there an easier way?
harricon2 – I took
a cereal box and covered it with paper, glued valentines cards and hearts
cut from wall paper all over it, then punched holes in top to make a “shopping
bag” look and put cord in each side for handles
TABS – Toni, I just
asked our local floor and paper store and they save them for me
Addie k/mo – i get
the wall paper samples from wall paper stores….dont know of another way,
maybe a parent volunteer would do some scavanging for you?
Kathleen:-) – reva,
I can picture a modification of that idea, putting a small photo of each
child inside the circles cut from cards to make a tree shape for the door,
or smaller as a gift to a special school person, a collage of the class
darthyAlabama – Toni,
when I feel I’m not bold enough to ask, I either get a “stronger” teacher
buddy or a parent to ask for me!! Sometimes, even after 33 yrs. I “wimp”
out!!!
TCH – I make gift
tags out of the cards
TCH – also….you
can make plaques with old cards too
cheryl – What kind
of plaques?
TCH – cut out circles,
overlap them while gluing them to oak tag and then laminate
reva – I ask for
parents to send old valentine cards when kids are ready to throw them away.
We use them the next year to decorate Valentine vests. Vests are cut from
grocery sacks, glue on a big heart for a pocket.
reva – Remind kids
not to glue pocket shut. They wear them each day we pass out cards in circle
time.
Addie k/mo – valentine
vests sound adorable!
TCH – calendars are
cute….the teacher copies pages of blank calendars for each month and
then the students can use them in a collage format at the top of the calendar..these
make great gifts too
Djinn – Harri – you
could use that for a mennorah, kwanza candles, advent wreath – neat idea
Addie k/mo – so,
when the kids pass out valentines, they put them in the vest pockets????
is that right????
Toni – WI – I have
to tell you about the class book we made before Christmas. They had to
think of the gift they most wanted, and what size box it would come in.
We taped a photocopy of a small, medium, or large box on their paper (only
tape on the top), and they drew the gift underneath. A lift the flap book,
Debbie – I bought
foil and celophane rolls for bargin prices and am having a parent cut it
into usuable squares to put in our studio for the children to use.
Addie k/mo – so do
they set up their vests and pass out the valentines or is everyone walking
around matching up names at the same time??? I am just trying to get this
in my head
TCH – the plaques…..have
a parent who does woodworking cut out small 3×5 blocks of wood, they can
be stained and then the kids can glue the cards onto the plaque…if you
get duplicate cards…that spungy thick tape can be placed in between to
make a 3-d effect
Kathleen:-) – Toni,
neat idea! A variation could be for them to think of a gift they would
like to give to someone else
reva – Sorry explanation
is not clear. We stand in circle and one person puts his valentines in
each pocket. I encourage parents not to put names on outside of envelope(preK).
With teacher help we can do more than one child at a time.
darthyAlabama – Couldn’t
that “lift the flap” book also be made into a Birthday class book???
TCH – I save my cards
to do scrap albuming too, but that is just for my own personal use
Addie k/mo – thanks,
reva! i just was having trouble seeing how it would work, but loved the
vest idea! i usually dont have the names put on ours either, but thought
maybe i should so that they could match up the names with the person, but
couldnt decide if it would be too chaotic to let everyone do this at once!
i have k, and 21 kids, so they wouldnt sit still for everyone to have an
ind. turn
TCH – you can cut
out cards with those “zig zag” scissors and then glue them to baby food
jars and put a votive candle inside to give as gifts
reva – Each child
makes a B’day crown in our PreK when they celebrate their B’day. Could
cut small pictures from cards to decorate crown with.
Djinn – Chelle -
just put them in your art center- bet the kids could come up with their
own great ideas.
Kathleen:-) – Addie,
I have the kids put names on them, but I like the idea of not..might try
that. It ends up we do much of the sorting anyway..would have to start
a month ahead otherwise..
TCH – another great
craft is to cut the cards into sugar cube sized squares and glue them to
an egg that is blown out , then coat the egg with a sealant (you do that
part) and there you have an ornament
Djinn – Tch- you
could use wrapping paper also – Thanks!
meeha/ece/tx – what
a fine motor task that would be, TCH! sounds like fun, too!
TCH – yes…wrapping
paper or magazine pictures work well also
Addie k/mo – that
is a good idea, reva! then they could just walk around the room and deposit
the valentines…..if the kids did their own writing (a little each night)
i wouldnt mind the names, but the parents do it and sometimes it is even
in cursive!
Chelle/K/PA – What
kind of glue do you use?? Do you seal it with something?
TCH – y sealant that
a craft store sells
AL /MO – I have a
whole box full of all kinds of calenders to use when maybe a child doesn’t
know what something is
Djinn – Addie- i
send out a list printed from my computer – use my label maker- their homework
is to cut out the boxes and glue to the cards – then they match the names
Addie k/mo – then
it is not a valuable literacy experience for the kids, maybe if i totally
explained to the parents that the kids needed to do the writing…or maybe
have them bring the envelopes to school and write the names on it
Debbie – As for Valentines.
We decorate white sacks. each child prints their name on the outside. I
send a list of classmates home 2 weeks early and ask the parents to assist
the child in printing the names on. The children love this ownership.
Kathleen:-) – That’s
right, I ask that the kids copy the names onto the Valentine envelopes,
a few each night if they don’t have much stamina…hmmm, well, still, that
could be done for other purposes
Djinn – Well folks
it looks like our chat time is up for the evening. thank you for your wonderful
ideas.
Chelle/K/PA – It
depends on how many kids you have in the class…why MAKE them address
30 cards?? if they sign their name 30 times, that’s great too.
meeha/ece/tx – if
the kids all brought the cards to school maybe three or four days before
the party, then it could be a daily work job for all until their stack
was done1
Addie k/mo – THE
COMPUTER!!!!! duh! that way they have all the names, they are spelled correctly
and in correct form!
Toni – WI – Thank
you Kat and Djinn. This was a wonderful topic!
Djinn – Looks like
we need some chat time for Valentines ideas? Do we have one scheduled for
Feb. Kathleen?
Kathleen:-) – Thanks,
Djinn!! another great idea session! Watch for the transcript everyone!
Goodnight and thank you to all who participated! We meet every Tuesday,
so come every week!
Djinn – Good night
all – this has been delightful!
Kathleen – If you
don’t do anything else with your leftover greeting cards you can send them
to: St. Judes Ranch for Children, 100 St. Judes St. Boulder City, Nevada
89006-0100 This is a house for sick children. The children recycle the
cards to make new ones. Just send the front of the card, as long as there
are no words on the other side. You can send cards all year long.
