Most schools have various fundraisers to make up for the constant budget cuts that have been going on for many years. Simple supplies, programs, and even staff salaries have taken a hit from these budget cuts, so many schools must have large fundraisers to make up for that lost money. The most common type of fundraiser is an event that has items being donated for placement in a silent or live auction with the highest bidder taking the item. This will give the children in each class ideas to create a great class project that can be placed in the auction. She’ll talk about beautiful vases using mosaics and porcelain made by older students and a handprint from a preschool age class are just a few of the ideas.
Most parents treasure everything their child makes, but when it comes to an auction item that can cost them quite a bit of money, they can be a little more selective in what they want. That’s why it’s important that a class project is not only done by kids, but also something that people want to have anyway. Getting a beautiful vase and having the kids bring in old plates, cups, or colorful tiles would be a great start to making a mosaic project. Older students enjoy breaking these elements down to create the different pieces that attach to the vase. The end result is a beautiful piece that you would have bought in a store and each child participated in its creation.
Other projects that can be great for younger children are things that need a considerable amount of help from adults, but also have help from children. If there’s a parent who can sew quilts, this is a great idea. Have each child put their handprint on a quilt square and then place their name next to it. Having this handprint quilt can usually bring in a lot of money for a fundraiser.
Other great ideas are to have furniture painted with the children participating in decorating it. For a kindergarten classroom, a child-sized table and chairs painted white makes a great base for some fingerprint art. Have each child put their painted thumbprint on a section of the furniture, and then ask an adult to turn that thumbprint into a cute animal using pen accents. The child’s name will also be placed next to this print. For older children, having them paint a picture or special object on a garden Adirondack chair is a great idea and makes for a colorful and vibrant piece for your outdoor area.
All of these projects are special because the children were involved and should attract great auction bids and raise a lot of money for your school. Children are even more excited if you are the winner of their class project that they are so proud of.
