Found this video on TED Talks today. If you haven’t checked out their videos yet, run, don’t walk to the website.

Once and awhile I’ll throw some things on the blog that I want to keep track of. They may or may not relate to school but I don’t want to lose them in the clutter of my internet wanderings.

I saw this on the tv last night and really enjoyed while at the same time being completely amazed. A grade 3 class in China simulated a democratic vote for class monitor. It was fascinating for many reasons not least the lack of class management. it was supposed to be a lesson in democracy but I think only highlighted problems with communism that they are still trying to grapple with in terms of a society. What was really fascinating was the role of the parents in all this. Anyway, take a look. It’s broken in several spots but should be in order.

I had this link sent to me today. It was kind of a fun post on 101 things to do if you are bored. It reminded me of a wise saying my grandmother would always tell me. Whenever, I went up to her and told her I was bored with that whine-y voice little children are so good at (which also seems to be less effective after age 21 – go figure!), she would always look me straight in the eye and say, “well you must be a very boring person then.” Leaving standing there thinking “I don’t want to be a boring person” and setting off to solve the problem on my own seeing as my grandmother was not going to solve it for me. Some peopele would say that that was not a very nice thing to say to a child but in actuality, it was probably the best thing to say. In today’s climate of overwheming media and entertainment choices that want to tell you how to play, being able to come up with your own creative games and activities on your own is beginning to be a lost art. Children have a hard time these days (and maybe this was in the past too but it seems to be more common or at least I notice it more now) coming up with ways to amuse themselves and not have to be amused by someone else all the time. They seem to be at a loss as to what to do when the computer or tv is not on. I am probably making an oversweeping generalization here but I think it is very true of our children today with varying degrees.

So, to make a long post shorter, here is the post I found:

101 things to do when you’re bored

(image credit: cynwulf)

1. Look up urban legends, and/or ghost stories in your town. Investigate!

2. If you live in a city with public transport (bus, train, subway), plan a trip using the transit system. Take some friends along for company, or just enjoy the ride and people-watch!

3. Get yourself a roll of quarters and find a video arcade.

4. Strike up a conversation with a total stranger.

5. Learn to tie sailors’ knots.

6. Volunteer. It’s fun and you’ll get good karma. )

7. Hang out with old people. They have great stories and sometimes need the company.

8. Perform random acts of kindness.

9. Find out all the great touristy places in your city. Now spend the day being a tourist!

10. Try geocaching.

11. Check out the local art scene. Attend a gallery opening.

12. Become a babysitter and have fun playing with a child – everyone needs to engage in an epic light saber battle every once in awhile!

13. Try to beat 20Q.

14. Go fly a kite.

15. Give yourself a facial. Or a total make-over.

16. Try brewing your own root beer.

17. Google everyone you knew in high school.

18. If you like building, making, and/or creating things, find something on Instructables to make.

19. Check out a sketchy ethnic restaurant in your area. You might find a gem or you might get food poisoning. Either way, it’s the stuff stories are made of. Plus, you’ll be able to say “I know this great little _____ place.”

20. Take all the cushions off your couch and some blankets from your bed and build a fort.

21. Be someone else for a few hours. Put on a hat, fake beard and eyeglasses and walk around town.

22. Go for a walk. Explore your neighborhood. You’re bound to find gardens, shops, restaurants, art, or other random bits of wonderfulness you didn’t even know were there.

23. Choose a movie to see based on the roll of the dice. Open a newspaper or web browser to your local movie listings. Roll the dice. If, for example, you roll a three, go see the third movie in the listings.

24. Read a book. Try one that someone has recommended but that you wouldn’t normally choose for yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised.

25. Start a blog.

(image credit: luisrock62)

26. Learn to play a musical instrument. Take up the ukulele.

27. Spend some time browsing in the public library.

28. Have coffee in a bookstore. Sit in one of their super-comfy armchairs. Read one of their books.

29. Window shop. Or, shop for windows. Whichever.

30. Go to a gun range and try out some rental pistols.

31. Interview someone. Local history organizations often need people to conduct interviews and transcribe oral histories that might otherwise be lost.

