Young children can contribute to this gift by having fun -- dipping their hands in paint and making handprints all over a piece of poster board. Make the handprints in light colors, and then paint your message over the top of them. The message might read something like "Clap for Miss Jones -- Best Teacher Ever!" If you'd like, you can write the kids' names in each handprint, or have the kids write their names themselves if they are old enough.
If you can get all the kids in the class together to take a class picture, or if you already have a digital picture of the class, you can all pitch in to get a class gift with the picture on it. One option is to put the picture on a t-shirt, and have all of the kids sign the other side of the shirt. You can also put the picture on a mug, a magnet or a baseball cap.
Let's face it: Teachers don't get high salaries. Teachers who are strapped for cash might most appreciate a gift certificate to a store that they go to often. Consider buying a gift certificate to a bookstore, a music store, or a local department store. You can even get a bookstore to a spa or massage parlor, so that the teacher can relax and take a well-deserved break.
Of course, the most touching gift that many teachers get are personal letters, from parents or students. If you are looking for a gift for a special teacher that is beloved to the students, this is probably the best way to go. Each child or parent should write a short letter, or even just a sentence, describing how appreciative they are to the teacher, making sure to include something truly personal and special. You can bind the letters together, print the sentences on a poster board in various colors, or write them on a white t-shirt.