Let a teacher remember a student by making a photo frame magnet from wooden craft sticks. You will need eight craft sticks, acrylic paint, clear plastic and a hot glue gun. Glue two sticks together, side by side. Repeat to form a total of four glued sets of sticks. Form a square with the glued sticks and glue the ends together with the hot glue gun. Have your child paint the frame with acrylic paint and allow the paint to dry. Cut a square of clear plastic (from an overhead projection sheet, a photo album protector sleeve or recycle the plastic from toy and food packaging) so it is a little larger than the center opening of the frame. Glue the plastic square behind the frame. Glue a photo of the teacher with the child to the frame so the photo shows through the frame opening. Cut lightweight cardboard to fit the back of the frame and glue it to the frame back. Cut adhesive magnet strips to fit the back of the frame and press them into place.
Recycle a metal can into a pencil jar for the teacher. Glue unsharpened pencils, vertically and side by side, with the erasers at the top, around the can with a super strength glue intended for gluing wood to metal. Allow the glue to dry. Have your child tie a grosgrain or satin ribbon, raffia or twine around the pencil jar. You can use pencils that are all the same color or use different colored pencils for a colorful effect. Have your child spell out the teacher's name around the jar or on the "front" with adhesive foam letters. Order a set of pencils personalized with the teacher's name at an office supply or online store and put the pencils into the jar for an added bonus.
Teachers always appreciate baskets of goodies. Glue bows or ruffles around a basket and line the basket with fabric or tissue paper. Each student can bring one item so they can fill a theme basket with goodies as a class; some themes are a bath and relaxation basket, a snack basket, a classroom supplies basket or a basket related to one of the teacher's hobbies. Have each student make a handcrafted card out of folded construction paper. Put all of the cards into a large envelope and include the envelope of cards in the goody basket.
Teachers don't live at the school. A practical and thoughtful gift of a custom dishtowel or apron will be a gift the teacher can use for many years while remembering the students that gave it to her. Use flour sack style dishtowels purchased at cooking, discount or grocery stores or a large, barbecue style canvas apron. Spread the apron or dishtowel onto a flat surface. Provide paper plates full of different colored fabric paints. Allow each student to press one hand into one color of paint and then press his hand onto the towel or apron. An adult should write the student's name beneath each hand print with permanent black marker. Allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours before giving it to the teacher.