32. Document your day in photographs.

33. Treat yourself to a manicure. Or a pedicure.

34. Grab a partner and hit the racquetball or tennis court.

35. Facebook-stalk people from your past.

36. Try the assignments at Learning to Love You More.

37. Release a book into the wild.

38. Get yourself a fake buddy.

39. Exchange postcards with a stranger.

40. Order something from The Something Store.

41. Wash your dog. Try washing your cat.

42. Cut out photos and paste them on Popsicle sticks. Have a puppet show.

43. Learn to peel a banana with your feet.

44. Have a movie marathon. Watch all the Lord of the Rings movies. Or all of the Star Wars films. Or the Indiana … you get the idea.

45. Turn on the T.V., put it on mute and make up dialogue. Or mute the TV and play music. It’s funny to see how the music “matches up” with what’s happening on-screen.

46. Go dumpster diving and see what you can find.

47. Make faces at strangers to make them laugh.

48. Take your TV outside. While you’re at it, take your favorite comfy chair or couch outside too!

49. Watch kids play – and then join in.

50. Sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.

(Image credit: cohdra)

51. Skip rather than walk.

52. Join the summer reading program at your local library. Who cares if it’s just for kids?

53. Plant a garden. Or some potted plants.

54. Pack a fun lunch and go to the park. Play Frisbee.

55. Decorate blank t-shirts.

56. Set up a Slip ‘N Slide in your back yard. Invite the whole neighborhood!

57. Spend a day at the beach.

58. Make lemonade from lemons.

59. Set up a hammock in your yard. Use it!

60. Make your own ice cream.

61. Create a masterpiece on your driveway with sidewalk chalk.

62. Have a water balloon fight. Or a sponge ball fight.

63. Help produce the 1 Second Film.

64. Watch presentations on slideshare.

65. Write a one-sentence story.

66. Learn how to make raspberry jam, how to make fortune cookies, how to fix a bicycle chain, how to start a small business, and more!

67. Visit a museum. Or visit an online museum.

68. Go bowling.

69. Blow bubbles.

70. Build a campfire and make s’mores. Or banana boats.

71. Decorate a pair of flip-flops.

72. Gather some old dry bread crusts and feed the birds. Or go to a lake or pond and feed the ducks.

73. Go on a hike.

74. Research your family tree.

75. Go to a farmer’s market.

(image credit: dieraecherin)

76. Start a scrapbook.

77. Learn to crochet. Or knit.

78. Star gaze. Or visit a science center or planetarium.

79. Lie on the grass and look at cloud shapes.

80. Build a sandcastle.

81. Plant a tree.

82. Bake cookies. Put them in pretty containers and deliver them to your friends.

83. Rent a projector, hang a white sheet in your backyard and have a backyard movie night.

84. Have a pillow fight.

85. Clean up trash in a local park. Or pick up trash on your block.

86. Paint your bedroom a new color.

87. Learn to juggle.

88. Start a collection.

89. Record a funny new greeting for your voice mail.

90. Buy part of the moon.

91. Make deep-fried Twinkies.

92. Glue money to the floor and watch people try to pick it up.

93. Go into a building and set all the clocks ahead one hour (or behind, if you’re really bold).

94. Write a novel.

95. Build things out of cans of food. Donate them to a food bank afterwards.

96. Watch a familiar DVD dubbed in a foreign language.

97. Learn a new language. Or learn sign language!

98. Write a letter to a friend. On paper! Don’t forget to mail it.

99. Clean out your closet.

100. Rearrange your furniture.

101. Make a list. (Maybe a list of things to do when you’re bored!)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I was going to put a year end good-bye grade 3 message on here at the end of the school year but then I realized that none of you are actually going away. You will always be a part of my class and a part of this blog. So, having said that, I won’t do a good-bye message but will instead add things over the summer for any of you that are may be taking a peek at the blog, which I doubt many of you will as you fine people have many better things to do than sit around and look at a computer screen . . . oh dear.

Anyway, I thought that as it was summer, I might give you a little tip as to how to make your days enjoyable. I came across this list of picnic ideas. Yes, my dear friends, picnics are to summer as Russions are to big, loud symphonies with cannons; tough to figure out sometimes but always enjoyable.

I found this list on the New York Times website. And who knows picnics better than the New York Times. I don’t know anyone else. Do you? Didn’t think so. You can find the actual article here.