Don't Forget To Have Fun - Dress Up!

Hi! This is Heather from Campfire Curriculum with Helpful Heather.

Don't Forget To Have Fun - Dress Up!

It's always fun to take a break from the regular workday and add in a little fun.  Working in a Primary School there are many opportunities to dress up.  We celebrate Reading Month yearly and we have a "sunshine committee" (they plan outings and fun dress up days).  There are plenty of teachers in my school that dress up for these scheduled events.  We have a positive atmosphere to be creative.  I hope this motivates you to either participate in your school events, initiate some fun school dress up days, or add to your already fabulous style.

It Has Always Been An Issue

Yes, I'm a dress up junkie.  I need an intervention of sorts.  No one is safe from my need for dress up.  Before I was married, I made my husband dress up like a woman for Halloween.  He still married me!  To me, that is like signing a contract that says, "Forever more I will let her dress me up!"  See..... it is a problem!  Then my daughter was born and my husband was given a respite.  When Kelsey grew up and moved to California (not because of me, I promise!) I had to turn inward and bring the fun to school.

My husband as Richard Simmons for a race at the beach.  He doesn't look like he minds it too much.

My daughter over the years.  Born into this!

"Work is either fun or drudgery.  It depends on your attitude.  I like to have fun." -Colleen C. Barrett     

Yes, I'm fortunate that the people around me, and the building I work in, promote and support fun.  BUT, I am a teacher..... my costumes have to be inexpensive and not take a lot of time to fabricate.  Enjoy a laugh at my expense!

Character Dress Up 

Pete The Cat

Pete The Cat:  With a simple yellow polo shirt borrowed from my husband and a pair of sweats from Walmart, this costume was simple!  I cut off the extra length of the pants to make the tail.  It was just pinned on.  The rest of the costume was printed out on a printer and laminated.  I glued the laminated mask onto some old sunglasses with the lenses popped out.  I glued some pipe cleaners as whiskers, put on some red kicks, and I was done!

Miss Viola Swamp:  I was frightened to see how close I could come to looking like the "meanest teacher".  I used a rubber nose from a few Halloweens prior, put on rouge with vigor, and some black lipstick.  My go-to black dress and witch stockings from the dollar store were the bulk of the outfit.  Top it off with a printed picture to tape onto your school badge!

Olivia with Pete The Cat

Lady Bug Girl

Olivia:  The only item I had to buy for this costume was the stockings.  The neck tie is a scrap from a junk box at school.  The nose was made out of a toilet paper roll, felt, black elastic, and a sharpie.  The ears were found on sale after Halloween.

Lady Bug Girl:  My boots were borrowed from the Pete the Cat (left).  My wings and antennae were from a costume my daughter wore years ago.  I bought some tulle to make the skirt and added black construction paper dots for the boots.  Sadly most of the dots fell off by this time of day!

Not Just The 100th Day of School!

Many teachers dress up on the 100th day of school.  It's a milestone!  Why not?  I agree!  But our school goes a little further (or less) than that!

 Look at this group of teachers celebrating the 50th day of school!  Why not celebrate the ability to count to 50 and discuss past and present standards of learning at the same time?  Finding a big skirt is easy these days.  My skirt was from a time when my daughter was in a presentation of Grease at her high school.  I tied a scarf around my neck and tied one on my ponytail and off I went!  What a comfortable outfit!  As you see, many of the other teachers used creative ideas and looked stinkin' cute!

The 80th day of school was celebrated like this!  I used to be a student that REALLY wanted to dress like this in the 80s but my babysitting funds didn't allow it.  I was in my glory!  For under $20 I found the top (skirt attached), pants, belt, headband, and glove.  Those awesome sneakers were borrowed from my daughter and I purchased some rubber band bracelets to wear (on my ears too).

The Sunshine Committee and More

Gaze your eyes upon these beauties.  Keep in mind I did have to drive to and from school.  Driving the speed limit was super important on these days.  How would you explain this to a police officer?

Nerd Day (A Sunshine Committee-created day) and St. Patrick's Day are always fun for the teachers and students. 

This was Prom Day!  You were supposed to dress up like you were going to the prom.  I just couldn't be mainstream, so I took an old tuxedo and an old dress and sewed them together.  Make up and barrette were only applied to one side.  This was a ton of fun and honestly was way easier than you'd think.  You just have to give it a try.  I remember my husband saying to me, "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"  I replied, "No!"

On Super Hero Day, I was drawing a blank when it came to ideas.  As I browsed for costumes they were all too costly.  Then I came up with the idea to be an original super hero:  Super Bucket Filler.  Our school is a "bucket filling community" and I use individual bucket filling in my classroom for behavior management.  I made the cape with material that was on sale, glued an extra bucket to a headband, and another one to a classroom pointer.
Silver Day!  Believe it or not I own that dress!  It's really cute but really, really, SILVER!  I covered an old pair of boots, made arm bands, and covered a headband with aluminum foil.  The girls in my class loved this outrageous outfit!

Would you?  

Dress up days are the best medicine for overworked students and data-driven teachers.  They should be mandatory in every school.  Does your school allow this kind of tomfoolery?  Have you had dress up days that you'd like to share?  I would love to see them and generate some fresh ideas for those who enjoy it.

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