Middle-school students can make flip-flops that show their personalities. Cut flip-flop shapes from foam core to make the base of the project. You will also need pipe cleaners, colored paper, magazines, markers and any other collage items students want to bring in. Have the students find or draw images that reflect who they are. It can be their favorite things or words that describe them. Instruct them to move the elements around into an arrangement they like and cut them to fit the flip-flop base. Then they glue down their designs and cover them with a coat of clear shellac or a layer of white glue to seal. Make straps for the flip-flops with pipe cleaners, poking small holes in the base to attach them. The straps can be decorated with ribbons, button or shells.
Have each student fold an 11-by-17-inch piece of white paper in half lengthwise. Open it up and turn the paper so that the crease is perpendicular with the table's edge. On this fold line, instruct each to write her name in cursive with a piece of charcoal, filling up as much of that half of the paper as they can. Then have each student refold the paper and press hard, which will transfer the name to the other half of the paper. Now the students can color their names with markers, paint, crayons or pastels. Mount the paper on a piece of black poster board cut to fit so that a one- or two-inch border of black shows.
Have the students draw a bug using simple shapes on a 6-inch piece of paper. Using a ruler, divide an 18-by-18-inch sheet of paper into 9 sections. Cut the bug out and trace its shape into each square, alternating the direction it faces. Color in every other bug with markers. Fill in the background area of the bugs that are left blank.