Elementary Student Memory Book Ideas
Students often enjoy pouring over their elementary school memory books years into the future. Filled with details from their school years, a memory book should evoke the aura of the school day, the playground, the friendships, the lessons and the teachers. A combination of photographs, drawings and other graphics, as well as descriptive words, all are elements that enhance a memory book. In addition, making each book as personalized as possible adds to each student's enjoyment.
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Preparation
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Although it is possible to work with any number of professional companies to create school memory books, and even to do much of the task online, there are less-expensive ways for elementary schools to help their students prepare their own memory books. For example, give each child (or have kids buy as part of their school supply list) a large binder. Have the school print up dividers so students have a section for each year, and then have the kids decorate the binders or divider pages with school stickers and drawings.
Month-by-Month Pages
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Each month, provide the kids with a special page to insert into their memory book. These pages could reflect some happening at school, in the community or in the world during that month. For example, September's page might include photos and a menu from the back-to-school picnic, November might include election news in the year of a Presidential election, and April might give statistics and snapshots from the school calendar.
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Classmates Pages
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Instead of blank pages waiting for uninspired words from their classmates, provide kids with pages full of charts. For example, "List five people in your class here," or "What is your least favorite cafeteria item?" Another chart might ask for five classmates whose last names begin with a certain letter of the alphabet and ask for them to list their favorite video game. These pages get kids interacting with classmates they may not otherwise know---and they also give a jumpstart to kids who may not otherwise know what to write.
Classroom Pages
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Let the teachers help the kids create pages for each subject. For example, for social studies, the teacher might give kids a United States map, have them fill in the state capitals and add that to the memory book. The music teacher might provide a copy of the favorite song from the year, as well as a program from the end-of-the-year concert. The PE teacher might print out a copy of the rules for volleyball, for example. In this way, the memory book would reflect what actually happened in the classroom.
Just Me Pages
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Use blank pages, with room for drawings, to give kids an opportunity to write about events particular to their own lives during the school year. A new puppy, a trip to Grandmother's house, a chance to ice skate, piano lessons, a friend moving away and other such events could be captured on these pages. Kids could supply their own photos if they wish, and language arts teachers may even want to use the "Just Me Pages" as a springboard for writing assignments.
Activity Pages
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Every school activity and event, such as band and band concerts, clubs, drama productions, sports, fundraisers, holiday programs, book fairs and others can be represented in the memory book with its own special page. Sponsors can help students in preparing the pages, illustrating the event or scanning and adding photos as well as noting all the pertinent information (such as date, attendance numbers and so on). An added feature might be a collection of quotes from participants.
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