The Drive-In Movies

When I was a little girl it was a special treat to go to the drive-in movies in the summer-time. We didn't go often so it was something we really looked forward to. Daddy drove the big white station wagon and Mom sat in front with him. My big brother, Rick, and I sat in the middle seat. My sister Beth, and my little brother Scott sat in the back-back seat that faced backward.

We got to wear our jammies because all four of us kids would be asleep before we got home! We always arrived early, paid admission and Daddy drove slowly through the lot looking for the best spot. Not too close, not too far back, and not by the Snack Shack. We didn't want to hear people talking as they went for snack or to the bathroom.

When we found the perfect spot, Daddy would back the car in and clip the speaker box on the car window. He would put the tailgate down and Momma would lay the seats down. Rick and I would spread our sleeping bags out in the middle. Beth and Scott would put theirs on the sides where the wheel-wells were, because they were shorter.

Mom and Daddy would put their lawn chairs by the tailgate and when everything was ready Daddy would take us down to the play yard at the bottom of the gigantic white screen that towered above us. We would swing, teeter-totter, and slide while we checked out the other kids in their jammies.

When the screen came alive with the advertisements for popcorn and soda available at the Snack Shack, Daddy would hurry us back to the car. Mom had our "from home" popcorn out and all ready for us. We munched our way through Mickey Mouse cartoons and previews of "coming attractions". That's what they called the other movies we might want to come back and see.

Finally the "feature film" would begin. The speaker box made the actors voices squawky and scratchy, but it was all part of the fun. We could wiggle around in the back of the station wagon, roll on our backs and gaze at the stars twinkling far up in the sky, and eventually drift off to sleep.

I don't remember seeing the end of many movies, but I usually opened my eyes when Daddy put the speaker box back on it's post. Mom put the lawn chairs in and we slowly crept out of our spot. There would be a long line of cars to get out of the movie lot. I was always afraid when we drove over the spike strip on the way out. It was at the exit so people could not sneak in through the exit.

I would slide in and out of sleep on the way home. When we got to the house, Daddy would wake Rick up to walk into the house, but he would pick me up, put me over his shoulder and carry me in. He would carefully tuck the blankets around my chin and kiss me goodnight. This was one of my favorite parts. Sometimes I would pretend to be asleep so Daddy would carry me.

There aren't many drive-in movie lots in the United States anymore. Everyone wants the best viewing, high-tech sound, and comfy, cushy seating at the movies now. Back then it was a great family experience under the stars, playing on the swings, munching popcorn, snuggling in sleeping bags, and being tucked into bed by my Dad.

Writing in Elementary School

This blog has been created for a class I'm taking as part of my Masters of Education degree and to obtain a Reading Endorsement to my teaching certificate. I don't have my own classroom yet, but I substitute teach in some very interesting classrooms. I must admit, blogging is a little scary for me!

In my writing class we've talked about how difficult it can be to help students come up with ideas for their writing. Today I was a guest teacher in a third grade classroom. I was so excited about a writing activity the regular teacher left for us to do that I made templates for myself and I want to share it here.

Each student was provided a template to make an open roof "house". They cut, folded and pasted the house onto their yard (a green piece of construction paper) after they had added details and color to their house. They were also given generic "people" cut-outs to customize to their families. Their initial writing assignment was to tell about their homes and the people they live with. During writing workshop time they were asked to make little drawings to represent a variety of things important to themselves. These drawings could be colored and cut out and placed in the house to represent things the student could later write about.

Today they were to come up with two things. The first object was to represent a family tradition important to them. I saw drawings of special holiday celebrations, special foods, and favorite vacation spots. The second object was to be a free choice, whatever they wanted. I saw sports objects, bicycles, family pets, presents and birthday cakes.

I thought this was an excellent way to stimulate the creative juices of these students. They put a lot of thought into the objects they chose. The final product is a visual reminder of something they could later write about. At the beginning of each workshop time, students can take the objects out and be inspired to write!

Since I didn't get to actually talk with the teacher about this project I don't have the full scope of the project/lesson, but I was inspired by the little piece I saw. I will get pictures of the students houses and some objects up soon. I hope you enjoy this idea as much as I did!