Just before April vacation our 3rd grade class, together with Miss Sikorky's class, held a cardboard carnival inspired by Caine's Arcade. Students imagined and planned different types of arcade and carnival games they could create, and used cardboard and other recycled materials to bring their plans to life. Building their games presented many opportunities for students to practice patience and perseverance. Lawrence recounts his experience with improving, "When we were building l didn't like my idea so I did some improvements on my game because when I flicked it (the football) would go flying into a friend's game."When games were complete students wrote game directions which outlined the object of the game, materials, and the procedure for playing. Their final drafts were typed using an iPad, and students learned how to take and embed a photograph in their document. In art class Mrs. Hogg worked with students to design and create signs advertising the name of their game.
When the big day arrived we invited our Kindergarten reading buddies, parents, teachers, and other classes to play our games for a penny. You could feel the nervous excitement. Adeline recalls, "First, I was nervous because I didn't know if people would like my game, but when some people came to my game and liked it I became less nervous for the other people."
Students had lots of opportunity to practice speaking and listening skills as they introduced their game and taught customers how to play. Some students used creative methods to lure in customers. Sophia explains, "At first no one was coming to my game so I started advertising, "Step right up to Kitten Drop!" I would say."
As a class we worked together to find a grand total for all the money we collected. Our class raised $66.05. Together with Miss Sikorsky's class, we raised over $100.00 to benefit the Georgia Food Shelf. Samara sums it up here, "Cardboard Carnival was fun, but had some very hard work! Cardboard Carnival was exciting overall!!"
