Holiday Bazaar

Every year, the school hosts a holiday bazaar for teachers and anyone else in the community who has something to sell.  As an elementary school teacher, I am obligated to make and sell something with my kids.  I despise this fact.  Why?  Well, my kids can't make anything that is going to turn a profit.  I can only sell so many popsicle picture frames and ornaments.  The best I can do is have the kids put their names on what they make so that parents and grandparents will be guilted into buying what their children made.  It's pretty much a waste of valuable class time during a time of year in which time is precious. 

This year, the science teacher came down and asked if I had any ideas for the bazaar yet.  He said he would have his middle and high schoolers make birdhouses, and then my kids could decorate them.  I jumped at the chance.  A simple project (his kids did all the work) that wouldn't eat up too much time.

Here is the finished product:

 

I gave the kids free rein to do pretty much whatever they wanted, decorating-wise.  The best part came last night at the bazaar.  I've been exhausted all week - the result of one high-stress event after another.  I was really tired last night and not excited about having to spend the entire evening at an event that, for me, is pointless.  I sold all 4 birdhouses within the first 10 minutes and was done.  Yea for grandmas and aunties!  It was fantastic - a project that cost me 45 minutes of class time and 10 minutes of selling, and actually managed to earn a profit.