I teach 7th grade and I really want to do a fund raiser for Haiti relief. The kids have learned about it and want to help.
Anyway, last week, we had “hat day” to raise funds for one of our teacher’s brother who has cancer. We have also done “pajama” days in the past.
What other kind of “dress up” or different days could we do? I’m trying to think of something original, or at least something we haven’t done before. I want the kids to get fired up for it.
I have a school of about 700 or so kids, so this is a chance to earn a good $500 or so for the Red Cross.
You could print up instructions for texting donations onto card stock, cut them out and distribute them to restaurants as drink coasters. Make sure to include the White House website to verify it’s a legit donation.
I was more thinking of a goofy clothing day kind of idea. The kids would pay $1 to get to wear something odd and we would give the cash to the Red Cross.
I can’t think of anything other than “hat day” or “pajama day”, but something original.
Back when Skylark was only Landlark, I remember school dress-up/costume occasions including Nerd Day, Sports Day, Hat Day, Back in the Day (70s, 80s, whatever), Fictional Character Day, Kriss Kross Day (wear your clothes backwards, for those of a later generation), Wear a Tie Day, Beach Day (dress like you’re going to the beach --expect the cut-ups to have floaters, snorkels, etc).
Keeps with the dress up idea, though nothing too spectacular.
My daughter is really into anime, so she would love a “Cosplay Day” where she could dress as her favorite anime character. This could be expanded to a more general “Fictional Character Day” where kids could dress as a character from a book, movie, or TV show.
I remember doing stuff like this for “Spirit Week” in middle school. I think the favorite was always “dress up as a teacher” day. It only really works if you have a lot of teachers with very specific looks that can easily be mocked (and teachers with a good sense of humor).
Years ago to raise funds for a local cause, I had my class do a “Halloween in March Day” with costumes they had left over or new ones they put together themselves for the occasion. Mine was mixed 7th and 8th grade and in the early 80s so we did a “Disco Day” as a follow-up the next month. I wore the largest afro wig known to man and it wasn’t pretty but it sure was a lot of fun.
Just a suggestion, but how about each kid brings a gold coin or two. (Don’t remember US small change - do you have dollar coins? $2 coins? That sort of thing.)
Each year/grade uses their coins to make a map of Haiti - biggest map wins.
Or each year/grade uses their coins to make a line across the playground - longest line wins.
Or what about a knit-in? Have the kids and their families knit squares to be made into blankets - even lightweight blankets are useful. Include one cloth square in each blanket for all the kids whose squares are in that blanket to sign, so the gift is more personal to them.
A talent show day where students could do stuff like bring in guitars and other instruments and play music, or do magic acts or recite poetry by Stanley Kiesel or whatever. I don’t know exactly how you would tie that in with the donation of money, since people usually do that kind of stuff with the hope of winning some prize, but maybe you could take a cut out of the donation pool to reward the kid with the best act (actually, that’s a pretty good idea.) Yeah, do that. Have every kid bring in two or three dollars; then pool it all together. The winner of the talent show will get half of the pool and the rest will go to donation. (A 50% loss is still 50% more money going to the relief effort than would be if there was no show at all - glass half-full, and all that.)
At my kids’ schools:
Twin day - they dress like one (or more) of their friends. Teachers dress like other staff, including janitor/lunch lady.
Dress to Impress - they dress up fancy.
Dress to Depress - they dress down or goth.
Pajama day is still the school favorite, though.
Everybody measures their feet in inches or centimeters and donates 25 cents per inch or 10 cents per centimeter (my 10.5 inch foot would bring in $2.50 - $2.75). You could give out certificates for the “winners” in each category per grade and among teachers, and even extend it out to parents and friends.
Have each person trace out their feet and decorate the tracing and see how far the feet will go.
Any chance for a “Play your favorite music day?” This worked well for my middle school class. We listened to each student’s favorite music and wrote a report about it.
