COLLEGE AWARENESS DOOR

My school district's mission is to prepare students for college, career, and community leadership.  This week we are focusing on College and Career Readiness to support that mission.  One of the activities my school started this week was a College Awareness Classroom Door Contest.  Every year teachers decorate their door about a particular college.  But this year is different.  This year, it was turned into a contest, with a rubric and prizes!  My students and I were excited about it!  They could win a pizza party, popsicle party, or extra recess.  I could win a long lunch, no morning duty for a week, or a jeans pass.  Doors had to be completed today, and the judging will occur on Monday.

While I have attended several colleges, I chose my first one.  Maybe I thought it would be easier to work with, or maybe I was just feeling a little homesick.  Next year is a big High School Reunion year for me, a trip back home has been on my mind recently!  :)

San Diego State University

I found this beautiful beach paper at Mardel.  I was disappointed that it wasn't long enough for the entire door, but I used the school colors of black and red to fill it.  We have to keep the window clear, hence the cut out.

I found some bling to add to the top while looking through Homecoming Decor.

My next-door-neighbor gave me a box of Luau decorations, and this plastic sun was a perfect addition to my door.  So cute!

 This is the completed door.

This is my secret weapon!  I hung it up on the last day of decorating.  I recorded part of the SDSU Fight Song on a motion sensor sound recorder!  The students loved this!

I also sprayed beach scented air freshener on a piece of felt.  My students loved this too! 

Information about San Diego's location and Extra Curricular Activities offered at SDSU.  The rubric said to mention degree programs as well, but 188 was too many for my students to write.

I added this part (not on the rubric).  Famous Alumni!  I've taught my students about Ellen Ochoa in the past, but didn't realize she had attended SDSU as well until this door project.  And of course we had to have Tony Gwynn, my favorite baseball player of all time.  (Granted, I don't know many, but growing up in San Diego, everyone knew of and loved Tony Gwynn!)  After he retired from the Padres, he went back to SDSU as the head Baseball Coach.

Keeping with the mission of this project, every student had a part in putting this college door together.   I look forward to walking through the school on Monday and seeing everyone else's college doors.  It opens up the world to these elementary students, who might not learn about college otherwise.