For a Very Long Time

I like to send my kids home at the end of the year with as many reminders of what their first grade family meant to them as I can.  This is a pretty simple way to do just that.  I write all of their names with bubble letters on 12x18 pieces of white construction paper.  As all good teachers do, I anticipate what could go wrong and model what I want them to do instead (large writing, messy writing, and messages without signed names are typical problems).  The kids leave their names on their desks, and I send them off to write sweet notes on everyone else's.  I also give each of them a class list, so they can cross off names and keep track of which ones they've signed.  About 45 minutes later when everyone is finished, the kids get to read their messages, roll up their names, tie them up with ribbon, and hopefully keep them for a very long time.