What's "in" with middle schoolers

  • Thread starter Thread starter KCT
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KCT

Guest
OK . . . I teach middle school, but my own youngest child is 18.

As part of our school fundraiser, the teachers donate an auction item that kids would like and parents bid on them. Things like roller skating for 10, movie night for 8, Pottery Barn pottery painting for 6 etc.

I can ask the kids, but then it won’t be a surprise! So, what do middle schoolers like to do? (that is reasonably priced) 🤷
 
Around here, PlayStation 3 is still very popular. A Wii would also be considered a good prize. 🙂
 
Yup, a Wii.

For going places, like an outing, what about mini-golf, go karts, climbing wall…
 
A Wii would be great except it would exclude from the bidding anyone who already had one, which is probably a lot of kids.

I go with something consumable, like the movie tickets or pizza party.

OR

offer something that could not be gotten any other way other than the auction. At our school’s event we auction off a reserved pew (Catholic school, obviously) at Christmas and Easter Mass with a special parking spot for the most popular Mass, or the Mass of the winning bidder’s choice. Can you think of something like that?
 
paintball- even with gun rentals its fairly cheap and since as a college level sport its gaining popularity it is more so with kids too
  • i have never met a group of middle school boys who didnt enjoy a day at the paintball fields
if you have something like moody gardens or a big ole aquarium or museum of natural sciences there is bound to be at least some interest in that too.
 
Paintball would be a great idea.

How about “have the cafeteria decorated for your birthday”. You could throw in a big cake if there weren’t too many students. Priceless.

I think the trouble with an Ipod or something like that is the school isn’t going to get more for the Ipod than what it’s worth - and maybe less - even though the idea might be to have some fun too - you probably want to maximize profits or it’s not worth the work.
 
If you decide to pick something like mini-golf or skating at a local place, ask if they will make a donation!! You buy a pack of 4 passes and they donate another four, there are two things you can raffle off. It’s good advertising for them and it might get them repeat business. Not everyone is willing to do it, but it never hurts to ask!!
 
I just finished a gift basket for our Catholic school fundraiser for which I had a $100 budget, and brought my 12 year old daughter with me–some of the things we included:

Gift cards to iTunes and Aeropostale
ITunes turtle
an age appropriate book
Frisbee
Water soaker balls
Some other assorted gamess
vitamin water, water bottles, popcorn, Grips, other fun middleschool party food

The other ideas we had included movie passes, Abercrombie gift certificates, Pizza Hut (or pizza party) gift certificates, Lasertron (Laser tag–if you have it, less messy than paintball).

We have a university nearby with some really good sports teams–maybe a night/day at the games.

Sams had a iTunes shuffle for $46. . we combined that with an iDog for another fundraiser and the middle school went NUTS buying tickets and when it was pulled.

Old standbys—pool together some money and get a bike. Also, scooters are still popular, roller blades. If you have a school spirit program (school spirit wear)–try a basket filled with that.
 
It has to be an activity I can “do” with them. That means paintball is out. (I’m not willing :eek: )

The 7th grade homeroom teacher takes 3 girls out to get their nails done and have lunch. That may be my back up if I can’t think of anything else.

I’m looking into a Gettysburg ghost walk or a zip line.
 
KCT said:
It has to be an activity I can “do” with them. That means paintball is out. (I’m not willing :eek: )

The 7th grade homeroom teacher takes 3 girls out to get their nails done and have lunch. That may be my back up if I can’t think of anything else.

I’m looking into a Gettysburg ghost walk or a zip line.
Click to expand...
Ah–don’t rule out Lasertag…it’s fun. And I’m in my 40s and not at all “in shape” and I love it.

Pedicures are fun…my daughter LOVES them–special treat for her birthday that Mom gets in on. 😉

Do you have a waterpark nearby? That’s fun–you can wear swim shorts…

Heck–even a shopping trip with gift cards and lunch would be exciting…

Arcades nearby? How about an arcade trip with dinner or lunch after at a favorite hangout?

Do you have a park? What about a picnic–you supply the food, the activities.

Actually–I need more details on this!! We’ve got more FUNdraisers coming up and I sort of like this idea…share, share…😛
 
The little animals love going to movies also.

Stay away from middle schoolers. Lock yourself in your bedroom with a bottle of wine and don’t come out till they’re in high school.

(Yeah, it can be that bad.)

iPod cards and gift certificates to video stores where they can rent video games are popular.

And I don’t know one of them who doesn’t LOVE ice cream!

Or Pizza.

The nails painted is great for the girls.

Did I say movies? They love movies.
 
ooh!! A tubing trip on the Shenandoah River. My husband and I did that 2 summers ago and loved it.

I’d have to get it OK’d, as it might be considered too great a risk. If it’s OK’d, I think I’ll do that 👍 .

If not, maybe a hiking and picnic day in western MD.

The thing is, these kids come fom fairly well to do families, so many of them have it all or have done it all. I really want something out of the ordinary.
 
Cooking classes? Some really cool art classes? Craft day? Scrapbooking? Any special talent you have to share with them? I suppose you’ll want something that appeals to boys and girls, though, to get the bids up…
 
HouseArrest said:
Cooking classes? Some really cool art classes? Craft day? Scrapbooking? Any special talent you have to share with them? I suppose you’ll want something that appeals to boys and girls, though, to get the bids up…
Click to expand...
Our Spanish teacher does an evening of ethnic food and salsa dance lessons (that went for over $1000 last year!!), the art teacher takes kids to Pottery Barn to paint pottery . . . see what I’m up against? 😛

The girls are doing a scrapbooking project as their class item for the silent auction.

I’m praying the tubing gets approved. Just taking 4 kids would be fun and doable.
 
KCT said:
Our Spanish teacher does an evening of ethnic food and salsa dance lessons (that went for over $1000 last year!!), the art teacher takes kids to Pottery Barn to paint pottery . . . see what I’m up against? 😛

The girls are doing a scrapbooking project as their class item for the silent auction.

I’m praying the tubing gets approved. Just taking 4 kids would be fun and doable.
Click to expand...
Wow - lots of great “events” to bid on. The tubing would be fun! Hopefully it gets approved! Maybe the tubing company will give you a discount!
 
HouseArrest said:
Wow - lots of great “events” to bid on. The tubing would be fun! Hopefully it gets approved! Maybe the tubing company will give you a discount!
Click to expand...
Tubing it is 👍 .

I need to contact them today to get brochures and whatever else they can send to make the item look attractive.
 
KCT said:
Tubing it is 👍 .

I need to contact them today to get brochures and whatever else they can send to make the item look attractive.
Click to expand...
if fun was one of your main critera i think you made a good choice
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top