School Days: Second Grade Shoebox Float Project {Riley}

Towards the end of January, Riley brought home a very important paper in his folder. The second graders had been assigned a special take home project: they had to design and build a shoebox float with a theme of their choosing. They were also required to write a four sentence (or more) paragraph describing their float, its theme, what they used to build it, etc. The floats were worth TWO test grades, one in ELA and one in social studies, and they were due on Thursday, February 8.

When Kenny found out what Riley had to do, he was psyched. He thoroughly enjoyed creating his own shoebox float for Cub Scouts when he was 8. His engineering skills were kicking in already even at that young age: he created a double decker float using shoeboxes and toilet paper rolls and even had a little tractor pulling it. How cute is he???

We discussed the theme of Riley’s float extensively. He at first wanted to do Lego Bionicle, but those builds are just way too big so we talked him out of it. After much back and forth, he eventually settled on math facts and snakes, which made no sense at all but he loved it. I think he did it mostly to simultaneously honor and terrify Ms. Paulin, who teaches him math but hates snakes. Too funny.

Riley and Kenny came up with a plan for a rolling double decker float, using an old shoebox of mine, a smaller one of Riley’s, and a toy Hummer. Kenny taught Riley how to do everything needed to construct the float, including measuring, marking, cutting, zip tying, wrapping, and taping. He learned a lot and did a great job.

They decided to incorporate 8 toy snakes from the boys’ reptile collection. I also asked Ms. Paulin to send home a complete set of math facts on fun colored paper (she had no idea what they were for but did it with no questions asked) that Riley cut out and used all over his float. Kenny and Riley also found a pack of math related stickers at the Educator, and I ordered a booklet of snake stickers from Amazon for him to use as well.

Then there were the float riders. Riley used Legos (naturally) to add 28 minifigure krewe members to his float. And every single one had something to “throw:” fire, lightsabers, axes, swords, tridents, etc. He was quite adamant about that.

He wrote his required paragraph (five sentences!) after school on Monday, put the finishing touches on his float on Wednesday night (including a sign displaying his official theme of “Mathematical Snakes”), and was ready to bring it into school on Thursday.

Every student had to present their float to the two teachers and their classmates, reading their paragraph and explaining what they did. Then they apparently paraded around the building to show some of the other grades their amazing and impressive creations. Mrs. Mac, one of the first grade teachers, snapped a pic of Riley as they were walking around; she said he was awesome!

This was such a fun project, and I’m so proud of the work that Riley put into his float. He aced it and did very well on both of his test grades. Plus, he was the only one with a double decker float that actually rolled!

And with that, the Mardi Gras recaps are officially over. Carnival 2018, out!